Ford OEM Hitch

[atom ant]

Has anyone had any issues getting the Ford OEM hitch (Reese or Companion) from lowering enough to accept the tri-glide pin box on the Redwood?

My existing hitch is all the way down, and that companion looks tall!

[piper guy]

Brad - if you go with a new truck, have them put the 25k Reese in it at the dealer. Tell them to put it in the lowest setting on the hitch. You have an RL like mine, with that setup, my coach is perfectly level and tows like a champ with about 6-7" of bed clearance.

The hitch comes out of the box set up for the middle height.

[trfield58]

Brad, I have the Ford 5th Wheel prep kit option on my 2012 F-350 DRW and I use the B&W Companion hitch. I don't however have the optional Tri-glide pin box just the standard. With that being said, I have my hitch set at the lowest position and it's perfect. I don't know if the tri-glide box is set any higher or lower but wouldn't think so..??... I absolutely LOVE the B&W....without a doubt!!!

[brenkco]

Brad,
I too went with the B&W companion, same config as Tim & Paula however, I have mine set in the middle position.

I opted for the B&W for a few reasons. One, I was camped next to a farmer/truck driver that swore by B&W hitches. He's owned several in all kinds of configurations. The second reason is that I'm cheap and the Resse option was far more expensive. BTW, the B&W was a piece of cake to self install. I had it shipped to my campsite while in Arizona and did it myself.

Removal of the hitch is very easy. I had a short bed before and a pullrite auto slider out of necessity. I very much prefer the B&W.

Ken

[atom ant]

Ken,
Do you have the tri-glide? This thing is enormous and I can't swear to it but I think it sits taller than the non-tri-glide.

I was just worried I would be out of adjustment and still nose high.

[brenkco]

No, but I have looked to replace it with one. I really don't think it's an issue. I just measured mine.... It's 13 1/2 inches from the bottom of the front cap to the bottom of the king pin.

[5th_Time]

Brad, I bought the Reese and kit & put the whole thing in myself. Factory Ford will save you a lot of work. I also have TriGlide and felt the middle position made the Redwood ride slightly high. I dropped the Reese to lowest and has worked fine and rides level. So cast my vote for Reese and lowest position with the TriGlide

[piper guy]

Brad ~ forgot to mention, I have the Tri-Glide hitch also. If you are looking at new trucks, if the one you like has the Camper Pkg, all the better.

That gives you bigger alternator, but more importantly the overload springs are larger. When I hook up the RL, the truck and coach sit level without the airbags inflated. I wind up using the bags for ride control, not suspension height control.

[atom ant]

It has the Camper Package ($160) and it looks like the Extra Heavy Duty Alternator (NO CHARGE) on the sticker. also the 3.73 Limited Slip ($350) and FX4 Off-Road Package ($295) 14000# GVWR Package, and 5th Wheel Prep Package ($370)

Other than the other gadgets and package options - those seem to be important to towing that I could read off the window sticker. The 2014s are gone off the "build" website so I'm kind of shooting in the dark as to what all the options were when originally ordered.

Forgot about airbags - dang - what was the cost to install the airbags?

[Foxfire]

I've got a 2014 f350 srw with the ford fifth wheel prep. The truck has every tow, camper and snow plow package. I have Reese 18,000 hitch and the truck and trailer are all in the lowest setting. It looks ok but I think it may still be a little bit high.

[piper guy]

Figure on about $500-550 for the Airbag 5000 and a wireless remote control Compressor plus install. When I did mine, I mounted the compressor and ran the wiring. If the truck has the Upfitter switch package (the 4 toggle switches in the center of the dash just above the console) it makes the wiring a cinch. The Owners manual shows you which switch has what amp rating and also all the wiring is pre-run to the driver's kick panel. PM or email me if you want to and I'll go over it.

Have a shop mount the bags themselves as with the factory 5th wheel mount it's a %^$#* with the extra crossmembers they put in.

Are you going locally or up to Woodhouse ?? If Woodhouse, they can do the bedcover, hitch, airbags, and a really nice set of mudflaps and just wrap it all into the deal.

[piper guy]

Foxfire ~ one of the reasons I went to the Dually, besides the fact that I was overweight, was that the Dually sits almost 3" lower than my single wheel did.

My SRW was a 2012 F350 CCSB FX4 with all the high GVW and Snowplow prep.

[atom ant]

I've got one locally I'm working on that's a 2014. Woodhouse only had 2 gasser 2014s left. Incentives + X plan puts it about $11K off.

[piper guy]

I would still see if they will include the hitch and bedcover and stuff. Makes it easier to swallow (LOL like the initial price doesn't scare us) $11k off sounds about right.

You'll love the new truck. Mine with the hitch and the bags, I seldom get any chucking. It has to be one of the bridge joints that you see coming with the "oh crap" thought before we get more than a jiggle.

The truck knows it's back there but really doesn't care much. In the mountains here on the Eastern end (hills to you) I average about 10 mpg running at 65-67 mph.

[Blenhardt]

I have the Ford installed Reese 25k elite hitch on my F350 dually and yes I have the Tri-glide. It is in the middle setting and I also do have airbags on the truck. The pin weight on my 34SK is pretty high so I do have to add a little air in the bags to get it level.

[Foxfire]

Originally Posted by piper guy

Foxfire ~ one of the reasons I went to the Dually, besides the fact that I was overweight, was that the Dually sits almost 3" lower than my single wheel did.

My SRW was a 2012 F350 CCSB FX4 with all the high GVW and Snowplow prep.

The reason I went with the SRW was that I use the truck everyday and the dually is not allowed on the parkways. That would double the time of my trip anywhere in my area. The choice was easy as I don't really tow the trailer as much as I need to use the truck.

[piper guy]

I wasn't criticizing your choice of a SRW. With the 31SL you're more than likely well under GVW and GCW. I was only mentioning the difference in the truck height and why.

And mine is also my daily driver, I just don't have any road restrictions to worry about. (other than the lane and a half wide back roads around here .............)

[lwg]

Originally Posted by piper guy

I wasn't criticizing your choice of a SRW. With the 31SL you're more than likely well under GVW and GCW. I was only mentioning the difference in the truck height and why.

And mine is also my daily driver, I just don't have any road restrictions to worry about. (other than the lane and a half wide back roads around here .............)

I've been curious how the DRW rides unloaded around town compared to a SRW?

[Foxfire]

Originally Posted by piper guy

I wasn't criticizing your choice of a SRW. With the 31SL you're more than likely well under GVW and GCW. I was only mentioning the difference in the truck height and why.

And mine is also my daily driver, I just don't have any road restrictions to worry about. (other than the lane and a half wide back roads around here .............)

LOL I didn't take offense, I was just stating my reason for my choice. If I had the roads I'd be driving an F450 decked out to work everyday. But the joys of living in NY say different.

[atom ant]

I would love to go back to a SB SRW crew cab - but just yesterday I saw a 2015 and opened the door to look at the payload, and it was 3,700. F250 was 1,900. I just can't go back or all my same haunts would return.