Should I get a new hitch in my new truck

[RRinNFla]

I am planning to trade in my 2008 F250 for a 2021 or 2022 model. Back in 2008 I was told I needed a slider for my standard bed truck, so I went with a Pull-rite Superglide. So far I haven’t had any significant issues with my Superglide but on a couple of occasions I had to adjust my landing jacks to get the hitch jaws to release. I also want to stay with a standard bed truck. I do not believe a slider is necessary for modern radial front fivers. I am also one who believes that it pays in the long run to have a good quality hitch.

So my options (as I see it) are:
Have my 13 year old Superglide moved to the new truck, perhaps refurbished;
Take the opportunity to change out the hitch for a model that absorbs some shock, like a comfort ride.:

Follow up question, the big 3 HD truck manufacturers all offer a fifth wheel prep package priced around $1000. Is that worthwhile? I rarely use the bed of my truck for hauling anything besides my fiver.

[cummins2014]

MFL wrote:

cummins2014 wrote:

MFL wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
you can get decent cash for the Pullrite... I did this 2 years ago when my 2020 long bed Ford was due to hit... I Sold the perfectly good circa 2006 Pullrite for $400.00 and put that money towards a Brand Spanking New B & W Companion and am thrilled I did.....

Testament to my statement above "who doesn't want a new hitch in their new truck"!

Good advice here!

Jerry

I didn't, the Reese Signature hitch I had at the time was just fine . Plus getting the adapter at that time ,gave me plenty of options. Also accommodated my steel Andersen later on ,which IMO can't be beat for simplicity easy of hitching etc etc etc .


But if I had that Superglide , I would dump it ,after seeing the issues I have seen with them .

Most times Sons are more spoiled, than their Dad! Did your Son get a new hitch yet, for that Super new truck he just got? Since he got the best truck, hoping he got the best drop in hitch too! :C

Hope he is enjoying all!

Jerry

He hasn't got a fifth wheel yet ,so no hitch yet .

I have two sons ,one a Ford fan, probably because I owned a Superduty for 16 years , I jumped ship ,and went to the Ram.:) IMO that Ford had NOTHING over on the Ram , other then the mirrors. The other son, smarter then both his brother ,and dad :B just ordered a new Ram 3500 , his fourth new Ram, and I got to say the three he's had have been excellent trucks , big reason he's stayed with the Ram truck , and a lot of the reason I went Ram, being around his ,and driving it .

[MFL]

cummins2014 wrote:

MFL wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
you can get decent cash for the Pullrite... I did this 2 years ago when my 2020 long bed Ford was due to hit... I Sold the perfectly good circa 2006 Pullrite for $400.00 and put that money towards a Brand Spanking New B & W Companion and am thrilled I did.....

Testament to my statement above "who doesn't want a new hitch in their new truck"!

Good advice here!

Jerry

I didn't, the Reese Signature hitch I had at the time was just fine . Plus getting the adapter at that time ,gave me plenty of options. Also accommodated my steel Andersen later on ,which IMO can't be beat for simplicity easy of hitching etc etc etc .


But if I had that Superglide , I would dump it ,after seeing the issues I have seen with them .

Most times Sons are more spoiled, than their Dad! Did your Son get a new hitch yet, for that Super new truck he just got? Since he got the best truck, hoping he got the best drop in hitch too! :C

Hope he is enjoying all!

Jerry

[cummins2014]

MFL wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
you can get decent cash for the Pullrite... I did this 2 years ago when my 2020 long bed Ford was due to hit... I Sold the perfectly good circa 2006 Pullrite for $400.00 and put that money towards a Brand Spanking New B & W Companion and am thrilled I did.....

Testament to my statement above "who doesn't want a new hitch in their new truck"!

Good advice here!

Jerry

I didn't, the Reese Signature hitch I had at the time was just fine . Plus getting the adapter at that time ,gave me plenty of options. Also accommodated my steel Andersen later on ,which IMO can't be beat for simplicity easy of hitching etc etc etc .


But if I had that Superglide , I would dump it ,after seeing the issues I have seen with them .

