We have a Ram 3500 on order to tow our new Landmark Key West - 41 feet' 18,000 GVWR. We've read older posts in this forum, but would like to have current information including your thoughts on a hitch. What hitch do you have - what are the pros and cons - and if you had to buy a hitch today, what would you get?
We're looking forward to the responses.
Many thanks!
Barb and Frank
Bill and Linda said
02:11 PM May 13, 2016
MORryde rubber pin box with a Comfort Ride "air" hitch in the truck. Best of both worlds. MORryde for "chucking" elimination and the Comfort Ride to take care of the vertical impacts to protect the trailer frame along with the truck.
If the cost of the Comfort Ride were an issue, than a Curt Q-24 still with the MORryde rubber pin box. The Q-24 is the best "fixed" hitch I've ever towed with and I've had a bunch of them in the same truck looking for the one I like. There is a RAM specific mount for the Q-24 and you can get it from a RAM dealer (probably more $$$$'s) or via the web. Be sure and have the truck ordered with the 5th wheel hitch mounting points. Then the Curt is a "drop in" if you go that way.
BTW, the Comfort Ride is less expensive then the Trailer Saver and far less complicated.
My opinions
Cummins12V98 said
07:16 PM May 13, 2016
Lets hope you ordered the 5th wheel puck prep system. If so the best non air ride hitch on the market is the B&W RVK3600.
I would highly advise against the RAM/Curt hitch as they are not easy to hitch you need to be just right. They are Made in China and only have 4 bolts holding the hear to the base of questionable grade. The B&W has 8 grade 8 bolts.
I tow a 23K Mobile Suites and the hitch is rock solid and VERY easy to operate and no question if you are hitched!
nineback said
06:44 AM May 14, 2016
+1 on the B&W hitch.
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Lets hope you ordered the 5th wheel puck prep system. If so the best non air ride hitch on the market is the B&W RVK3600.
I would highly advise against the RAM/Curt hitch as they are not easy to hitch you need to be just right. They are Made in China and only have 4 bolts holding the hear to the base of questionable grade. The B&W has 8 grade 8 bolts.
I tow a 23K Mobile Suites and the hitch is rock solid and VERY easy to operate and no question if you are hitched!
Jeffmarl said
07:08 AM May 14, 2016
Check out Airsafe hitches. We have had ours for five years and are very happy with it.
http://www.airsafehitches.com/
Barb and Frank said
10:17 AM May 14, 2016
Bill and Linda, We reviewed the information and videos on the Comfort Ride hitch - very impressed. Did you install your hitch or did you have it installed somewhere? Barb and Frank
RonC said
07:42 PM May 16, 2016
I'm a fan of Hensley products. We're not as heavy as you are (our GVW is 15,000 for the 5'er with 3,000 of that carried by the truck via pin weight) and we have a Hensley BD3 air ride hitch. The Hensley Trailer Saver TS3 is made for your size rig. Great build quality, outstanding ride quality and American made!
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 7th of October 2016 09:07:40 PM
Barb and Frank said
06:44 AM May 17, 2016
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Looks like we need to research the B&W, Airsafe, and the Trailer Saver TS2. I really appreciate the information. We should pick up our new Ram 3500 later this week - so I have a lot of research to do quickly! Hope to have the 5th wheel within 2-3 weeks. We're getting very excited!
Rickl said
07:44 AM May 17, 2016
As was recommended the comfort hitch is a pretty good option. This manufacure used to build an airbag hitch but came to the conclusion that there was a better alternative. If you take the time to watch their video's I think you'll want to do some more research. My opinion only.
Cummins12V98 said
07:15 PM May 17, 2016
I watched the Comfort hitch videos. I think it's a quality made hitch but IMHO WAY too expensive. I have the TrailAire air bag kingpin and B&W RVK3600 and can not imagine a better ride. You can see the RV moving separately form the truck in the rear view.
Diana and Jim said
07:40 PM May 17, 2016
Check out a PullRite Super Glide, especially if you have a short box. We love ours!
