slider hitch for gateway 3650bh?

[justafordguy]

I just picked up our new 3650bh last week and I'm wondering if there is any need to slide the hitch back to park it? I have a 2005 Ford F250 with a shortbread. It seems to have enough room without sliding it back but I just wondered what you guys think.

 

[Turtlpwr]

Hi Justafordguy,

I've got a 2005 Dodge Ram with a 6.5 foot short box pulling a 3650BH and I haven't yet encountered a time where I need to use the slider. I can only imagine that if you were backing into an uphill spot the clearances could get very close. I bought the slider hitch not knowing if I'd really need it but for an extra $400 it was worth the peace of mind.

Happy and and safe travels!! Enjoy that new Gateway. Oh and first chance you get replace those TowMax tires. I just fell victim to the BlowMax curse last weekend and am dealing with thousands of dollars in damage. Less than 5k miles and a 14 month old trailer. Just trying to save you some grief.

take care!

Jared

 

[justafordguy]

That's kinda what I was thinking, I got the slider if I need it.

Thanks for the warning about the tires, what should I replace the with? Also why do the sell em with a bad tire?

 

[Turtlpwr]

I'm going to go with the Goodyear G614's. They are a heavy duty 14 ply tire that should hold up pretty good. They're expensive but if it can save me from being stuck on the side of the highway for 6 hours and a little extra peace of mind I'll gladly pay the extra price.

There are some other quality tires out there as well. I've heard good things about the Michelin XPS ribs, Maxxis and Carlisle tires.

I would also recommend getting some airbags for your 250. They help even out the ride and make towing a lot more enjoyable.

I'm sure some people have had no problems with their TowMax tires. These forums tend to bring out more negative comments than good sometimes. For what it's worth Heartland started putting Sailin tires on the 2015's and possibly even some late 2014's.


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[justafordguy]

I'm going to go with the Goodyear G614's. They are a heavy duty 14 ply tire that should hold up pretty good. They're expensive but if it can save me from being stuck on the side of the highway for 6 hours and a little extra peace of mind I'll gladly pay the extra price.

There are some other quality tires out there as well. I've heard good things about the Michelin XPS ribs, Maxxis and Carlisle tires.

I would also recommend getting some airbags for your 250. They help even out the ride and make towing a lot more enjoyable.

I'm sure some people have had no problems with their TowMax tires. These forums tend to bring out more negative comments than good sometimes. For what it's worth Heartland started putting Sailin tires on the 2015's and possibly even some late 2014's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My gateway is a 2015 and it has TowMax tires. I guess I'll do some more checking and see if I need to put something else on there. I wonder what my dealer will say if I confront them with this question?

I have air bags on my truck now and it really rides nice with the new Gateway, a ton better than with my 31' bumper pull.

 

[Jim.Allison]

Shop those 614's, dealers get way too much money for the upgrade. They not only get your towmax tires but they overcharge for the 614s. Make a better deal on 5 614's and sell the Towmax on craigslist.

My gateway is a 2015 and it has TowMax tires. I guess I'll do some more checking and see if I need to put something else on there. I wonder what my dealer will say if I confront them with this question?

I have air bags on my truck now and it really rides nice with the new Gateway, a ton better than with my 31' bumper pull.

 

[donr827]

sent you a private message
Don

 

[justafordguy]

Yeah, I'm sure the dealer would be a ripoff. I'll do some checking with some local tire dealers.

Hey Don, thanks for the PM.

 

[brianlajoie]

I bought an ultra glide hitch for my set up. Call it insurance. I also paid $1400 to upgrade to 614's. I very happy I did.

 

[Kosanko]

I also have a 2015 Gateway 3650 BH and it came with TowMax and I also had a blowout that did damage to my 5th wheel and recently upgraded to Goodyear G614's, I am also in the process of filing a claim with the tire distributor, and for what it's worth Sailun's ARE MADE BY TOWMAX so not really an upgrade but more of a NAME change. Also when I remove my TowMax THREE of the remaining tires ALL showed belt separation THE only tire without belt separation was the spare!

 

[MagnoliaTom]

I was contemplating getting sailuns. Is this true? I've only heard positive reviews of them. **** I don't want an upgrade tow max tire

BTW I pull a 38rsrt elkridge with an 05 f250. I don't have a slider and have yet to need one. Granted it's only been 6 months but I've had it out 7 trips in that time

 

[danemayer]

for what it's worth Sailun's ARE MADE BY TOWMAX so not really an upgrade but more of a NAME change

What's the source of your information?