[Cummins12V98]

Trailer Saver are also top quality with a simple solid latching mechanism. If I did not have my current pin box I would consider one. But I really think they need to step up and make a puck hitch.

[MFL]

Durb wrote:
The Patriot has the same urethane bushing setup the Companion has which some refer to as shock absorbers, they aren't.

The Patriot has the same bushings, but no shock absorber, like the Companion has. This shock does not correct chucking.

No one mentioned chucking, until you described your severe issue above. No, the Companion would not fix that, but a $3,000 bandaid should not be necessary! Even that, likely did not correct the PROBLEM, but only removed/masked the jarring feel in the truck. If you, and especially your wife are happy with that hitch, and resulting ride in the truck, that is great. 🙂

While many, towing FWs, experience various level of chucking, on certain roads, most can be corrected, by either speeding up a bit/slowing down a bit, if rig is properly set up. Works for me, on the rare occasions I've experienced this, with several FWs, and hitch brands.

For the OP, I stand by my recommendation...get the puck system, and a quality hitch that fits direct to pucks.

Jerry

[Durb]

rhagfo wrote:

MFL wrote:

Durb wrote:
A Companion is a fine hitch but is considered a solid hitch and absorbing shock is an overstatement. The most comfortable hitch to tow with would be a Trailer Saver TS3. Unfortunately, it does not come factory equipped to fit a Ford puck system without an adapter.

You mention the hitch might stay in the truck so bed rails could be an option saving you some money over the puck system. New truck, might as well protect it with a highly effective shock absorbing, comfortable towing, hitch. I've had a B&W Patriot and a TS3, not in the same league.

Not sure if you are joking.:R Comparing a $600 Patriot to a $3,000 air ride hitch, plus rail cost/installation cost, plus $600 adapter needed, if using the pucks.:S If you NEED a TS3, you may have other issues! I agree the TS3 is a great hitch.

Since the Companion has a shock absorber, and absorbs shock, with no banging or clunking, what was wrong in my statement?

Jerry

Really a TS3 to tow a 12,000# 5er, a bit of overkill.

I get a kick at how many think chucking is merely hitch noise from a loose hookup. You don't know what chucking is until your head is bouncing off the headrest and your wife has to hold her chest. The Patriot has the same urethane bushing setup the Companion has which some refer to as shock absorbers, they aren't. My 10,000# trailer is a chucking machine, probably still is. The Trailer Saver keeps the chucking forces from reaching my seat back. I roll over a bump which I feel in the truck. When the trailer rolls over the same bump I feel nothing in the truck.

I liked my Patriot hitch, it was a well built unit. However the tow was so uncomfortable with it that my wife told me to sell the trailer after half an hour. $3,000 is overkill? Best money I ever spent for the fifth wheel and towing experience.

Got no problems with the B&W fan boys, they are good hitches. I am a Trailer Saver fan boy and realize there are hitches that do a lot more.

[Cummins12V98]

Durb wrote:
A Companion is a fine hitch but is considered a solid hitch and absorbing shock is an overstatement. The most comfortable hitch to tow with would be a Trailer Saver TS3. Unfortunately, it does not come factory equipped to fit a Ford puck system without an adapter.

You mention the hitch might stay in the truck so bed rails could be an option saving you some money over the puck system. New truck, might as well protect it with a highly effective shock absorbing, comfortable towing, hitch. I've had a B&W Patriot and a TS3, not in the same league.

I would never claim the B&W is shock absorbing at all, I do claim it's ROCK SOLID.

I have factory rear air ride on my truck and a TrailAir pin box that has a bag and fore and aft absorption. It's an AWESOME combination. OH, I only have 6k pin weight.

[rhagfo]

MFL wrote:

Durb wrote:
A Companion is a fine hitch but is considered a solid hitch and absorbing shock is an overstatement. The most comfortable hitch to tow with would be a Trailer Saver TS3. Unfortunately, it does not come factory equipped to fit a Ford puck system without an adapter.

You mention the hitch might stay in the truck so bed rails could be an option saving you some money over the puck system. New truck, might as well protect it with a highly effective shock absorbing, comfortable towing, hitch. I've had a B&W Patriot and a TS3, not in the same league.