Bill and Linda said
10:56 AM May 19, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Lets hope you ordered the 5th wheel puck prep system. If so the best non air ride hitch on the market is the B&W RVK3600.
I would highly advise against the RAM/Curt hitch as they are not easy to hitch you need to be just right. They are Made in China and only have 4 bolts holding the hear to the base of questionable grade. The B&W has 8 grade 8 bolts.
I tow a 23K Mobile Suites and the hitch is rock solid and VERY easy to operate and no question if you are hitched!
The B&K is a fine hitch. The B&K has no shock absorption built into it. "A choice." The bolts in my Curt-24 are Grade 8.
Bill and Linda said
11:11 AM May 19, 2016
Barb and Frank wrote:
Bill and Linda, We reviewed the information and videos on the Comfort Ride hitch - very impressed. Did you install your hitch or did you have it installed somewhere? Barb and Frank
If a rail mount one can do this themselves with a helper as it is truly a "drop in" requiring no air-pump. This is not a one man job due to weight. However, If possible I would have it frame mounted and that requires, in most cases, a professional installation. It does depend on the truck and situation. Rail mounts are always more "sloppy" than frame / bolt mounted simply because the hitch can move in the rails just a little and this can contribute to some chucking.
Curt offers, and I have used these before, rubber isolators to give rail mount hitches a better fit and help eliminate movement. I made my own for a Reese hitch and then found Curt was selling them for almost nothing on Amazon. They do wear out and must be replaced but that's a relatively easy task. But if they wear out there is no requirement as to immediate replacement as the do not impact safety at all. These can be used with almost any rail mount hitch.
Keep in mind the ComfortRide hitch, like all air-ride hitches, is relatively heavy itself and one should take into consideration the rear axle capacity of the truck as it will weigh more than the "average" hitch as it has more steel and parts. (Same for the Trailer Saver, etc.)
Regardless, I highly recommend either an air-ride hitch or an air-ride pin box for almost all larger trailers with pin weights in the ~3,000 and up range. In fact, I wouldn't pull a fiver I owned without some air cushion someplace to protect the trailer frame. But that's just my view.
-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Thursday 19th of May 2016 05:08:13 PM
Will all three, as pictured, I agree. You may not be able to get the Trail-Air with the anti-chucking plate after market. "It depends." The anti-chucking plate was limited to OEM delivery at one time. Not sure if that has changed.
-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Thursday 19th of May 2016 05:08:13 PM
Will all three, as pictured, I agree. You may not be able to get the Trail-Air with the anti-chucking plate after market. "It depends." The anti-chucking plate was limited to OEM delivery at one time. Not sure if that has changed.
I ordered a TriGlide lower jaw directly from Lippert for my 07.5 MS wholesale, just need a business license. That was in 2012 or 2013.
RonC said
04:58 PM Oct 2, 2016
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a fan of Hensley products because they offer several qualities that a good hitch should have. First, cushioning between the truck and trailer (Hensley does it with air bags, but foam cells or even a cushioning pin box can provide this). Second, premium hardware (thick steel, grade 8 or better bolts, etc.). Third, a hitch head that fully articulates, not just fore and aft, but side to side also. Forth, and finally, a first class head (hitching jaw and locking mechanism). Hensley uses the Holland Binkley Head, which is the gold standard in 5th wheel heads, IMO. No matter what hitch you chose, if it has these things, it will serve you well.
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 3rd of October 2016 07:53:22 PM
soos said
08:39 PM Oct 2, 2016
RonC wrote:
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a fan of Hensley products because they offer several qualities that a good hitch should have. First, cushioning between the truck and trailer (Hensley does it with air bags, but foam cells or even a cushioning pin box can provide this). Second, premium hardware (thick steel, grade 8 bolts, etc.). Third, a hitch head that fully articulates, not just fore and aft, but side to side also. Forth, and finally, a first class head (hitching jaw and locking mechanism). Hensley uses the Holland Binkley Head, which is the gold standard in 5th wheel heads, IMO. No matter what hitch you chose, if it has these things, it will serve you well.
