Recommendation For Hitch For Pulling 38 Foot Forest River Sabre With 2017 Ford F250 Super Duty

Question

Question:

We are purchasing new 2017 F250 Super Duty truck with short bed and New 5th wheel. 1st question: Please give me your recommendation for pulling a 38ft Forest River Sabre. 10,500-lb dry weight and 1,600-lb hitch weight. 2nd question: Diff between regular Reese Sidewinder and Reese Airborne Sidewinder. Thanks!

asked by: Robert &

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

I did some research on your new fifth wheel Forest River Sabre and based on the information you sent it sounds like you have a maximum weight capacity of 16,000-lbs when fully loaded. If you have not purchased your truck yet, I suggest making sure it comes with a factory 7-way connector and consider the factory rail kit.

A Sidewinder moves the pivot point back 22 inches by pivoting where it connects to the trailer instead of where the king pin is connected to the hitch. This provides plenty of clearance between the truck and fifth wheel and also eliminates the need to exit the vehicle to release the slider on a sliding hitch. The Airborne Premium replaces your king pin and alters the pitch point of your rig. Like the Sidewinder, it moves the pivot point by 22 inches toward the rear of your vehicle. It has an adjustable air spring built in that provides a smoother ride for both your truck and trailer.

If you are going to use a Sidewinder, I recommend the Reese Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch, Item # RP30047. This Reese hitch has a 4-way pivoting head, 3-1/2 inches height adjustment, and a 2-jaw locking system which provides less rattle and greater security. It has a hitch height of 14-1/2 inches - 18 inches. Item # RP30047 fixed hitch will need rails and mounting kit, Item # RP56017-53, and has a Gross Towing Weight capacity of 16,000-lbs.

If you choose the Sidewinder option, I will recommend a Sidewinder and/or Airborne option if you send me the pin box model information that is on your trailer.

Another option to consider is going with a sliding hitch option. If you have the factory rail kit, I recommend the Reese Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch, Item # RP30051. This Reese hitch has a 4-way pivoting head, 3 inches height adjustment, and a 2-jaw locking system which provides less rattle and greater security. It has a hitch height of 15 inches - 18 inches. Item # RP30051 hitch does not include mounting kit (Item # RP30156) and has a Gross Towing Weight capacity of 16,000-lbs.

If you do not have the factory rail kit, one of the best sliding hitches is the B&W Companion, Item # BWRVK3400-5W. This fifth wheel hitch eliminates clearance concerns for your 2017 Ford F250 short bed truck. It has a rail-free design that allows for full access to your truck bed when hitch is removed. It has a cam-action latching handle that helps prevent binding issues and is simple to use and release. The Companion has three height settings and is designed to be quiet and rattle-free. It has a hitch height of 17 inches - 19 inches. It has a Gross Towing Weight of 20,000-lbs which is more than adequate for your situation and gives you some extra capacity for the future. The rails and mounting kit are not included and are Item # BWGNRK1116-5W. The B&W Companion is also made in the USA.

I have attached additional information and videos to help you as you make your decision.

expert reply by: Brint H

1

Answer 1

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 2

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 3

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 4

The B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider for Chevy/GMC Towing Prep Package #BWRVK3775 you're looking at will work fine with your new Chevrolet Silverado. This hitch has 3 height adjustments so you'll be able to set the hitch height…

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Answer 5

Most fifth wheel rails are made to the same industry standard dimensions. They aren't all though. If you measure 22 inches on center between the two rails and they look like the rails of the #RP30035 that you referenced they would be the industry…

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Answer 6

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

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Answer 7

There are a couple of options that'll work great with your Lippert Turning Point Pin Box, however one hitch stands out to me more than others. Take a look at the: -Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Slide Bar Jaw - 16,000 lbs #C16115 This 5th…

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Answer 8

If you take a look at the linked diagram you can see the minimum recommended clearance distances between truck and trailer for 5th wheel towing. It is recommended to have at least 5-inches from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the trailer…

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Answer 9

Hey Jay. It sounds like you are on the right track here because a sidewinder pin box will be your only option for pulling your 5th wheel since you have a short bed truck with the Rambox. That said, you are right that the Reese Sidewinder cannot be…

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Answer 10

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 11

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors which we…

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Answer 12

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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