Not sure if you are joking.:R Comparing a $600 Patriot to a $3,000 air ride hitch, plus rail cost/installation cost, plus $600 adapter needed, if using the pucks.:S If you NEED a TS3, you may have other issues! I agree the TS3 is a great hitch.

Since the Companion has a shock absorber, and absorbs shock, with no banging or clunking, what was wrong in my statement?

Jerry

Really a TS3 to tow a 12,000# 5er, a bit of overkill.

[MFL]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MFL wrote:
The FW prep added to Ford from factory, should not be nearly $1,000? It is a no-brainer to add this option!

Yes, who doesn't want a new hitch, in their new truck? 🙂

No you don't need a heavy slider in a standard bed Ford. Sell yours, get a new 3300 from B&W to drop right in the pucks. This hitch will absorb shock, adjust ahead/back, and is VERY user friendly. Easy to hitch/unhitch, any angle. Two pieces, head 75 lbs, base 78 lbs. High quality hitch design, fit, and finish!

Jerry

You seem to be wanting my title as "President of the B&W HeavyWeight FanBoy Club" :B

Title...nope, had those in the past. It's the $$$, that go with a title! So MAYBE...hard times, require desperate measures. :W

Jerry

[MFL]

Durb wrote:
A Companion is a fine hitch but is considered a solid hitch and absorbing shock is an overstatement. The most comfortable hitch to tow with would be a Trailer Saver TS3. Unfortunately, it does not come factory equipped to fit a Ford puck system without an adapter.

You mention the hitch might stay in the truck so bed rails could be an option saving you some money over the puck system. New truck, might as well protect it with a highly effective shock absorbing, comfortable towing, hitch. I've had a B&W Patriot and a TS3, not in the same league.

Not sure if you are joking.:R Comparing a $600 Patriot to a $3,000 air ride hitch, plus rail cost/installation cost, plus $600 adapter needed, if using the pucks.:S If you NEED a TS3, you may have other issues! I agree the TS3 is a great hitch.

Since the Companion has a shock absorber, and absorbs shock, with no banging or clunking, what was wrong in my statement?

Jerry

[Durb]

A Companion is a fine hitch but is considered a solid hitch and absorbing shock is an overstatement. The most comfortable hitch to tow with would be a Trailer Saver TS3. Unfortunately, it does not come factory equipped to fit a Ford puck system without an adapter.

You mention the hitch might stay in the truck so bed rails could be an option saving you some money over the puck system. New truck, might as well protect it with a highly effective shock absorbing, comfortable towing, hitch. I've had a B&W Patriot and a TS3, not in the same league.

[Cummins12V98]

MFL wrote:
The FW prep added to Ford from factory, should not be nearly $1,000? It is a no-brainer to add this option!

Yes, who doesn't want a new hitch, in their new truck? 🙂

No you don't need a heavy slider in a standard bed Ford. Sell yours, get a new 3300 from B&W to drop right in the pucks. This hitch will absorb shock, adjust ahead/back, and is VERY user friendly. Easy to hitch/unhitch, any angle. Two pieces, head 75 lbs, base 78 lbs. High quality hitch design, fit, and finish!

Jerry

You seem to be wanting my title as "President of the B&W HeavyWeight FanBoy Club" :B

[ford_truck_guy]

MFL wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
you can get decent cash for the Pullrite... I did this 2 years ago when my 2020 long bed Ford was due to hit... I Sold the perfectly good circa 2006 Pullrite for $400.00 and put that money towards a Brand Spanking New B & W Companion and am thrilled I did.....

Testament to my statement above "who doesn't want a new hitch in their new truck"!

Good advice here!

Jerry

True that Jerry..... on 1 hand there is a 13 year old hitch with a bunch of maintenance ... On the other hand there is the creme de la creme of hitches ... It was easy to decide for me

[Grit_dog]

Why don’t ya see what you end up with for a truck first and then if it has 5th wheel prep, decide whether to get a new hitch or mount up the old one. Would stink to sell a perfectly good hitch and then end up with a truck without the 5ver pucks AND have to buy a new traditional hitch.
Plus I believe you can get a new frame for puck mounts for most popular hitches. Maybe another option.