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Topic: Reese Revolution Hitch
Posted By: Calicajun on 08/27/16 12:25pm

Looking at some fifth wheel trailers(again) and found one that had a Reese Revolution Hitch on the pin. According to the salesman that hitch will allow you to make a 90 degree turn in a short bed truck with hitting the cab and no slider hitch is required.

Anyone use or know anything about the Reese Revolution Hitch?

Thanks,
Craig

2014 Heartland Wildness 2775RB, 2015 Ram 2500 4x4 Mega Cab


Posted By: DesertFiver on 08/27/16 02:41pm

I have a Sidewinder, I switched from a manual slider and glad I did. I tow a 10,300 lb. MT 5th wheel with a Ram Short Bed. I can do 90 degree turns all day w/o a problem. 3 east coast trips from Tucson and 5 west coast to Portland. Its GREAT.


A Sidewinder and a Revolution are the same thing. It is called a Revolution when it comes as OEM equipment on a trailer. That is the only difference.

Posted By: Calicajun on 08/27/16 05:44pm

Good to hear as I like the idea of the Revolution/Sidewinder hitch over a slider.

Do have another question about the Revolution hitch. With the pivot point now moved back 22 inches, does that effect the sway while towing? My guess is yes it will effect the towing and sway but not enough to notice.

Posted By: Dayle1 on 08/27/16 06:01pm

Calicajun wrote:

Good to hear as I like the idea of the Revolution/Sidewinder hitch over a slider.

Do have another question about the Revolution hitch. With the pivot point now moved back 22 inches, does that effect the sway while towing? My guess is yes it will effect the towing and sway but not enough to notice.


There have not been any reports of sway issues to my knowledge. The Sidewinder has several other benefits. The back of the pin box cannot hit the truck sides, and the fiver tracks more like a TT when turning and backing.

Larry Day
Texas Baptist Men-Retiree Builders since '01
'13 Silverado 3500HD LT 2wd CCSB SRW, custom RKI bed
'19 Starcraft Telluride 292RLS
Rig Photos


Posted By: Calicajun on 08/27/16 06:43pm

Great, sounds good to me. I'm use to and very good at pulling a TT, not the greatest at backing but working on that problem.

Posted By: mountainsam on 08/28/16 12:22pm

I just sold my 5er with the Revolution hitch. I used it with my 05 Dodge short bed and my 2014 long bed. The family I sold the 5er to had a Ram short bed, hooked right up and turned a 90 leaving the driveway. Not only doesn't it hit but you take that concern off your mind. No wondering if you should slide or not. As far as sway on the road, I can't remember ever noticing and sway at all and I went through some bad Wyoming thunder storms a couple years ago.

2017 Thor Gemini 23TR w/ 3.2 Power Stroke turbo diesel
2014 Ram 6.7 Cummins Turbo Diesel Crew Cab, Long Bed 4X4 6 Speed Auto (sold)
2013 Rockwood Signature 8281 WS w/Sidewinder Pin (sold)
DW and Sofie our Black Lab /Boxer and Phoebe our Schnoodle

Posted By: Calicajun on 08/28/16 02:37pm

Thanks, think that will be the pin to look for when we get the fifth wheel.

Thanks again to all,
Craig

Posted By: cathy97 on 08/28/16 04:25pm

In addition to not hitting the back of the truck on sharp turns you can actually hitch up sideways. We have had to do this several times when people park mostly in the road in front of our fifth wheel and we are ready to leave. We just turn the pin the direction we can get to it and hook up.

2012 Dodge 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4X4 Diesel shortbed
2012 Cougar High Country 246RLS
Reese Revolution Sidewinder, No slider needed!!


Posted By: rsday75 on 08/29/16 11:22am

Another benefit not mentioned is you can use all the truck bed up to the rails. No need to leave the back empty for pin box swing.
I love mine.
We tow a 40' 5er at 13,500lbs. No noticeable sway. Stable as any other 5th I have ever pulled. Much better than our old 35' TT.

