Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-08-2014, 11:13 PM   #1
TnB
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 79
5th Wheel Hitch Size

When we bought our first 5th Wheel, it had a GVWR rating of 12K and we had a Reese 16K hitch.
We upgraded to our second 5th Wheel with a 14K GVWR and used the same hitch.
Now we have (in December 2014) a RW36FB with a GVWR of 16K. Is the Reese 16K still usable?
TnB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2014, 11:32 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
atom ant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
I would say its probably time to move up to a 18 or 20.

I bought a Reese 20K when we got the Redwood because of the gross weight of the Redwood, and it fit in my existing rails. Amazon - about $600 Prime I believe. Sold the old one (slider) for $250 Craigslist.
__________________
Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
atom ant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2014, 11:34 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
0nTheRoad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,092
You're either going to be right at the maximum or perhaps over depending on what you load in the rig. I have an FB, it's right around 17K [we are fulltime]. We have a 25K hitch.

Regardless, I've always understood that there should be around a 20% buffer on hitch rating, I would recumbent no less than 18K if you keep your personal belongings to a minimum, 20K is better.
__________________
SOB
0nTheRoad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 01:24 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
rob_fla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,674
We had a 16K hitch we bought two 5ers ago, our 1st 5th Wheel had a gross weight of about 11,000 lbs. so we had plenty of margin.
Then a few years ago we bought a larger 5th Wheel and started to fulltime in it.
When we had it weighted we were at 15,800 lbs., not much margin left and the hitch had been service for 10 years between the two 5th Wheels so we upgraded to a Curt Q24 about a year ago, way higher than we needed and no thought about trading 5ers at the time.
Now that we have made the move to our RW, we sure are glad we got the higher rated hitch, now we still have plenty of margin.
__________________
Robert & Sheryl
2014 Redwood 38FL
MoRyde 8K IS, Disc Brakes, MoRyde Pin Box
17.5 Goodyear G114's, RV Armor Roof
2018 RAM 3500 DRW, Curt Q24 Hitch

rob_fla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 02:30 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Rick and Mindy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,444
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boca_Shuffles View Post
When we bought our first 5th Wheel, it had a GVWR rating of 12K and we had a Reese 16K hitch.
We upgraded to our second 5th Wheel with a 14K GVWR and used the same hitch.
Now we have (in December 2014) a RW36FB with a GVWR of 16K. Is the Reese 16K still usable?
The only way to know for sure is to have the fifth wheel weighed. When I bought my 31SL I also had a 16k hitch. When loaded my fifth wheel weighed in at around 14,000 lbs, well under the 16k. I have upgraded to a 20,000 lb hitch because eventually I plan on pulling a Goldwing behind the 31SL .
__________________
Rick and Mindy
Retired
2013 Redwood 31SL, 2011 Ford F350 SRW, 6.7, Crew Cab with Firestone Bags, Titan Disc Brakes
Rick and Mindy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 04:26 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
atom ant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick and Mindy View Post
The only way to know for sure is to have the fifth wheel weighed. When I bought my 31SL I also had a 16k hitch. When loaded my fifth wheel weighed in at around 14,000 lbs, well under the 16k. I have upgraded to a 20,000 lb hitch because eventually I plan on pulling a Goldwing behind the 31SL .
That's an excellent point!

Don't forget you have an available 3,000 lb additional tow capacity with the rear hitch on the Redwood. I fully plan to pull another toy trailer someday with a boat, jetskis, ATVs, or maybe my wheelchair if that day comes. That quickly puts me into 20K "capacity", not necessarily "actual".

The downside for me is the tri-glide pin box is only rated for 18K. Man it looks like it is closer to 100K just by how heavy it looks. I know others out there have some rated at over 20K
__________________
Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
atom ant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 10:06 PM   #7
lwg
Senior Member
 
lwg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 918
Quote:
Originally Posted by atom ant View Post

The downside for me is the tri-glide pin box is only rated for 18K. Man it looks like it is closer to 100K just by how heavy it looks. I know others out there have some rated at over 20K
Interesting, my Tri-Glide is rated at 21K. Guess they changed them at some point.
__________________
2014 Redwood 38BR, Fulltiming
2013 Ford F-350 CCSB 6.7L 4x4 SRW, B&W Companion Hitch, Air Bags
lwg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 10:08 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
rob_fla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,674
Our Tri-Glide is also rated at 18K
__________________
Robert & Sheryl
2014 Redwood 38FL
MoRyde 8K IS, Disc Brakes, MoRyde Pin Box
17.5 Goodyear G114's, RV Armor Roof
2018 RAM 3500 DRW, Curt Q24 Hitch

rob_fla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 10:16 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
atom ant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
I wouldn't have thought with a 3K capacity hitch that they would have had to include that with the GVWR to rate the pinbox. Probably overlooked by mistake.
__________________
Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
atom ant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2014, 10:44 PM   #10
lwg
Senior Member
 
lwg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 918
Quote:
Originally Posted by rob_fla View Post
Our Tri-Glide is also rated at 18K
When was yours built? I believe mine was built in June 2014. Wondering when they changed or if I just got lucky.

Funny thing is, an 18K king pin won't pull a Redwood AND the 3K that the hitch is rated for...
__________________
2014 Redwood 38BR, Fulltiming
2013 Ford F-350 CCSB 6.7L 4x4 SRW, B&W Companion Hitch, Air Bags
lwg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2014, 12:43 AM   #11
Dan
Senior Member
 
Dan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 619
I am running with a 25K Reese I was after a 20K but they didn't have one in stock so I convinced them to give me the 25k for the same price. My grandfather used to say find out what you need and then buy one size larger you will eventually need it, that man always seemed to be right
__________________

07 Dodge 3500, Exhaust Brake, Edge Programer, Killer "B" Turbo
13 RL ALL options except Gen and W/D
Dan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2014, 12:26 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
rob_fla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,674
Quote:
Originally Posted by lwg View Post
When was yours built? I believe mine was built in June 2014. Wondering when they changed or if I just got lucky.

