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Advice - 2022 RAM 2500 with 6'-4" bed and Reflection 150 series 5th wheels

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  • Advice - 2022 RAM 2500 with 6'-4" bed and Reflection 150 series 5th wheels

    Hello, I need some advice on switching to a Reflection 150 series 5th wheel with my current truck. I have the 6'-4" bed in my 2022 RAM 2500 with no OEM 5th wheel hitch prep. We are looking to upgrade from our 23LDE into the small 5th wheel category. I really want to hear from the RAM 2500 owners who have a Reflection 150 series 5th wheel and have gone thru the hitch selection process. I have 3 questions:

    1. I know the Reflection 150 series comes with the Turning Point "swivel" pin box, but is it enough? I'm considering keeping the Turning Point in the fixed position and using an auto-slider hitch but I don't have any experience with 5th wheels at all. Overkill? If I can get by without a slider hitch in the truck that is money and payload saved but I don't want to cut the tolerance so close that I regret that decision. From my readings, at least I have the 6'-4" bed and not the Ford 5'-5", maybe my RAM clearance is enough to make a difference?? I also considered a manual slider hitch for only when it might be absolutely necessary, but I still can't use that with a Turning Point pin box in the swivel configuration. I am specifically looking at the 260RD and the 280RS.

    2. I also read about truck bed, bed rail, and hitch height concerns. I have not done anything to my truck like a lift kit or big tires, I just have the regular 2500 4x4 with 18" E tires. Has anyone had good results with a specific hitch for the height concerns?

    3. With my 23LDE I spent a lot of time researching proper TT tongue weight, probably much more than necessary, but I know nothing about 5th wheel towing. What is the proper hitch or pin weight needed? I've hear it can be as high as 25%, but is that based on UVW or GVWR? I can't seem to make sense of the suggested hitch weight for these models from the GD information, nor how those numbers were derived.

    We just completed a 5,000 mile trip out west with the 23LDE and it is time to upgrade.
    thanks
    Rob
    2022 Reflection 150 Series 280RS, 2022 GMC 3500 Denali crew cab 4x4 6.6L Turbo Diesel, empty wallet.

  • #2
    The only thing I can help with is pin weight.
    It usually is calculated around 20% and for worse case scenario GVWR, this is used to compare to the cargo capacity of the tow vehicle.

    Brian
    Brian & Michelle
    2018 Reflection 29RS
    2022 Chevy 3500HD

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    • #3
      Thanks Brian!
      2022 Reflection 150 Series 280RS, 2022 GMC 3500 Denali crew cab 4x4 6.6L Turbo Diesel, empty wallet.

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      • #4
        I have a 320G and towed with my 2016 2500 Megacab with aftermarket airbags for 2 years. It scaled just over 16K lbs with a cycle in it. When empty (more pin weight) it was a little too much sway for me. I upgraded to a 3500 8' bed truck and its fine now. I think 34 overall/12-14K lbs is about the limit of the 2500. I did put 5K miles towing with the 2500, and some times it towed just fine. Other times I was white knuckling.
        2020 GD 320G
        2021 Ram 3500 H.O. SRW.

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        • #5
          Thanks Roy, I'm not looking to be anywhere near that length or GVW, I'm only looking at the Reflection 150 series model 5th wheels (advertised at 1/2 ton towables) and the biggest one I will consider is 30'11" with GVW of 11K. I may go with a smaller model at 29ft and GVW of 10K or the 226RK at around 27ft. I don't think I ever approach the GVW with our packing and watching my gray/black tanks. My payload rating is the limiting factor on this and why I'm trying to figure out the correct hitch/pin weight %es. Initial calculations show me that I may be between 16 and 21% depending on the model and all is within the limits with my other payload. I'm just wondering if 16-21% is enough.
          thanks
          2022 Reflection 150 Series 280RS, 2022 GMC 3500 Denali crew cab 4x4 6.6L Turbo Diesel, empty wallet.

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          • #6
            I think you will be fine. Put some airlift airbags on and hammer away. I used/use a goosebox. Just be mindful when backing up. You have a Crewcab and the short camper will make tight turns. Hitch should be pretty sorted from the factory.
            2020 GD 320G
            2021 Ram 3500 H.O. SRW.

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            • #7
              Dump the turn point hitch. Get a Reese Goose box, a B&W Turnover hitch, and the 4" offset plate.

              Don't let the dealer install the hitch! (picture is self explanatory)

              Just my opinion.

              -Mike-
              2022 Reflection 31 MB w/ Goose Box
              2021 Chevy 2500HD

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              • #8
                Hi Rob,

                I have a 2019 RAM 2500 Laramie Cummins with the same bed pulling the Reflection 28BH which I consider the bottom of the mid profile Reflection line. I use the Pull Right SuperGlide hitch. I do have the factory towing prep with the pucks. I just leave the hitch in my truck with a bed cover and no one knows its there till I need it. I like the hitch once i get hooked up, but there is a learning curve, at least for me. Once on the road, tows great and never have to worry about making a sharp turn. 90 degrees is quite available. Plenty of bed clearance. With the gas model, your PL is much higher than mine and I can tell you that my truck and trailer make a great pair for travel. I have 6 or so trips so far this year, get 15MPG, with no white knuckles.
                Al and Diane

                2022 28BH - (6) Chins 100AH, MultiPlus 2, (2) 100/30CC, 1.4KW solar
                RAM 2019 2500 Cummins crew cab short bed
                PullRite SuperGlide

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                • #9
                  Mike, OMG!! - that's not a drywall patch fix for sure!
                  tks
                  2022 Reflection 150 Series 280RS, 2022 GMC 3500 Denali crew cab 4x4 6.6L Turbo Diesel, empty wallet.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Bigdog3162 View Post
                    Mike, OMG!! - that's not a drywall patch fix for sure!
                    tks
                    Pretty much my reaction. The reason I didn't do it myself was that I didn't want to drill the hole in the wrong place. Also, when I got it home, none of the bolts were torqued... I mean at all!

