Hello again -- I'm picking up my 5er in two weeks and need to get a hitch installed in my truck. I got lots of good feedback from this group on my last thread about towing capacity, so here goes again.
I've got the '08 Chevy 3500 HD Duramax/Allison 4x4 DRW, and boy, does it sit up high. My 5th wheel is a 2006 Newmar Cypress, stated kingpin height is 47".
Since I don't have a hitch yet, I thought I should find out which one will be the best. I'm concerned about having enough clearance between the trailer and the bed rails, but also concerned about the trailer being level with the truck so high up. I also want to know how much "extra capacity" you might want in a hitch.. So..
Is there a hitch that tends to work better with taller trucks than others as far as matching up with the trailer?
My truck's tow capacity is 15,900. I don't plan on ever having the 5er loaded past 15,000 (although its capacity is 16,200). Is a 16K hitch enough, or does it make sense to go a bit bigger?
I'm looking at the Reese 18K Signature -- so I won't have rails in the bed. But now's the time for me to find out if there's a particular hitch that will work better for my set-up. I'd rather not get into all that "axle-flipping" stuff I hear about.
Finally, my dealer has a mechanic/technician who can install the hitch. Does this make the most sense, to let him do it and deal with making sure it all comes together? He'll have to order the hitch in advance, I suppose (they're not high-volume sales..)
Any opinions/experience? Am I missing other factors here that enter into this (like air ride hitches or whatever the cushier hitches are called?) thanks. KateyJ
Getting antsy to go get that Cypress!
I've got the '08 Chevy 3500 HD Duramax/Allison 4x4 DRW, and boy, does it sit up high. My 5th wheel is a 2006 Newmar Cypress, stated kingpin height is 47".
Since I don't have a hitch yet, I thought I should find out which one will be the best. I'm concerned about having enough clearance between the trailer and the bed rails, but also concerned about the trailer being level with the truck so high up. I also want to know how much "extra capacity" you might want in a hitch.. So..
Is there a hitch that tends to work better with taller trucks than others as far as matching up with the trailer?
My truck's tow capacity is 15,900. I don't plan on ever having the 5er loaded past 15,000 (although its capacity is 16,200). Is a 16K hitch enough, or does it make sense to go a bit bigger?
I'm looking at the Reese 18K Signature -- so I won't have rails in the bed. But now's the time for me to find out if there's a particular hitch that will work better for my set-up. I'd rather not get into all that "axle-flipping" stuff I hear about.
Finally, my dealer has a mechanic/technician who can install the hitch. Does this make the most sense, to let him do it and deal with making sure it all comes together? He'll have to order the hitch in advance, I suppose (they're not high-volume sales..)
Any opinions/experience? Am I missing other factors here that enter into this (like air ride hitches or whatever the cushier hitches are called?) thanks. KateyJ
Getting antsy to go get that Cypress!