I've towed trailers almost since I began driving 50 years ago. But I have never hauled a fifth wheel. I am told that in some respects, its easier than a tow trailer, but to date it remains an unknown. So I have been watching YouTube videos, reading blogs and talking to people who seem to know what they are talking about.
The Truck
I bought the F-350 for the express purpose of towing large, fifth wheel trailers. I knew a one-ton pickup should be able to handle everything that Vicky and I would be interested in towing. The truck came with a mild lift kit and an integrated B&W reversing goose neck ball in the bed. My buddy Lynn and I installed Air-Ride air bags on it in preparation for towing. We also had to install an in-bed trailer harness for lights and brakes. The good news is that we had fun doing the work (except for the Texas summer heat) and the F-350 is now ready for its towing closeup.
The Hitch
My original thought was to get a B&W Companion hitch to latch onto that goose neck ball. But then I learned about the Andersen Ultimate hitch. It is way lighter and offers the advantage of a reversed ball and socket arrangement which gives the trailer a bit more flexibility. The main reason is weight. The payload capacity of the truck is a mere 2K pounds and with a full load of fuel, two adults and a pinbox weight of 1200 to 1500 pounds, that doesn't leave a lot of room.
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