2003 GMC Serria 2500HD D/A
2016 Jayco 355MBQS

Posted By: Calicajun on 08/29/16 09:36pm

rsday75 wrote:

Another benefit not mentioned is you can use all the truck bed up to the rails. No need to leave the back empty for pin box swing.
I love mine.
We tow a 40' 5er at 13,500lbs. No noticeable sway. Stable as any other 5th I have ever pulled. Much better than our old 35' TT.


Good to hear, we are planning on this type of pin weather it comes with the new rig or not.

Thanks

Posted By: Bigmoss on 08/31/16 12:03pm

I just bought a Jayco Eagle HT with that Pin and pull with a 2016 Ford 5.5 Foot Box and can jack knife the truck fully and not come near hitting the cab. Well worth it for me.

2016 Ford F-150 Screw Lariat Short Box
2015 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS
Reese 30051 Hitch with Revolutionary Pin


Posted By: PhoneDude 8289 on 08/31/16 12:20pm

I have been pulling with the revolution hitch for 3 years, wouldn't be without it. The universal wedge that came with mine didn't work right, got a custom wedge that was made for my hitch and never looked back. The universal wedge was the pia for me.

8289WS
Ram 2500 TCD SB 4WD

Posted By: magic43 on 08/31/16 12:52pm

We just returned home from a 3200+ mile trip with our newly installed Sidewinder. I love it.

magic43

Posted By: Calicajun on 08/31/16 03:33pm

To me from what I have read here and else where this hitch will be the one for us. Of course we do have to get the 5th wheel first but working on that quest also.

I can't see why or any advantage to having a slider hitch over a Sidewinder hitch. Doesn't add any weight to the pin and allows for a lighter/smaller hitch in the truck bed.

Now back to finding that 5th wheel the wife says I like.

Posted By: LatinoCanadian on 09/10/16 02:55pm

I changed my Cherokee TT for a Rockwood Signature 5er with the Revolution hitch and I really like the way it drives. I did notice though is that it is much better/easier to have the truck aligned with the 5er before unhooking as it will make the hookup much easier the next time.

2015 GMC Sierra 2500HD Diesel ">

Posted By: harry and thea on 09/26/16 07:54pm

I guess I am going to be the lone critic of the Revolution hitch. Logic will tell you that you now have a hybrid between a fifth wheel set up and a travel trailer set up, therefore you will compromise some stability in crosswinds.
I bought a Rockwood fifth wheel with Revolution hitch about a year ago. Owned a Chev long box and towed in the locked out position. Very stable. Bought a F250 short box with six ft nine in bed. Used the hitch with the universal wedge provided in the Revolution mode and found that I was much more affected by crosswinds to the point where it really bothered me. My brother who followed me in his motorhome in a heavy cross wind said that he did not notice any sway but I could sure feel it in the steering. Ended up buying a manual slider hitch and it tows much nicer. Going forward I can do a 180 degree turn with my steering wheel as tight as possible and the trailer still does not touch the cab. I have not yet had to pull the lever on the hitch backing up although I know I will have to be vigilant. So for me, I much prefer the slider hitch. One thing to keep in mind however is that the F250 short bed is longer than the Dodge and therefore what may work well for me may not for you.

So I'm going to sum up the pros and cons of the Revolution mode according to my experience

Pros
Can turn your trailer ninety degrees to truck without hitting.
Can use a simple economical light weight hitch in truck
Much better use of truck bed

Cons
There is definitely less stability
It is definitely more difficult to hitch up and sometimes to unhitch
It can be noisy when it turns
It needs to be taken apart, cleaned and greased according to the manual annually. I have done this prior to deciding to go with the slider hitch and lock out mode. Not an easy job and means you have to buy some large sockets or pay a stealer to do this.
Lastly, someone else can't tow your trailer in a pinch unless they lock out the pin box or have an identical hitch on their truck.

Hope this helps. I have experience with the trailer in either node and prefer the slider hitch.

Harry and Thea
2016 F 250 cc short box
2014 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8244WS

Posted By: harry and thea on 09/26/16 07:59pm

One thing I forgot to mention in the pros
Fiver tracks better and is more responsive when backing up

Posted By: kopy kat on 09/27/16 07:58am

I've finished my 4th season with the Revolution pin box...and I haven't ever felt it had a sway problem...even when towing across our Nevada open desert areas.

