jbiii
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 7 
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Post by jbiii on Apr 3, 2017 20:24:04 GMT -5
I have talked to two dealers about what type of hitch to use with DG. Got two different answers. Dealer 1 says any hitch will work, Dealer 2 says any hitch will work but recommended a sidewinder pin to allow more room for turning and not damaging the truck or DG. Another option from dealer No. 2 was a slider hitch.
I thought I would ask the forum about this and not the dealers. Thoughts please.
I drive a 2015 ford F 350 SRW 4x4.
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Post by joecamper on Apr 3, 2017 20:45:41 GMT -5
Short bed or long bed? Makes a difference. If a short bed, I'd go with a slider.
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jbiii
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 7
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Post by jbiii on Apr 3, 2017 20:51:17 GMT -5
6.5 ft. box
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Post by KZrider on Apr 3, 2017 20:52:23 GMT -5
I have used the Fifth Airborne Sidewinder on my first 5th wheel for seven years and now on my current Durango Gold. Both dealer installed at purchase.
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jbiii
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 7
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Post by jbiii on Apr 3, 2017 21:00:25 GMT -5
The one thing I don't like about the slider is the weight. The sidewinder moves the pivot point back from the hitch. This video will show it better than I can write it. youtu.be/WkL0CPmqx6U |
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jbiii
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 7
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Post by jbiii on Apr 3, 2017 21:14:23 GMT -5
I have used the Fifth Airborne Sidewinder on my first 5th wheel for seven years and now on my current Durango Gold. Both dealer installed at purchase. It must work well if you used it on two 5ers. |
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Post by KZrider on Apr 3, 2017 21:24:19 GMT -5
The video is true. Quick turns both forward and reverse. Eliminates most "chucking". Many people shy away due added cost.
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Post by jetzen on Apr 4, 2017 8:01:09 GMT -5
Watched the videos and looks like a pretty slick set-up. Can't see why it wouldn't work for you. |
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Post by RdRmr on Apr 4, 2017 11:16:52 GMT -5
jbiii,
Friend of mine had the sidewinder and loved it, his only complaint was that he had to be right in line with it when hitching up. Other than that he never had any issues. Another friend purchased an auto slider by Demco mfg, yes it's heavy but he likes it. Never has to get out to release it and slide it back. So I guess it's a matter of personal preference. Good luck on your decision. Happy Campin....
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Post by joecamper on Apr 5, 2017 17:38:13 GMT -5
I use the Pull Rite Super Glide. Never have to get out to make it work. But, I do have the issue of having to be pretty much be in line to hitch up. If that's a problem, I simply remove the hitch head from the frame and hook up that way. I most definitely would use a slider in a short bed truck.
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Post by kmart4321 on Apr 8, 2017 0:35:28 GMT -5
Have a solid mount in a 6'6" Silverado box. More than enough room.
All the retailers but one I spoke to discouraged me from buying a slider. After seeing my trailer hooked up and turned to 90 degrees I have to agree.
Imho, waste of money. Watch what you are doing and you will be fine. If you think you are capable of pulling one of these units down the road you should be capable of watching your turns.
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Post by dave277 on Apr 10, 2017 7:02:12 GMT -5
What I found is it depends on your front cap and pin box.
I have a 2013 Durango 1500 2857 and a 2011 SWB F150. I was told a slider of some sort is required for a short box so I bought a 200+lb PullRite SuperGlide. I soon realized the shape of the front cap and the pin placement prevented cap-cab contact up to over 90 degrees.
Just to be safe I replaced the heavy PullRite with a used Reese manual slide. Two years later I have not needed to slide the hitch back to maneuver. Now I'm waiting on a good deal on a used lighter fixed hitch to replace the Reese. I'm wanting to shed as much hitch weight as possible.
In short, if you have a rounded front cap and the pin extends out far enough (my pin is even with the front cap) you may not require a sliding hitch.
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Post by Chuck on Apr 10, 2017 12:37:33 GMT -5
dave277
You might look at the Curt 16K, I had one installed when I bought are last 5th Wheel, it works well with our new
G384FLT am very happy with it, it's easy to take in and out, light but strong and they are pretty well priced ...
Chuck
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Post by dave277 on Apr 10, 2017 15:21:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Chuck. I bought my Reese off of Craigslist for $100 so that's the type of deal I'm waiting for.
