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Fifth wheel hitch type ?

Bozo

Well-known member
While the Anderson may be ok for a weekend warrior, the better, heavier built hitches will stand the test of time over the long hauls and many, many, miles traveled. Goosebox or any real 5th wheel hitch. I run the BD5 trailer saver….mainly because I got a smokin deal on it. If I were to buy a new hitch,outright , I would spring for the goosebox.
 

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WE3ZS

Member
I have the same Trailer Saver BD5-F full air ride hitch as Bozo showed above. If you really love your fiver and plan to tow it many miles over time, investing in some type of suspension hitch is prudent, Goosebox, Gen Y, Trailer Saver etc…
 

M and E

Well-known member
While the Anderson may be ok for a weekend warrior, the better, heavier built hitches will stand the test of time over the long hauls and many, many, miles traveled. Goosebox or any real 5th wheel hitch. I run the BD5 trailer saver….mainly because I got a smokin deal on it. If I were to buy a new hitch,outright , I would spring for the goosebox.
You'll need a second mortgage nowadays to own that hitch, new or used. Hyperbole, but it is pricey...which is fine as it is arguably one of the best hitches made. Funnily enough, I just sold my Hensley Arrow today.
 

Lantley

Well-known member
That Hensley Arrow
You'll need a second mortgage nowadays to own that hitch, new or used. Hyperbole, but it is pricey...which is fine as it is arguably one of the best hitches made. Funnily enough, I just sold my Hensley Arrow today.
That Hensley arrow is a pricey hitch too. But also worth it in the long run'
I did not achieve total satisfaction when I had a bumper pull trailer until I wised up/bit the bullet and purchased a HA hitch.
I now have a BD3 air ride hitch.
 

M and E

Well-known member
That Hensley Arrow

That Hensley arrow is a pricey hitch too. But also worth it in the long run'
I did not achieve total satisfaction when I had a bumper pull trailer until I wised up/bit the bullet and purchased a HA hitch.
I now have a BD3 air ride hitch.
I don't own the trailer saver, but know folks who have. I've seen them in person and they are overbuilt in a positive way.

I did pretty good on the resale on the HA. Very little depreciation.
 

Lantley

Well-known member
I don't own the trailer saver, but know folks who have. I've seen them in person and they are overbuilt in a positive way.

I did pretty good on the resale on the HA. Very little depreciation.
I sold my HA aS Well did OK but at the time pro pride had just come on the market so I imagine did not do as well as you on the sale.
Everyone aved how much better a 5th wheel towed vs. a bumper pull. But coming from a HA that difference was not as stark. In my mind my travel trailer towed just as well as a 5th wheel using the HA.
I cannot say enough good things about the HA, Yes its expensive but it really solved my towing issues.
 

WE3ZS

Member
Seems like a trend here………I have a Hensley Arrow that will soon be for sale also, used it on our 2 previous trailers, a 31’ TH and a 41’ TT, both were perfectly behaved behind our old Excursion for over 80K miles. I bought it back in ‘11 for $650 and gave it new bearings, heavier spring bars and a coat of paint, it now needs paint again and I’m sure I will get me money back out of it.
The BD5-F we bought for a steal from a guy who who had just unloaded his custom Luxe TH that couldn’t go on a trip without a serious breakdown of one sort or another, he had moved on to a new Oliver and just wanted the Trailer Saver gone.
Its very comforting to watch the pinbox just float over bumps going down the road sitting on top of that air ride hitch, I do believe the softer ride has to extend the life of the fiver.
 

Bozo

Well-known member
Seems like a trend here………I have a Hensley Arrow that will soon be for sale also, used it on our 2 previous trailers, a 31’ TH and a 41’ TT, both were perfectly behaved behind our old Excursion for over 80K miles. I bought it back in ‘11 for $650 and gave it new bearings, heavier spring bars and a coat of paint, it now needs paint again and I’m sure I will get me money back out of it.
The BD5-F we bought for a steal from a guy who who had just unloaded his custom Luxe TH that couldn’t go on a trip without a serious breakdown of one sort or another, he had moved on to a new Oliver and just wanted the Trailer Saver gone.
Its very comforting to watch the pinbox just float over bumps going down the road sitting on top of that air ride hitch, I do believe the softer ride has to extend the life of the fiver.
Trailer breakdown or Ford?
 