+2 on Hensley. Excellent product and superior customer service.
We have the BD3 that we had with our older, lighter trailer but would go for the TS3 if we needed a new one.
Neil and Connie said
10:41 AM Oct 3, 2016
I would go with a TrailerSaver TSLB2 hitch…has the airbags on it and rides nicely and absorbs chucking. Second choice would have been a fixed hitch and the MorRYDE rubber pin box that he has. He likes his better…I like mine better…but I think we both agree. that either would be a fine combo. His does have the advantage that you can pull the hitch out if you need to use the truck bed for something else temporarily.
Rob_Fla said
12:50 PM Oct 5, 2016
I have been running the Curt Q24 Hitch for a few years now, so far it has been great and served me well.
My Redwood came with the Lippert Tri Glide Pin Box, I the lower plate break (glide section) while on the road and had to make some emergency repairs.
Redwood / Lippert shipped me a whole new Tri Glide Pin Box.
After my the Tri Glide Pin Box failure on the road I lost all confidence in the Tri Glide Pin box, so while I was at MoRyde this past summer having their IS (Independent Suspension) installed, I had the Tri Glide removed and a MoRyde Pin Box installed.
Now my trailer tows great, much smoother ride and no Pin Box banging every time I stop and start.
Bill and Linda said
01:46 PM Oct 5, 2016
Rob_Fla wrote:
I have been running the Curt Q24 Hitch for a few years now, so far it has been great and served me well.
My Redwood came with the Lippert Tri Glide Pin Box, I the lower plate break (glide section) while on the road and had to make some emergency repairs. Redwood / Lippert shipped me a whole new Tri Glide Pin Box.
After my the Tri Glide Pin Box failure on the road I lost all confidence in the Tri Glide Pin box, so while I was at MoRyde this past summer having their IS (Independent Suspension) installed, I had the Tri Glide removed and a MoRyde Pin Box installed.
Now my trailer tows great, much smoother ride and no Pin Box banging every time I stop and start.
Rob, that's interesting. Yours is about the 4th Tri-Glide I've heard / seen fail. Just he roller part. The air-ride part has been fine. Lippert bought Trail-Air a few years ago and added the Tri-glide "rollers" to the otherwise solid Trail-Air pinbox. That was to complete with the MOR/ryde product as to "chucking."
The Q-24 has also worked well for us with both the Trail-Air (no Tri-Glide) and the MOR/ryde rubber pin box.
One thing we've found from using several different pin boxes and hitches, there is no one perfect combination. What works on one rig super maybe a terrible system on another trailer. But we have found the Q-24 seems to do the best job of the different ones we've used as it has more rubber isolation in all contact areas than others.
YMMV
Bill
Cummins12V98 said
11:13 AM Oct 6, 2016
"So far" our TriGlide has worked very well. No noise at all. Keep it lubricated with AMZ/OIL synthetic grease every 600 miles or so. If it goes South I will just replace the lower jaw.
We had the TrailAire on our 07.5 MS and then added the TriGlide but we both did not like the feeling it gave when hitting overpasses etc. With this RV and the TriGlide it "feels" just fine.
Honestly don't think we really NEED the fore and aft cushioning. Probably because we have around 5,800# pin weight.
From someone that knows, what actually fails on the TriGlide? Pics would be nice also.
Bill and Linda said
12:28 PM Oct 6, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"So far" our TriGlide has worked very well. No noise at all. Keep it lubricated with AMZ/OIL synthetic grease every 600 miles or so. If it goes South I will just replace the lower jaw.
We had the TrailAire on our 07.5 MS and then added the TriGlide but we both did not like the feeling it gave when hitting overpasses etc. With this RV and the TriGlide it "feels" just fine.
Honestly don't think we really NEED the fore and aft cushioning. Probably because we have around 5,800# pin weight.