 

[Silverado23]

What's the source of your information?

If there not made by the same company they are distributed/marketed by the same wholesaler.
http://www.tbcwholesale.com/

"The TBC Corporation’s (“TBC”) Brands Group is one of the world’s largest marketers of private brand tires. " From the about TBC Brands group website

Cordovan
DUCK CMD
DYNACARGO
ELDORADO
HARVEST KING
JETZON
MULTI-MILE
POWER KING
SAILUN
SIGMA
SUMITOMO
TELSTAR
TOWMAX
TOWSTAR
TRAILER KING
VANDERBILT

 

[MagnoliaTom]

Just noticed if you google sailun s637, you will get most of these brands come up with it. Kinda like how suburbans used to be both Chevy and gmc.

 

[danemayer]

If there not made by the same company they are distributed/marketed by the same wholesaler.
http://www.tbcwholesale.com/

Tirerack distributes Towmax (PowerKing) and Goodyear. That wouldn't make me think that Goodyear tires are made by Towmax, just with a different name.

 

[MagnoliaTom]

 

[Silverado23]

After further digging:
Dynamic Tire makes sailun tires and also made Towmax Tires.
http://www.dynamictire.com/
http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=21852913
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM467891/RCAK-14T015-1166.pdf

Tirerack distributes Towmax (PowerKing) and Goodyear. That wouldn't make me think that Goodyear tires are made by Towmax, just with a different name.

Tire rack is a retailer/distributer that sells tires from many distributors including the private label brands that are distributed by TBC wholesale to Tire Rack and many other independent and TBC Brands owned Tire retailers including:
National Tire and Battery
http://www.trademarkia.com/national-tire-and-battery-85124421.html

Tire Kingdom, Big O Tires, NTB, Midas, Speedee Oil change and Auto service
http://www.tbccorp.com/
http://www.trademarkia.com/ntb-tires--service--brakes--batteries-85124481.html
http://bizmology.hoovers.com/2012/04/27/tbc-pays-millions-for-the-midas-touch/






The websites for both Sailun and Towmax along with all the other brands indicate that TBC Wholesale are the distributors for these brands in the US.

Bottom of the page:
http://gosailun.com/Home
The Sailun brand is marketed and distributed by TBC Wholesale in the U.S.A. and Mexico. For more information about TBC Wholesale and the brands marketed,.

Bottom half of the page for Towmax
http://towmaxtires.com/tires/Landing.aspx?application=about-us

 

[HornedToad]

The DOT code for my TowMax tire that bulged was DOT 83B5 GPB 3512

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiret...65910&ef_id=VO6VlAAAASZQzdon:20150226034004:s

http://www.harriger.com/tire1.htm

so it was manufactured by... 83 SHANDONG HENGFENG RUBBER & PLUSTIC CO., LTD. GUANGRAO COUNTY SHANDONG CHINA

If someone will post the DOT code off a Sailun tire I would like to compare.

ADDED: Sailun tire DOT Plant code from DEC '13 iRV2 post... 53 SAILUN CO., LTD. QINGDAO SHANDONG CHINA

I have plans to replace my stock tires with Sailun S637 tires from Big O Tire in Roswell, NM.
If they are made in the same plant I would surely reconsider.

 

[Silverado23]

The DOT code for my TowMax tire that bulged was DOT 83B5 GPB 3512


http://www.harriger.com/tire1.htm

so it was manufactured by... 83 SHANDONG HENGFENG RUBBER & PLUSTIC CO., LTD. GUANGRAO COUNTY SHANDONG CHINA

If someone will post the DOT code off a Sailun tire I would like to compare.
I have plans to replace my stock tires with Sailun S637 tires from Big O Tire in Roswell NM,
and if they are made in the same plant I would surely reconsider.

You might consider looking up the plant codes for the exact tires you plan to purchase. The tires could be made in different plants.

I bought Bridgestone tires last fall, 3 of the tires were made in the same plant. The 4th tire was made in a different plant in a different country. All were supposedly identical tires and made about the same time. Even tires with the same brand and model may have different sizes made at different plants.

 

[HornedToad]

You might consider looking up the plant codes for the exact tires you plan to purchase.

That is a solid recommendation. I called the store over a month ago and they didn't have seven on the rack and wanted me to call ahead a few days so they could have them shipped. The freezing weather we've had the last several weekends has postponed my trip. It sounded like they did have a few in stock and I could start there?

OK... sorry for hijacking a hitch thread into the dreaded TowMax territory.