M and E

Well-known member
I sold my HA aS Well did OK but at the time pro pride had just come on the market so I imagine did not do as well as you on the sale.
Everyone aved how much better a 5th wheel towed vs. a bumper pull. But coming from a HA that difference was not as stark. In my mind my travel trailer towed just as well as a 5th wheel using the HA.
I cannot say enough good things about the HA, Yes its expensive but it really solved my towing issues.
Agree. Not a tremendous difference. Stable as all get out as far as I am concerned. Trucks, busses, moderately strong wind (steady and gusts) had little impact.
 

M and E

Well-known member
I have a 310rl and a Ford 6'9" bed and i went with a Goosebox. No problems................yet
We are going to the Gen-Y next year. Having this rig dialed in with the B&W makes it such an effortless and comfy towing experience but I am going to need the bed more frequently than I do now and I would not mind losing the ~300 pounds.
 

WE3ZS

Member
Trailer breakdown or Ford?
The guy we bought the BDF-F from said the Luxe would experience electrical issues ranging from intermittent mystery outages to overheated wires and electrical burning smells along with various cabinetry problems, chassis issues and suspension and brake problems. He said that it had been back to Luxe multiple times with no resolutions, he was just done with it and unloaded it. Then he wanted the Trailer Saver hitch out of his way and we were happy to help him with that!
No problems with his F-450 that he traded for a new F-150 to tow his new Oliver.
 
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Flyer32RLS

Member
Have had the older version (2.0) and got the newer version when offered. It is very beefed up and have pulled a couple thousand miles and have NO problem. I can't help but think that the ones that have had failures had some kind of catastrophic event that caused the failure. I have a super hard time believing that the hitch just failed when pulling away at a stop light. I would have to call BS. Something happened prior to that event to weaken the hitch. I pulled a 43' 5er at 14.000lbs and have zero problems. Very smooth ride. You have to believe what you believe.
I love it and can't see ever moving to a huge, heavy weight, eating up my cargo weight hitch. But I am sure some will buyu a bigger truck to accommodate a heavier hitch. TO each their own!
 

Flyer32RLS

Member
The guy we bought the BDF-F from said the Luxe would experience electrical issues ranging from intermittent mystery outages to overheated wires and electrical burning smells along with various cabinetry problems, chassis issues and suspension and brake problems. He said that it had been back to Luxe multiple times with no resolutions, he was just done with it and unloaded it. Then he wanted the Trailer Saver hitch out of his way and we were happy to help him with that!
No problems with his F-450 that he traded for a new F-150 to tow his new Oliv

I would change out the trailer kingpin to a goose box before I would use an Anderson product.
To each their own but that hitch did not just fail on it own. There was some major event that caused it to fail as he pulled away from a stop light. Come on, you really think that someone would put out a product that would just fail from a stop light?
You can lug around a 250 lb hitch if you'd like. Makes you feel safer then have at it. We still live in a country that allows freedom of choice! What is more important, is to kenjoy what you do and how you do it.
 

Bozo

Well-known member
Buy a $100,000+ trailer, hook to a $100,000 truck and Then brag about the couple hundred bucks ”saved” on a cheap hitch…. too each his own.
 

Bozo

Well-known member
And today, we are still seeing recalls about air bag inflators, fuel leaks, brake modules, etc. from automakers. We still still junk put out by rv manufacturers. China bomb tires, etc. So yes, I would say the consumer gets some shoddy products that may pass the tests initially, but don’t pass muster over time and our ever improving roads.(sarcasm).
 

Lantley

Well-known member
And today, we are still seeing recalls about air bag inflators, fuel leaks, brake modules, etc. from automakers. We still still junk put out by rv manufacturers. China bomb tires, etc. So yes, I would say the consumer gets some shoddy products that may pass the tests initially, but don’t pass muster over time and our ever improving roads.(sarcasm).
Let's discuss the failure of my ABS module on my 2019 3500 Silverado.
The part is on back order from the dealer! Quoted 2 weeks up till a year for a replacement. Found a used one.
All was good until we learned the used part could only be programmed at the dealer. What a Fiasco!
$1100.00 and 4 days later it's fixed and ABS light is off!
 
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