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jtrap
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 7
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Post by jtrap on Apr 16, 2017 10:40:56 GMT -5
I spoke with K-Z about the sidewinder on a Durango Gold and they referred me to Lippert (who makes the frame). Lippert will void the frame warranty if you use a sidewinder, but I still consider it an option based on how many positive reviews I've read. They fully endorse the Reese Goosebox so I'm leaning that way and will use a 4" offset ball to gain a little more clearance.
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Post by rvwoodyrolls on May 9, 2017 16:38:01 GMT -5
After much thought and having to take back one hitch, I settled on the PULLRITE SuperLight hitch. It's rated at 20K and weighs only 51 lbs. Easy in, easy out. It comes with a Pin adapter that converts the pin into a ball. I was at first hesitant to use an adapter, but found it to be secure and when turned around gives more than adequate clearance in my Chevy 2012 2500 short bed. Made a trip to Big Bend and put thousands of miles without any problems and no chucking at all. This hitch is so easy to hitch and unhitch. My driveway has a bad slope downward and I have to hitch/unhitch with my truck almost level which makes for a very difficult angle to work with. One hitch I took back after having to jockey around for about 20-30 minutes trying to unhitch. The hitch head was mounted on rubber and didn't want to give up the pin until I held my mouth just right! This hitch only takes a few minutes. No sweating at all!
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Post by ronc on Oct 3, 2017 20:39:44 GMT -5
I spoke with K-Z about the sidewinder on a Durango Gold and they referred me to Lippert (who makes the frame). Lippert will void the frame warranty if you use a sidewinder, but I still consider it an option based on how many positive reviews I've read. They fully endorse the Reese Goosebox so I'm leaning that way and will use a 4" offset ball to gain a little more clearance. Why would Lippert “void the warranty” based on the hitch? All hitches push and pull on the kingpin ... the king pin has no idea what kind of hitch is providing the energy. |
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Post by jetzen on Oct 4, 2017 8:05:59 GMT -5
I spoke with K-Z about the sidewinder on a Durango Gold and they referred me to Lippert (who makes the frame). Lippert will void the frame warranty if you use a sidewinder, but I still consider it an option based on how many positive reviews I've read. They fully endorse the Reese Goosebox so I'm leaning that way and will use a 4" offset ball to gain a little more clearance. Why would Lippert “void the warranty” based on the hitch? All hitches push and pull on the kingpin ... the king pin has no idea what kind of hitch is providing the energy. Yep, the frame warranty is void if you do not use a Lippert pin box. The Lippert reps went over that at lunch at the KZ factory. I posed the question about the difference between the Rota-flex and the MORryde pin box and they said that they function the same but in industry testing the Rota-flex removed more vibration and provided a slightly smoother ride over the MORryde plus it would not void the factory frame warranty. ronc you must have missed that part cause the pizza was GOOOOOD.
The Reese Sidewinder, gets a lot of good press on it function as a hitch that will give your 5th wheel a good bit of turning capacity over a standard pin box and slider hitch in a short bed truck, but it does some weird stuff as far as how it torques the frame area in the nose according to Lippert.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 5, 2017 16:35:53 GMT -5
I have to say now that I have pulled our 384FLT with a MorRyde an also with a Rota-flex I see no differance in the ride. Of course I do not have the equipment to test the vibration, but I did not feel such with either pin box an as far as providing a slightly smoother ride over the MORryde I did not see such, again they seem to be the same ... Like ronc I did not hear that it would void the factory frame warranty, so I called them an they stated it would in fact do such which is had to believe but so be it. But like ronc I missed that part because the pizza was GOOOOOD an talking with the Eastern Area Kz rep next to me I was more interested in his conversation than the LCI young lady an her tech  ~ Chuck |
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Post by ronc on Oct 7, 2017 15:35:23 GMT -5
I doubt that the frame warranty would ever be needed (within the warranty period), but if it did ... I’m sure I could find a Rotoflex pin box, if needed. It (the MorRYDE pin box) is standard equipment on many 5th wheels (Forrest River and Montana for example). I don’t know if Lippert makes the frames for either one, but it is likely in that Lippert is very dominant in the RV frame world.
BTW, I do feel a slight difference between the two. The MorRYDE has a “softer” feel when starting and stopping ... the sensation is that it's a little looser. When actually towing, no discernible difference.
UPDATE: Lippert does make the frames for both Forrest River and Montana. It would be a lawyers dream to have Lippert explain how they decline warranty on one manufacturer while honoring it on others ... “vibrations” caused by the pin box would be the same so I don’t know how they could pull that one off.
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