With regards to the B&W hitch, be sure and research them. There are 4 RV hitches on their website, ranging from 16,000 lbs up to 22,000 lbs. If your "hidden" hitch is not a B&W, I'm not sure theirs would work.
As for the Curt, that's a name that has been around a while, but I have no idea what their quality is like. When we had a new hitch (22K) put in our F450, I asked around to see what folks said were the best quality. Three different folks told me that Reese was the best. Our older 15K for our previous fifth wheel was a Reese and we had no problems with it.
However, with regards to a 16K hitch, I'm not sure that it will give you much "leeway" with regards to weight on 36' trailers. That will depend on the trailer's weight, so I'd suggest waiting until you choose your trailer before buying a hitch.
Depending on what you get in the way of a trailer, there are also some air ride hitches out that that are good for smoothing out the towing experience. However, they are a lot more expensive.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 7th of March 2013 07:26:12 PM
waltben said
09:32 PM Mar 7, 2013
LOML did what she does best a few months ago and changed her mind about a Class A. Not the end of the world, but first I had to find a better truck than my old 119k miles 8.1L gasser to tow a 5er. Stumbled over an '06 F350 Lariat turbo dually that had only 26k miles and was kept in a (believe it or not) barn. Loaded with everything although the 5er hitch that had been on it was kept by the owner. Has a hidden ball gooseneck, but LOML wants something 36' or longer and I don't want to try using an adapter for something that big. Amazon has the Curt 16k hitch, lube plate and rails for $370 anyway, which is about the same as a good gooseneck adapter. Question is, anyone had any issues with this hitch? Any recommendations?
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
10:53 PM Mar 7, 2013
B&W has a hitch that works with their hidden turnover ball. I believe its rated at 25K.
Delaine and Lindy said
03:35 AM Mar 9, 2013
I have been blessed to own several 5th wheel hitches. I have owned Valley/Huskey, Reese, B&W turnover ball with Companion 5th wheel hitch. The reason I went away from the B&W system is weight capacity, the Mobile Suites had to much pin weight and weight. B&W companion 5th wheel hitch only went to 18,000, B&W may have increased the capacity?
However I highly Recommend the Trailer Saver's, are they pricey yes, but you want be the Trailer Saver. I have owned three Trailer Savers, 2 TS 3 and the TSLB2H 32,000 capacity. I think Trailer Saver now has designed the TSLB2H 32,000 lbs to fit the bed rails. But you might want to check first. The TS 3 will fit any standard bed rails...
I will tell you I retired from RVing and just sold my Mobile Suites and the 2012 Chevy 3500HD, it was a bitter sweet decision. But it was time to make a life style change..
I just yesterday sold and shipped my TS 3 to Arkansas, to a person who has ordered a new Mobile Suites from WheelsRV in Springdale ,Ark.
Good luck with your decision, Happy Trails....
P.S. I have no compensation from Trailer Saver. Just like to help with a persons decision and save them money.. And the experience I have had, in many cases was trail and error.. Thats expensive.....
RVKevi said
02:20 AM Mar 10, 2013
We had the B & W Companion put in our truck about a year ago. It is 18,000 lb capacity, and I'm pretty sure that's their highest capacity.
waltben said
01:16 AM Mar 11, 2013
I just finished putting on a Softopper (we still need to have something to do the art & craft shows!) and have been all over this truck trying to find ANY sticker or stamp showing who's gooseneck hitch this is, but there's nothing. What I do have is the hole pattern dimensions for the 5er hitch, so I guess I've got to go through a lot of installation docs to figure out what was there way back.
waltben said
01:18 AM Mar 11, 2013
And, by the by, the truck is only rated for 15.9k fifth wheel towing anyway, so I'm not worried about being under hitched.
huronwoods said
08:46 AM Mar 13, 2013
We have used a Curt Q20 for two years. Really like this hitch....it is quiet, no rattles or banging (rubber cushioned), and easy and positive to hitch and unhitch. Available for around $650 with mounting bars, if you shop around.
With regards to the B&W hitch, be sure and research them. There are 4 RV hitches on their website, ranging from 16,000 lbs up to 22,000 lbs. If your "hidden" hitch is not a B&W, I'm not sure theirs would work.
B&W Hitch Website
As for the Curt, that's a name that has been around a while, but I have no idea what their quality is like. When we had a new hitch (22K) put in our F450, I asked around to see what folks said were the best quality. Three different folks told me that Reese was the best. Our older 15K for our previous fifth wheel was a Reese and we had no problems with it.
However, with regards to a 16K hitch, I'm not sure that it will give you much "leeway" with regards to weight on 36' trailers. That will depend on the trailer's weight, so I'd suggest waiting until you choose your trailer before buying a hitch.
Depending on what you get in the way of a trailer, there are also some air ride hitches out that that are good for smoothing out the towing experience. However, they are a lot more expensive.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 7th of March 2013 07:26:12 PM
LOML did what she does best a few months ago and changed her mind about a Class A
. Not the end of the world, but first I had to find a better truck than my old 119k miles 8.1L gasser to tow a 5er. Stumbled over an '06 F350 Lariat turbo dually that had only 26k miles and was kept in a (believe it or not) barn. Loaded with everything although the 5er hitch that had been on it was kept by the owner. Has a hidden ball gooseneck, but LOML wants something 36' or longer and I don't want to try using an adapter for something that big. Amazon has the Curt 16k hitch, lube plate and rails for $370 anyway, which is about the same as a good gooseneck adapter. Question is, anyone had any issues with this hitch? Any recommendations?
However I highly Recommend the Trailer Saver's, are they pricey yes, but you want be the Trailer Saver. I have owned three Trailer Savers, 2 TS 3 and the TSLB2H 32,000 capacity. I think Trailer Saver now has designed the TSLB2H 32,000 lbs to fit the bed rails. But you might want to check first. The TS 3 will fit any standard bed rails...
I will tell you I retired from RVing and just sold my Mobile Suites and the 2012 Chevy 3500HD, it was a bitter sweet decision. But it was time to make a life style change..
I just yesterday sold and shipped my TS 3 to Arkansas, to a person who has ordered a new Mobile Suites from WheelsRV in Springdale ,Ark.
Good luck with your decision, Happy Trails....
P.S. I have no compensation from Trailer Saver. Just like to help with a persons decision and save them money.. And the experience I have had, in many cases was trail and error.. Thats expensive.....
We have used a Curt Q20 for two years. Really like this hitch....it is quiet, no rattles or banging (rubber cushioned), and easy and positive to hitch and unhitch. Available for around $650 with mounting bars, if you shop around.