From someone that knows, what actually fails on the TriGlide? Pics would be nice also.
From the failure I witnessed personally - The hitch plate - bottom half riding on the rollers - came loose. The trailer did not disconnect. I did not see a disassembly of the unit for analysis to pinpoint the specific point of failure. But any hitch or pinbox anomaly offers concern.
Perhaps Rob can provide additional information.
Cummins12V98 said
07:14 PM Oct 6, 2016
Something to throw into the mix, I tow 23K and the "rating is 21K. I did swap out most of the 5/8" bolts with 3/4" frame bolts. The top two on each side I just went with 5/8 frame bolts.
Terry and Jo said
08:16 AM Oct 7, 2016
Back in 2010, when we ordered our Mobile Suites, we ordered the Trailair system, both suspension and pin box. To my surprise, when it arrived, ours had the Trailaire pin box with the Tri-Glide system. This was before Lippert bought Trailaire from Dale Fenton. Granted, we don't tow the RV much because we stay in one place for extended periods of time, but our RV rides beautifully and has no chucking at all.
I wonder if Lippert made changes to the design of the Trailair Tri-Glide system?
As for our fifth wheel hitch, we've only had two fifth wheel trailers, but both had Reese hitches.
Terry
Rob_Fla said
06:58 PM Oct 7, 2016
My Tri-Glide had three pivot linkages in the Pin Plate, two of the three pivot links broke, I had to weld the lower plate stationary as an emergency repair.
I did not disassemble the lower plate to see exactly what failed, as I was in the middle of no where when it failed, I just got the plate welded stationary and was on my way.
Got quite a bit of chucking after welding the lower plate stationary, installed the new Pin Box that Redwood / Lippert shipped me and my Redwood pulled good again but after hearing of other similar Tri Glide failures I lost all confidence in the Tri Glide so I changed to the MoRyde Pin Box.
Bill and Linda said
07:59 AM Oct 8, 2016
Rob_Fla wrote:
My Tri-Glide had three pivot linkages in the Pin Plate, two of the three pivot links broke, I had to weld the lower plate stationary as an emergency repair. I did not disassemble the lower plate to see exactly what failed, as I was in the middle of no where when it failed, I just got the plate welded stationary and was on my way. Got quite a bit of chucking after welding the lower plate stationary, installed the new Pin Box that Redwood / Lippert shipped me and my Redwood pulled good again but after hearing of other similar Tri Glide failures I lost all confidence in the Tri Glide so I changed to the MoRyde Pin Box.
Rob, that's similar to what I saw and was described by the owner. The one that I saw had to be temporarily welded after the failure and then replaced. You, and the one I saw, travel a great deal, like us. So it would appear this is a use / wear failure. I.e. something is wearing and breaks.
DunnDeal82 said
04:24 PM Nov 15, 2016
Has anyone used the Anderson Ultimate Hitch? I purchased the Aluminum Ultimate 24K and it seems to pull my DRV Mobile Suites 44' quite well, no chucking or bucking at all.
I love it so far and it only weighs about 40lbs too.
Would love to hear your thoughts...
Cummins12V98 said
06:47 PM Nov 15, 2016
Do a little research on the Andersen. They are known to deflect the bed of the truck. Also they have upgraded the Ultimate because the hitches were folding with hard braking. I would NO WAY use the Andersen for such a heavy RV.
We have a Ram 3500 on order to tow our new Landmark Key West - 41 feet' 18,000 GVWR. We've read older posts in this forum, but would like to have current information including your thoughts on a hitch. What hitch do you have - what are the pros and cons - and if you had to buy a hitch today, what would you get?
We're looking forward to the responses.
Many thanks!
