Which hitch?

I ordered my cat 313RE last week. They are going to "give" me a Reese 16K hitch. My son thinks there is an easier one out there for me to hook up and unhook since I am a solo lady. I have a Dodge Ram 350 crew cab long bed dually.

Which hitch would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.

Cherry

I have the Reese 16K and I find it extremely easy to hook up. I back into to kingpin and just after the capture plate makes hitch rock back, the king pin enters the jaws and I hear the snap close of the jaws. Just need the height to be correct on the kingpin, but that's got to be right no matter what hitch you have.

I use to have the 16K Reese also, and worked fine for me too.

I currently have a Pullrite 20.5K Super hitch and its finicky. If you don't get it just right, the jaws will not lock.

BobnPi, do you pull the locking arm out before you hitch up? I noticed on my old Reese that as long as you flip the pad lock lever over, the arm will open then slam shut all my itself.

I leave the arm closed and the pad lock lever open as you did. I had a Pullrite hitch, but had nothing but trouble from it. All covered in past posts.

I have a 16K with a slider because I have a short bed. I like the way it works. I make sure when I hitch the truck to the 5th wheel that the jaws are locked around the kingpin and that I HAVE NOT HIGH PINNED the 5th wheel.
After I have hooked up, I lift the landing gear up about 6" then I rock the truck and 5th wheel back and forth to make sure I am hooked up right. Then I raise the landing gear up to traveling height.

I recommend painting the jaws white, helps to see that they are closed around the pin. I usually open the jaws back in and then close them. Also make sure you do the "pull test" and get a pin to go thru the locking arm
I have a 16K hitch, make sure they give you the one that pivots. I think it helps in the ride.

If its reese "pro series", don't get it as its a cheap made hitch. All other reese products are good.


Earl

I have the Reese 16K as well an find it easy to use.

I pull a TT now and plan on a 32RL fifth wheel, the saleman told me today I needed a slider. I have a standard bed 2500 08 Silverado diesel, do I need a slider or is someone trying to make money off me. I have to buy a hitch but I plan to buy a 3500 long bed before the year is out, another Silverado diesel

I've often wondered the same. I have had 2 - 5FW's and 2 trucks continuously over the past 16 years and the same slider hitch (transferred to the 2nd truck) and never once needed to slide the hitch. Both trucks were even 6.5' short boxes!

Mines a f350 short bed,,,,, I've never moved the hitch. I can turn really sharp even on hills and haven't come close to hitting.

KNOCK ON WOOD,,,,,,,,,

I agree with the others who say the Reese 16K hitch is very good. You might also buy the bed saver for "just in case" situations. It is reasonably priced, and will save your bed, if your hitch fails, or you don't hook up properly. . Anything mechanical can fail.
We have one.



http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&sugexp=pfwe&cp=12&gs_id=20&xhr=t&q=blue+ox+bed+saver&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=605&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9274772210350128569&sa=X&ei=qeQDT57nHJPXiQKo1bCbBA&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQ8wIwAA

I have the Reese 18K Signature/Elite and love it. Just open it first, back up and when it latches you will hear a very reassuring loud click.

The Reese 16K is a decent hitch most of the time. Being rated for 16K is a little over kill. I used to have one, then I discovered the "ultimate hitch". IMO, of course. The B&W Companion series hitch is two pieces and can be lifted easily by DW, when removing from the truck bed. There are no ugly rails left in the bed to put up with when you are not using the fifth wheel. The other hitches on the market are really heavy, and are a beast for one person to handle safely. Ask the dealership to show you a Reese, and try to pick it up. There are many options for hitches, but just beware of how much they weigh. Good luck.

I would have to agree on the B&W companion. Very well made hitch, and when you removed it your left with a clean bed. Hook up is very easy, just back up until you hear the click and then give it a test pull. Once the pin box is engaged it’s not going anywhere, just ask me how I know … On our next to last camping trip last year when I got the trailer to the storage lot and into the stall, I went to pull the safety pin out of the latch to unhook, only to find out I forgot to put it in when we left the campground. That was a sick feeling.

Just to add another note on how well made the B&W Companion hitch is; last season in Atlanta, I rear ended a crazy car at 38 mph, as the car stopped to turn. It was a hard hit, but after inspecting the FW, and the hitch, no damage was found. Needless to say, the front end of my truck wasn't as tough. LOL. The way the hitch distributes the weight with the wide base saved my bed.

I too have a short bed with a slider hitch. I have never used the slider. I move it every so often to keep it moveable.

HookMeUp wrote:I would have to agree on the B&W companion. Very well made hitch, and when you removed it your left with a clean bed. Hook up is very easy, just back up until you hear the click and then give it a test pull. Once the pin box is engaged it’s not going anywhere, just ask me how I know … On our next to last camping trip last year when I got the trailer to the storage lot and into the stall, I went to pull the safety pin out of the latch to unhook, only to find out I forgot to put it in when we left the campground. That was a sick feeling.

I would have to second the B&W hitch. Going on six years with mine. Love the clean bed option when hauling other stuff. Easy to take in and out of bed as it is a two piece system. And once it is engaged, it isn't going anywhere. I love the fact that the jaws are easy to see too. I too forgot my safety pin last year on a 150 mile trip bucking heavy cross winds. When I got to my destination and realized what I had done, I had that same sick feeling too! I had visions of the senarios that could have played out on that trip. I am going to make an effort to paint that safety pin flourescent orange when I pull it out of storage this spring. I don't want to ever make that mistake again.....whew.

Carpe Diem wrote:

HookMeUp wrote:I would have to agree on the B&W companion. Very well made hitch, and when you removed it your left with a clean bed. Hook up is very easy, just back up until you hear the click and then give it a test pull. Once the pin box is engaged it’s not going anywhere, just ask me how I know … On our next to last camping trip last year when I got the trailer to the storage lot and into the stall, I went to pull the safety pin out of the latch to unhook, only to find out I forgot to put it in when we left the campground. That was a sick feeling.

I would have to second the B&W hitch. Going on six years with mine. Love the clean bed option when hauling other stuff. Easy to take in and out of bed as it is a two piece system. And once it is engaged, it isn't going anywhere. I love the fact that the jaws are easy to see too. I too forgot my safety pin last year on a 150 mile trip bucking heavy cross winds. When I got to my destination and realized what I had done, I had that same sick feeling too! I had visions of the senarios that could have played out on that trip. I am going to make an effort to paint that safety pin flourescent orange when I pull it out of storage this spring. I don't want to ever make that mistake again.....whew.

Another reason for the bed saver.

I have a Curt hitch and there is really no way that you can drive away unhitched. It is a definite positive locking system. I still check it multiple times, but when you back up, you can tell if it has latched.

I ended up getting the Reese 16K select (i think that is it). Anyway it has the 2 jaws. I can tell from the sound when they lock together but I always get out and check with a flashlight to make sure. It is very easy to hitch up the 5er.

Cherry

I asked the people that keep my camper fixed what kind of hitch was the best and I was told a Husky,I checked it out on the web and I don!t think it costs to much, he will install it. I make some bobos with my camper from time to time that he fixes it, now that I am going to trade it I want some things fixed.