Funny thing is, an 18K king pin won't pull a Redwood AND the 3K that the hitch is rated for...
Our 2014 model was build the last week of October 2013
__________________
Robert & Sheryl
2014 Redwood 38FL
MoRyde 8K IS, Disc Brakes, MoRyde Pin Box
17.5 Goodyear G114's, RV Armor Roof
2018 RAM 3500 DRW, Curt Q24 Hitch

rob_fla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2014, 04:47 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
atom ant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
In reality, even the 20K would not be heavy enough if I added the full 3K for the hitch.

Reese came out with a 26.5K for the F450, and my Ford Dealer sold it to me thinking it was the 25K. He said the part number I had was old, and this was the replacement I said fine and walked out with a hitch worth $400 more.
__________________
Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
atom ant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2014, 09:32 PM   #14
Junior Member
 
wileysantafe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16
I have the luxury to put whatever hitch I want on my new 2014 Ram 3500 dually. We are in the process of finding the 36FB that meets our needs but my question is with this truck and this trailer what would be the perfect hitch? I am looking at the B&W Companion but installation cost is pretty high and having rails in the bed not a big deal for I do not use the truck to haul much but gardening and camping stuff.
__________________
Fred & Eileen
Lamy (Santa Fe), NM
2014 Ram 3500 Dually
Redwood 36FB (still looking for the right one)

wileysantafe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2014, 10:42 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 429
Quote:
Originally Posted by wileysantafe View Post
I have the luxury to put whatever hitch I want on my new 2014 Ram 3500 dually. We are in the process of finding the 36FB that meets our needs but my question is with this truck and this trailer what would be the perfect hitch? I am looking at the B&W Companion but installation cost is pretty high and having rails in the bed not a big deal for I do not use the truck to haul much but gardening and camping stuff.
We went with the RAM adapter that fits in the puck holes and a Reese 20K. Both pieces can be manhandled out and in without too much problem. Pulls just fine
__________________

2014 38GK, disc brakes, MorRyde SRE 4000, 2-Yamaha 2000 gennys, G14's, dual awnings, Progressive EMS.
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW with Luverne Bull Bar and skid plate.
coloradolivin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2014, 11:10 PM   #16
Junior Member
 
wileysantafe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16
Did your truck have the 5th wheel RAM OEM hitch platform? My truck does not have this even though it has the rest of the tow package.
__________________
Fred & Eileen
Lamy (Santa Fe), NM
2014 Ram 3500 Dually
Redwood 36FB (still looking for the right one)

wileysantafe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2014, 11:41 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 429
Quote:
Originally Posted by wileysantafe View Post
Did your truck have the 5th wheel RAM OEM hitch platform? My truck does not have this even though it has the rest of the tow package.
No, got it through a RAM dealer. Fits right in the puck holes and the Reese sits on top.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg P1010003.JPG (68.4 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg P1010004.JPG (65.2 KB, 5 views)
__________________

2014 38GK, disc brakes, MorRyde SRE 4000, 2-Yamaha 2000 gennys, G14's, dual awnings, Progressive EMS.
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW with Luverne Bull Bar and skid plate.
coloradolivin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2014, 12:39 AM   #18
Junior Member
 
wileysantafe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 16
Hope I am not being to nosey but what did the RAM dealer charge you?

Thanks
__________________
Fred & Eileen
Lamy (Santa Fe), NM
2014 Ram 3500 Dually
Redwood 36FB (still looking for the right one)

wileysantafe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2014, 01:02 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 429
Quote:
Originally Posted by wileysantafe View Post
Hope I am not being to nosey but what did the RAM dealer charge you?

Thanks
Not being nosy at all. However, I can't remember---maybe about $350 or so
I bought the truck from a local guy who got it from a dealer in Denver. The Dealership where we got the RW included the 20K Reese in the deal. I had a 15K before. So when we got everything together, the local guy called his RAM guy and got the adapter. I don't think it is a real negotiable item, but you could probably check around.
__________________

2014 38GK, disc brakes, MorRyde SRE 4000, 2-Yamaha 2000 gennys, G14's, dual awnings, Progressive EMS.
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW with Luverne Bull Bar and skid plate.
coloradolivin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2014, 10:23 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
5th_Time's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,136
The Trail-Air on my '12RL is 18K and says "L05" on it. What model number is the 21K?
I installed the Reese Elite 18K because the Trail-Air was only18K capacity.
__________________
Mike & Pam '12 36RL, Kodiak Discs, 17.5" G114s H-Rated, SRE4000 w/HD Shackles, Joy Rider Shocks, Flex Air, 5.5 Onan, W&D, DW, 4 Scare Lights, (2) 6V Trojan T-145s; Progressive EMS-HW50C, Winegard DTV Sat, Sony/Denon 4K Home Theater, WiFiRanger EliteAC Pack, weBoost 4G-X Cell Booster.

2022 RAM 3500 Limited CC, LB, 4x4, DRW, Max Tow, Cummins HO, AISIN, 4.10, Mopar 30K w/OEM Prep, Transfer Flow 70gal Aux Tank/Toolbox.
5th_Time is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Redwood RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×