Barb and Frank
MORryde rubber pin box with a Comfort Ride "air" hitch in the truck. Best of both worlds. MORryde for "chucking" elimination and the Comfort Ride to take care of the vertical impacts to protect the trailer frame along with the truck.
http://www.comfortridehitch.com/
If the cost of the Comfort Ride were an issue, than a Curt Q-24 still with the MORryde rubber pin box. The Q-24 is the best "fixed" hitch I've ever towed with and I've had a bunch of them in the same truck looking for the one I like. There is a RAM specific mount for the Q-24 and you can get it from a RAM dealer (probably more $$$$'s) or via the web. Be sure and have the truck ordered with the 5th wheel hitch mounting points. Then the Curt is a "drop in" if you go that way.
BTW, the Comfort Ride is less expensive then the Trailer Saver and far less complicated.
My opinions
I would highly advise against the RAM/Curt hitch as they are not easy to hitch you need to be just right. They are Made in China and only have 4 bolts holding the hear to the base of questionable grade. The B&W has 8 grade 8 bolts.
I tow a 23K Mobile Suites and the hitch is rock solid and VERY easy to operate and no question if you are hitched!
Check out Airsafe hitches. We have had ours for five years and are very happy with it.
http://www.airsafehitches.com/
Bill and Linda, We reviewed the information and videos on the Comfort Ride hitch - very impressed. Did you install your hitch or did you have it installed somewhere? Barb and Frank
I'm a fan of Hensley products. We're not as heavy as you are (our GVW is 15,000 for the 5'er with 3,000 of that carried by the truck via pin weight) and we have a Hensley BD3 air ride hitch. The Hensley Trailer Saver TS3 is made for your size rig. Great build quality, outstanding ride quality and American made!
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 7th of October 2016 09:07:40 PM
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Looks like we need to research the B&W, Airsafe, and the Trailer Saver TS2. I really appreciate the information. We should pick up our new Ram 3500 later this week - so I have a lot of research to do quickly! Hope to have the 5th wheel within 2-3 weeks. We're getting very excited!
The B&K is a fine hitch. The B&K has no shock absorption built into it. "A choice." The bolts in my Curt-24 are Grade 8.
If a rail mount one can do this themselves with a helper as it is truly a "drop in" requiring no air-pump. This is not a one man job due to weight. However, If possible I would have it frame mounted and that requires, in most cases, a professional installation. It does depend on the truck and situation. Rail mounts are always more "sloppy" than frame / bolt mounted simply because the hitch can move in the rails just a little and this can contribute to some chucking.
Curt offers, and I have used these before, rubber isolators to give rail mount hitches a better fit and help eliminate movement. I made my own for a Reese hitch and then found Curt was selling them for almost nothing on Amazon. They do wear out and must be replaced but that's a relatively easy task. But if they wear out there is no requirement as to immediate replacement as the do not impact safety at all. These can be used with almost any rail mount hitch.
Keep in mind the ComfortRide hitch, like all air-ride hitches, is relatively heavy itself and one should take into consideration the rear axle capacity of the truck as it will weigh more than the "average" hitch as it has more steel and parts. (Same for the Trailer Saver, etc.)
Regardless, I highly recommend either an air-ride hitch or an air-ride pin box for almost all larger trailers with pin weights in the ~3,000 and up range. In fact, I wouldn't pull a fiver I owned without some air cushion someplace to protect the trailer frame. But that's just my view.
These three products work great together.
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-- Edited by Cummins12V98 on Thursday 19th of May 2016 05:08:13 PM
Will all three, as pictured, I agree. You may not be able to get the Trail-Air with the anti-chucking plate after market. "It depends." The anti-chucking plate was limited to OEM delivery at one time. Not sure if that has changed.
I ordered a TriGlide lower jaw directly from Lippert for my 07.5 MS wholesale, just need a business license. That was in 2012 or 2013.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a fan of Hensley products because they offer several qualities that a good hitch should have. First, cushioning between the truck and trailer (Hensley does it with air bags, but foam cells or even a cushioning pin box can provide this). Second, premium hardware (thick steel, grade 8 or better bolts, etc.). Third, a hitch head that fully articulates, not just fore and aft, but side to side also. Forth, and finally, a first class head (hitching jaw and locking mechanism). Hensley uses the Holland Binkley Head, which is the gold standard in 5th wheel heads, IMO. No matter what hitch you chose, if it has these things, it will serve you well.
