Posted 2007-06-26 8:37 AM (#62862) Subject: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 17
Location: NJ
i need to get a hitch for my 'new/used' f250 heavy duty. when i had a hitch installed last time around i relied on advice of the mechanic but i've learned my lesson;) so my question is, is there a difference from brand to brand? is there a reason why i should pay $100 or more for a drawtite instead of getting a cheaper valley? thoughts?
thanks!
Posted 2007-06-26 10:11 AM (#62866 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 12
I alway go with"you get what you pay for". It's a hitch you will probably have it for a long time. Spend the extra money and feel safer with what you are towing. If they were the same they would be priced the same.
Posted 2007-06-26 10:14 AM (#62867 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 17
Location: NJ
thanks for your input!
i just want to understand why the more expensive is better.
you know it's like w/ those generic meds, they're half the price but they're the same thing. so why is it different w/ hitches? what am i paying for? different steel composition? what?
Posted 2007-06-26 10:30 AM (#62869 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Carson City, MI
We have a Reese Brand for our bumper bull and a Curtis for our gooseneck. We are very happy with both. I would worry buying an in-expensive one, they are the only thing holding that trailer up and it's expensive cargo! Good luck.
Posted 2007-06-26 7:02 PM (#62902 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 9
Location: TX
If you are looking for a gooseneck hitch, then I would recomend the B&W Turnover. It is a little more expensive than the others, but well worth the money. It is very easy to install as well. Not sure of the web site, but do a google search for "B&W Tunrover Ball" and it should pull right up.
As far as a bumper pull goes I cant help you out much, I dont own any bumper pull trailers and hope to never own any!!
Posted 2007-06-27 7:06 AM (#62921 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Redmond, WA
While I'd stick with a name-brand, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Have you ever heard of a hitch failing? I haven't. If you're really looking for something heavy-duty, the Reese Titan hitch has the highest loan capacity I've seen (12k/14k). It's the only 2.5" receiver on the market that I know of.
Otherwise, go with a gooseneck. After pulling with a gooseneck for the past few years, you'd have to pull some of my teeth to get me to go back to bumperpulls.
Posted 2007-06-27 7:46 AM (#62923 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 17
Location: NJ
well, since i have a bumperpull trailer, 5th wheel is really not an option;)
you're right, i've never heard of a hitch failing.
on another forum (COTH) someone posted that their hitch (valley) came loose after less than a year. he retightened everything and now checks it on regular basis. i'm guessing that the bolts coming loose had nothing to do with the brand but rather with the installation (or maybe the truck is prone to unusual vibration?). i never looked at the hitch mounts on my old truck since the day i got it. i promise that i will crawl under there before the next haul...
well, i'm going to compare the shipping charges again and then decide but sounds to me like there is really not that much difference in the quality that warrants an extra $100.
Posted 2007-06-27 8:26 AM (#62927 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
I think there may be a difference!... If not in the reliability of the hitch itself, possibly in the way the manufacturer backs his product. I had a Valley gooseneck hitch installed in my truck and within 2 years, the cable that locks the ball in place froze up. The handle that you use to pull the cable was located in the bed of the truck (per manufacturer installation recommendation). Apparently the water/snow that accumulates in the bed was able to leak into the cable housing and the cable rusted up. We were able to free it with a lot of DW40, oil and elbow grease, but this spring when I went to hitch up it was frozen solid again - this time no amount of work would free it. I took it back to my installer. They were able to order a new cable from Valley, but the manufacturer said they had no fault in this. They no longer make this style hitch, but (gee whiz) they never had any complaints!!... I ended up paying the $67.00 for the cable and shipping and handling and my installer did the work for free. He was able to make a change to where the handle is repositioned so that there should be no leakage into the housing. Great service from Performance Trailers in Flanders, NJ... poor response (IMO) from Valley.
ps: Performance Trailers does not routinely carry horse trailers, but they deal with many manufacturers and distributors and can order and service many different brands. They also do custom work and can retrofit your electric, tack room, etc. They also do welding. They are nice to deal with and do very good work. Call Glenn or Al or pm me if you need additional info.
Posted 2007-06-27 8:31 AM (#62931 - in reply to #62927) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 17
Location: NJ
thanks jakey1!
i have a great trailer/hitch guy in old bridge that does maintenance on my trailer and hitch if i need. but this time my SO is going to install the hitch for me.
that's a good point you make about manufacturer standing by its product... i went to the draw tite website and that company has been around since the 40's. they must be doing something right.
Posted 2007-06-27 8:34 AM (#62933 - in reply to #62862) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
Here's another I had that could have been tragic. I was heading west on I-80 leaving the highway at the Columbia truck stop to meet some friends so we could caravan to a horse show upstate NY. As I made the turn onto the ramp, I heard a big clunk!. In the rearview mirror, my trailer looked like it jumped the ball (bumper hitch). In reality, the bolts on the hitch installed under the frame of the truck had rusted and sheared off. The hitch came apart and the tongue of the trailer still attached to the ball was dragging on the ground. I was able to limp off to the side of the road, and thanks to my friends we got things squared away. I needed to borrow a truck for the week in order to get to the show.
Moral of this story? Never assume everything is okay. Climb underneath every so often and make sure that the hitch is in good condition. I believe this was a Reese hitch. We have used them for years to tow our horse and boat trailers and we never had a problem before. Maintenance is important.
Posted 2007-06-27 9:12 AM (#62937 - in reply to #62933) Subject: RE: which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
Member
Posts: 17
Location: NJ
so this is a real issue.
i'm definitely checking that hitch from now on and telling all my friends to do the same.
scary stuff!
couple months ago i hauled form MD to NJ and when i parked the trailer i realized that i never put the pin through so that receiver was just sitting on top of the ball!!!! that taught me a lesson to triple check everything, especially when i'm tired at the end of the ride. we definitely had a guardian angel looking out for us that day.
which brand of hitch to choose? is there really a difference?
