Rockwood Ultra Lite 2896MB hitch?

[madams144]

Prepping for Retirement, focusing in on the 2896mb as the target unit to purchase. We didn’t want the long bed so going with the 2020 f250 2wd shortbed PowerStroke.

Leaning to the B&W companion hitch (factory puck) but wondering if I need the slider.

My question for anyone with the Ultra Lite 2896Mb 5th and a Ford short bed, do I need the slider version of a hitch? Since the truck nor the trailer is in my possession yet, I do not know how far back the front corners are set back to give clearance for the cab for turns. Just planning the options I need.

Why am leaning to the B&W .. vs pull rite? Oil every day of use? Lifetime warranty vs 5 years for the PullRite. Have to be aligned with trailer to connect? Suspicious the mfg not too confident in all those moving parts .. nor do I want to buy a new hitch every 5 years.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum

5 yr life span? Never heard of that, I know people with Pull Rites that at least 2X as old. Both hitches are very good quality, the pull rite is HEAVY. If your looking at sliding hitches, Demco makes a good one too.

[madams144]

Sorry .. don’t want to mis represent the 5yr part. For clarity, PullRite warranties that hitch for 5 years per their product info site. B&W on their slider version is lifetime warranty.

[chuckster57]

No problem. I wouldn’t have any problem buying any one of the 3 I mentioned.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by madams144

Prepping for Retirement, focusing in on the 2896mb as the target unit to purchase. We didn’t want the long bed so going with the 2020 f250 2wd shortbed PowerStroke....

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

You might want to do some "very careful calculations" on that truck/trailer combo. The trailer GVW is 11500, unloaded pin weight is 1566. At GVW, the pin, if average, will be around 22% of trailer weight. That means the pin weight will be in the 2530 range. That truck, a F250 diesel 4x2, will barely have enough payload for the trailer pin. When you add passengers, hitch weight and any cargo, you're going to be "starting this new journey at the maximum or even overloaded"...

Any fifth wheel trailer in the 36' range and over 10K GVW is going to "challenge" the owner to stay under truck GVW/payload, even with only the driver in the F250 diesel truck. That trailer is in the F350 payload range, well above the F250 capacity.

If you haven't bought the truck yet, do some thoughtful considerations to buying a F350. Cost is slight, capacity is "a whole world better for that trailer".

[madams144]

Thanks for the information, very thoughtful to raise attention. I’ve researched and from what I see I’m good. I did order the diesel\tow uprate option, and per the 2020 tow rating document, the 5th wheel tow rating for my config is 21,700. And GCWR for the truck is 30,000.

Did I miss something? Open to advise if I have.

[travelin texans]

That published max tow rating, as tested, is with a low utility type trailer loaded with cement blocks centered over the axles, not the same as a high profile wind catching rv, useless information to rvers.
You WILL exceed that truck's posted payload, found on drivers door jamb, long before you will ever reach the max tow number. As John pointed out you are most likely going to be at or over the payload of a 250 with only the pin weight of the mentioned 5th wheel.
Advertised truck max tow weight, rv dry weights, brochure/literature weights & ANYTHING the salespeople may have told you mean absolutely nothing in calculations to match a truck & rv, truck payload & rv GVWR will get you the correct numbers to calculate.
IMO go with the 350/3500 truck now & save yourself the expense of trading later, very little difference in price, same drive train, same ride, same mpg, but much better payload, the only difference you'd notice is the badge on the fender & tailgate. If you're planning full-time or snowbirding in that Ultra lite I can almost bet that after a while you'll looking to upgrade to a bigger more livable 5th wheel, with the 1 ton you'll be ready for that day.
I've had a couple different hitches & the B&W Companion was by far the best of them all, easy to hitch/unhitch at any angle, great customer service if needed & American made, can highly recommend it.

[madams144]

Is this attachment viewable?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KCZ85Umq5tSJpHcm7

Truck:
Per that tow calculator:
6870 curb weight
GVWR 10800
Payload 3750
Towing capacity 21700

RV:
UVW 9428
GVWR 11566
Tongue weight 1566

Estimated payload:
420 passenger weight
650 cargo (250 hitch/400 other)
1070 total

After all the above calculator inputs all 4 items were “green”
Available payload 1144
New GVW 9506
New GCVW 9606
Towing capacity 21700

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by madams144

Is this attachment viewable?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KCZ85Umq5tSJpHcm7

Truck:
Per that tow calculator:
6870 curb weight
GVWR 10800
Payload 3750
Towing capacity 21700

RV:
UVW 9428
GVWR 11566
Tongue weight 1566

Estimated payload:
420 passenger weight
650 cargo (250 hitch/400 other)
1070 total

After all the above calculator inputs all 4 items were “green”
Available payload 1144
New GVW 9506
New GCVW 9606
Towing capacity 21700

.
The information I bolded in your post are "found in a generic Ford F250" They are not "all found on every F250"

As an example, NO (and I mean not even one) F250 DIESEL has a payload of 3750. What Ford (and every other manufacturer) does is "pick and choose the best data" to reflect advertising goals that "beat GM and RAM"... GM and RAM do the same thing by picking and choosing which truck rating to use in their charts....

In other words, that 3750 payload is from a "base model single cab F250 4x2 and the "max towing 21700" comes from an entirely different truck (probably diesel powered)

You need to head to a Ford dealership and ask to look at the yellow stickers on EVERY F250 on their lot. I assure you NO DIESEL powered truck will have a payload over 3000 pounds and most "Lariat or higher" option packages will have a payload closer to 2500 pounds, with none over about 2600 pounds.

DON'T BELIEVE THE ADVERTISING BROCHURES..... Even the disclaimer at the bottom of the brochure says, "Specifications will vary, some specifications reflect base model vehicle with specific options"

In other words, you WON'T find any truck on the dealers lot with those specifications.

[madams144]

Understand .. great info. More research

[wiredgeorge]

madams144: You don't have to look up charts or other info. Your payload is on the sticker in your door frame. It says "The combined weight of cargo and passengers should never exceed" and then values in KG and LBS.



Take the GROSS weight of the trailer you want to purchase or have already purchased and multiply by 20 percent. That is the likely pin weight for your trailer (at a minimum as percentage may be higher). If you have 2000 lbs and you and your passenger(s) and junk in the truck such as tools, accessories, hitch, the dog, etc must be estimated and added to the pin weight number and you will either exceed your "The combined weight of cargo and passengers" or you won't. The truck is not designed for more weight than this value and no additional enhancements to your truck can change these numbers but will just add cargo/pin weight.