                    They did repair the bed. I'll give them that much credit. But, to send someone out on the road with a loose hitch? Not cool.

                    -Mike-
                    2022 Reflection 31 MB w/ Goose Box
                    2021 Chevy 2500HD

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Remember, the RAM short bed is the shortest of all the trucks, so the clearance on a short bed Ford (6.5' bed), or Chevy (6.7' bed), should be more than the RAM (6.4' bed). If you are looking at the lightest option, put the factory pucks on your truck, get a good 5th wheel hitch, and use the turning point. That setup, you should be able to make a 90* turn without hitting the cab, not having to worry about how sharp you are turning. A sliding hitch will be the same, but it can weigh more than 100 lbs+ over a regular hitch, and no matter what you do, that turning point weight will always be there.

                      If you want a goose neck setup you will need to jump through some hoops to convert the pin box over. If you still want to, I would put the B&W goose neck setup in the truck, use the 4" offset ball, and keep an eye out on tight turns. If you do go that way, do not do the factory goose neck setup in the truck, you will not be able to use the 4" offset with it, reason is the shaft for the ball on the factory is a round hole, and the B&W is a square, not allowing any swivel motion of the offset.
                      Last edited by Wileykid; 07-28-2022, 11:40 AM.
                      2021 GD Momentum 320G 8K Axle
                      2023 Chevy 3500HD LTZ SB CC 4x4 Dmax

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                      • #12
                        Bigdog3162 Until you measure the location of the hitch to the back of the cab, you will not know. IIRC there was someone on here that had issues with the cap contacting the cab or brake light on the cab of their ford. Each truck and setup is a bit different; setup height, hitch location, hitch MFG, and a few other factors all determine how the king pin to cab clearance will be. It's hard to find someone with the exact setup you want to run, if you do you are lucky.
                        Joseph
                        Tow
                        Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
                        Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
                        South of Houston Texas

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                        • #13
                          Thanks everyone! We just started the paperwork on a 280RS with a Pull-Rite Superglide 20K hitch that has a 14" auto-slide to the rear when turning in low speed tight turns. I don't know how it automatically "cams" to do that slide to the rear but it sounds pretty neat. After reading posts here, and discussing the issue at two dealerships, I decided to keep the Turning Point pin box in the fixed position and just use the Superglide hitch. I've run my numbers and my truck is within the payload for the 20% pin weight I want. My other numbers are fine, payload caps first. [[[ My fall back plan is a Ram 3500 dually diesel with 8ft bed if the wife agrees (ha). ]]]
                          2022 Reflection 150 Series 280RS, 2022 GMC 3500 Denali crew cab 4x4 6.6L Turbo Diesel, empty wallet.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Bigdog3162 go to page 10 of a manual for the superglide (https://www.pullrite.com/sites/defau...s-manual_2.pdf) Note the inverted V under the center rails. This is the "cam" mechanism. The Hitch head has follower that uses this area to determine the position of the head. As the follower moves off of center and down one of the legs, the head slides down the rails toward the rear. Pages 12 and 16 of the manual show how the cam and V work. Note the head is connected via several intermediate things to the cam. So as the head rotates, the plate the cam on follows allowing the slide.

                            1st thing I can suggest is plan to spend time with the technician on getting it setup correctly. Check and verify all of the connections especially the bolt holding the head pivot in place (ours was over tightened and would not allow the head to pivot side to side).
                            2nd thing make them show and assist you in hooking and unhooking (this will show if it's been lubed correctly).
                            3rd Read, Read, Read, and Read the manual. Pay close attention to the lubrication points. I chose to not use WD-40 as mentioned (no real lubrication there) but instead have been using graphite (dry not wet) with very promising results. I've been painting on this stuff lately and it works well the longer you let it dry https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...l?cm_vc=-10005
                            4th there are points to lubricate that may or may not be in the manual, I lubricate the king pin itself, the groove especially, as this is where the locking ring has to make it's connection and needs to slide around the pin.
                            5th get them to explain "emergency" unhooking. It's in the manual, but you need to be comfortable with pulling the head side pins and lifting it out of the base, then reinstalling it. I had to do this at the hunting lease a few times as my parking spot would not let me get straight when backing in, but I could get straight to make the connection once parked.

                            Don't be afraid to ask questions and make them stick with you until you are comfortable and can make the connection. We got home late at night from an all day dealer nightmare on our 1st 5er purchase and I thought I was going to need a sledge hammer to un hook. Hated the hitch at first, then after going through the manual and greasing it up, I now like it.
                            Joseph
                            Tow
                            Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
                            Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
                            South of Houston Texas

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                            • #15
                              Joseph, thank you very much for the info - solid! I was also wondering about the whole WD40 thing, its not a lubricant. I used silicone spray for my Pro-Pride stinger and box, worked well. I will look at the graphite you mentioned. They showed me the hitch head emergency pull but we will go over that again.
                              Many thanks!
                              Rob
                              2022 Reflection 150 Series 280RS, 2022 GMC 3500 Denali crew cab 4x4 6.6L Turbo Diesel, empty wallet.

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