-- Edited by RonC on Monday 3rd of October 2016 07:53:22 PM
+2 on Hensley. Excellent product and superior customer service.
We have the BD3 that we had with our older, lighter trailer but would go for the TS3 if we needed a new one.
I would go with a TrailerSaver TSLB2 hitch…has the airbags on it and rides nicely and absorbs chucking. Second choice would have been a fixed hitch and the MorRYDE rubber pin box that he has. He likes his better…I like mine better…but I think we both agree. that either would be a fine combo. His does have the advantage that you can pull the hitch out if you need to use the truck bed for something else temporarily.
My Redwood came with the Lippert Tri Glide Pin Box, I the lower plate break (glide section) while on the road and had to make some emergency repairs.
Redwood / Lippert shipped me a whole new Tri Glide Pin Box.
After my the Tri Glide Pin Box failure on the road I lost all confidence in the Tri Glide Pin box, so while I was at MoRyde this past summer having their IS (Independent Suspension) installed, I had the Tri Glide removed and a MoRyde Pin Box installed.
Now my trailer tows great, much smoother ride and no Pin Box banging every time I stop and start.
Rob, that's interesting. Yours is about the 4th Tri-Glide I've heard / seen fail. Just he roller part. The air-ride part has been fine. Lippert bought Trail-Air a few years ago and added the Tri-glide "rollers" to the otherwise solid Trail-Air pinbox. That was to complete with the MOR/ryde product as to "chucking."
The Q-24 has also worked well for us with both the Trail-Air (no Tri-Glide) and the MOR/ryde rubber pin box.
One thing we've found from using several different pin boxes and hitches, there is no one perfect combination. What works on one rig super maybe a terrible system on another trailer. But we have found the Q-24 seems to do the best job of the different ones we've used as it has more rubber isolation in all contact areas than others.
YMMV
Bill
We had the TrailAire on our 07.5 MS and then added the TriGlide but we both did not like the feeling it gave when hitting overpasses etc. With this RV and the TriGlide it "feels" just fine.
Honestly don't think we really NEED the fore and aft cushioning. Probably because we have around 5,800# pin weight.
From someone that knows, what actually fails on the TriGlide? Pics would be nice also.
From the failure I witnessed personally - The hitch plate - bottom half riding on the rollers - came loose. The trailer did not disconnect. I did not see a disassembly of the unit for analysis to pinpoint the specific point of failure. But any hitch or pinbox anomaly offers concern.
Perhaps Rob can provide additional information.
Back in 2010, when we ordered our Mobile Suites, we ordered the Trailair system, both suspension and pin box. To my surprise, when it arrived, ours had the Trailaire pin box with the Tri-Glide system. This was before Lippert bought Trailaire from Dale Fenton. Granted, we don't tow the RV much because we stay in one place for extended periods of time, but our RV rides beautifully and has no chucking at all.
I wonder if Lippert made changes to the design of the Trailair Tri-Glide system?
As for our fifth wheel hitch, we've only had two fifth wheel trailers, but both had Reese hitches.
Terry
I did not disassemble the lower plate to see exactly what failed, as I was in the middle of no where when it failed, I just got the plate welded stationary and was on my way.
Got quite a bit of chucking after welding the lower plate stationary, installed the new Pin Box that Redwood / Lippert shipped me and my Redwood pulled good again but after hearing of other similar Tri Glide failures I lost all confidence in the Tri Glide so I changed to the MoRyde Pin Box.
Rob, that's similar to what I saw and was described by the owner. The one that I saw had to be temporarily welded after the failure and then replaced. You, and the one I saw, travel a great deal, like us. So it would appear this is a use / wear failure. I.e. something is wearing and breaks.
I love it so far and it only weighs about 40lbs too.
Would love to hear your thoughts...
Lighter/cheaper is NOT always better.