One thing to keep in mind for future situations is that the Revolution is a factory only installation, and can not be upgraded with any other brand due to its 10" base vs. the normal 11" base that is standard on other pin boxes. Been through that situation when a repair shop ruined my original Revolution pin box and Reese hitch. The Sidewinder is the unit that fits a standard fifth wheel base and can be used to upgrade an original factory pin box in order to reap the benefits of this unique design.

Just my 2cents....

Happy trails,
Larry

2013 Flagstaff 8528ikws---"Camp MiMiPaPa"


Posted By: ironjdf on 10/13/16 07:12am

Well I just came back from a trip out west. I had to stop and take the wedge ouy of my reese hitch and put the 2 locking bolts back to stop the sway. I could see the front of the pin hitch where it turns at, under the camper moveing back and forth about a half inch each way. That movement could be felt right thru the truck and start a sway in the camper. I have a 2014 Rockwood 8280 5r. Anybody else ever have that happen?

Posted By: PhoneDude 8289 on 10/15/16 09:04am

Been using the revolution with a custom wedge for three years, never noticed any sway. 2 years pulling with a Tundra, the past year with a Ram.

Posted By: Dave and Sue on 10/15/16 05:57pm

Never felt sway with ours when we had ours hook to the Ram 3500,but i did have a little with the Ram 1500.I just figured it was a overloaded truck.I was 500 pounds heavy on the 1500. It was just fine with the 3500. Now with the bigger 5er,no Revelution, it's just fine.

2011 Ram 3500 Dually Mega Cab
2016 Chaparral 370FL


Posted By: jmvx2 on 10/15/16 06:40pm

Started out with a manual slider that dealer through in the deal when purchasing 5th wheel to tow with Ram 2500 SB. Didn't like the hassle of manual moving the hitch. Found a deal for 1/2 price on Airborne Sidewinder. Biggest mistake I made. The wedge would not hold tight and would pound out from being too thin in material thickness.. I made my own wedge out of much thicker material and used larger bolts to hold in place after adjusting the wedge tightness. Still towing it was like the tail wagging the dog with the pivot moved back 20 inches, especially in the tight curves through the mountains..
Finally went to a 15k Pullrite auto slider and it is the best move I did.

My trailer is a Jazz 3300, 36" long, triple slide, 12,000+/- lbs. depending on how loaded.

17 Ram 3500 DRW, CC, Long Bed, Larimine, 4x4, 6.7 HO 900 ft lb, Aisin auto, 4.10 gears, B&W 25k lb.,Companion
2018 Grand Design Solitude 360 RL-R 40', 5 slide, 6pt Hyd auto level, King bed, TrailAir pin box.
"Don't bad mouth farmers with a full mouth!"

Posted By: Calicajun on 10/15/16 10:43pm

Lots to think about both pro and con in this thread. Will add all of this to list of pro and cons on our 5th wheel list. Just spent three days at the LA RV show. That has given us a lot to think about also.

Posted By: Old-Biscuit on 10/15/16 11:11pm

One issue I have read about is the 4 bolts in turret coming loose

This was on the Sidewinder not Revolution

Revolution is OEM and Sidewinder is aftermarket

Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

Posted By: Calicajun on 10/16/16 10:41am

Bolts can come loose on any type of hitch. I always checked my TT hitch every time we went out and checked it while at rest stops too. Also check, tires, safety chains and electrical hook ups. Just trying to stay safe on the road.

Posted By: Old-Biscuit on 10/16/16 02:40pm

Calicajun wrote:

Bolts can come loose on any type of hitch. I always checked my TT hitch every time we went out and checked it while at rest stops too. Also check, tires, safety chains and electrical hook ups. Just trying to stay safe on the road.


Torqued bolts on sidewinder turret are NOT suppose to come lose!

No one checks pin box bolts, hitch mounting bolts, receiver mounting bolts, U-bolts etc ----they are torqued and should not come loose from use.

That is the issue with the turret bolts .....coming loose from use
Turret bolts hold/secure the WHOLE sidewinder assembly and are difficult to access.

This not like checking wheel nuts, tires, etc.

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