mike24
Pennsylvania
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I was wondering which is better a side winder or pullrite supperglide hitch the side winder could back in a lot tighter spaces then the pullrite. How many have side winder hitches is there warranty issuses with fw frames.
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Mile High
Lone Tree, CO
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The sidewinder just doesn't fit into my common sense test - to me it seems like it puts way more stress on the pin than I would care to have, especially when I see some of the frame issues that have occurred on the front end of these Lippert frames. Given the choices you offered, I would go with the superglide. Given the full range of choices that are actually out there, I went with the Reese slider with electric release and threw in the standard 5th airborne pin box for comfort.
Not saying they the side winders don't work, they just don't look like they should. But then a 747 doesn't look like it should fly to me either. 
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dodgebob08
Mississippi
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i have a sidewinder and like it. lot cheaper than an auto slider and accomplishes the same thing. i understand the concern about the frame but i don't see how it puts much more stress on it, at least while traveling down the road.
not arguing with the above poster, just my opinion and it could be wrong.
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ricatic
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I read the posts from non-sidewinder owners and wonder where they get there opinions from. Not wanting to be disrespectful here but how does the Sidewinder put a large extra load on the pin. You can push the Sidewinder out of the way with one hand, or your head if you are not careful. They are offered by several manufacturers as factory installed options. In all the Sidewinder posts that have been on here, not one that I have seen has anything in it but very satisfied Sidewinder owners. JMHO, and I do not have a Sidewinder, but if I needed it I would buy one.
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ol Bombero-JC
USA
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Mike24 - as you can see from the replies, unless someone has had both,
it's strictly opinion - and/or opinion from research.
Sooooooo - suggest you use the search box (upper left) and enter various keywords for hitches -(limit your search to fifth wheels)- to see what the owners of each have to say - then you decide which is best for you
I guess I'm as happy with my SuperGlide as a SideWinder owner is with his hitch.
And - - haven't had any other brand.
~
JC
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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I won't pretend to say I know anything about the alleged extra stress the Sidewinder may put on the trailer, however I will say that without a doubt the Sidewinder gives up much of the inherent stability of a 5th wheel.
The reason a 5th wheel is so much more stable than a travel trailer is that the pivot point for the 5ver is directly over the rear axle of the tow vehicle. While the pivot point for a travel trailer is 4-5' behind the rear axle. The difference is that a travel trailer has leverage on the rear of the tow vehicle to shove it around while a 5ver has zero leverage. The result is that travel trailers are often bothered by sway problems, sometimes seriously so, while 5th wheels are practically immune to sway.
The pivot point of the Sidewinder is 22" behind the hitch--that's 21-22" behind the rear axle. In other words, the Sidewinder pin box makes the 5th wheel behave like a half-breed. It will cheat a bit less than the usual 5ver, but it will also be much more prone to sway problems than a 5ver with a normal pin box. Also, unlike a travel trailer, the Sidewinder has no provision to control sway.
The result is that a 5th wheel with a Sidewinder pin box will tend to be affected by trailer sway, similar to a travel trailer, although to a lesser degree.
Why would anyone want that when they can accomplish the same thing with a sliding hitch without the risk of sway?
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Hunter11
Austin, Texas
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Quote:In other words, the Sidewinder pin box makes the 5th wheel behave like a half-breed. It will cheat a bit less than the usual 5ver, but it will also be much more prone to sway problems than a 5ver with a normal pin box. Also, unlike a travel trailer, the Sidewinder has no provision to control sway.
The result is that a 5th wheel with a Sidewinder pin box will tend to be affected by trailer sway, similar to a travel trailer, although to a lesser degree.
I don't know where you get your information but I have to disagree with it. I have had a Sidewinder on our 12k 5th wheel since we bought it 2 years ago and have pulled it several thousand miles with no issue like you discribe. I can turn this trailer and back it much sharper with the Sidewinder compared to the extended pin box we had on our old trailer and that trailer was 4' shorter. Running down the road this trailer pulls just like our old one did as far as ride and stability. I have pulled this 5th wheel in 20 to 30 mph winds with no sway at all. The only way I see any possibility of sway would be if you don't have the wedge against the hitch and properly tightened. Sorry but my experiance with it says your assumptions are untrue.
* This post was
edited 03/10/10 06:56am by Hunter11 *
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Mile High
Lone Tree, CO
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ricatic wrote:I read the posts from non-sidewinder owners and wonder where they get there opinions from. Not wanting to be disrespectful here but how does the Sidewinder put a large extra load on the pin. You can push the Sidewinder out of the way with one hand, or your head if you are not careful.
Ricatic Not trying to be disrepectful, but I certainly didn't mean it put an extra load on the pin while DISCONNECTED. The additional stress comes from moving the pin load of 2,400 lbs or so over a foot further away from the frame mount than it is without the sidewinder. The additional leverage placed on the 5er frame while bouncing down the highway is far more than what would be experienced with the standard pin placement.
Again - to each his own, but I think time will tell how well these sidewinders work out. They have only been out for a little over a year.
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Hunter11
Austin, Texas
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Our trailer is an 07 model and it came from the factory with the Sidewinder hitch. So they have been out much longer than a year.
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glazier
Kentucky
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I agree with Hunter11 100%
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