I will be adding a 5th wheel hitch soon, and have noticed some installed with bolts, some welded to the frame. Is there any advantage to either method? Security, noise, etc.

Also, my trailer is a 16K GVWR, but I will never load it over 14K. Being that the 16K hitches are so much more expensive, is there a reason to buy the bigger hitch? Why is a 16K so much more expensive than a 15K?

One reason is USDOT specs are higher for the 16k over 15k. Would rather see bolted over welded as some guys get carried away welding to much heat to the frame could case major problems to the cap. of the frame and cause frame damage. Again that does not leave welding out just pay and have DOT certifed welder do it and get a bill an it and keep it with the truck as proof.

I just went thru the same decision process. As for welding vs. bolting, I'm concerned about weakining the heat treated frame by welding at one of the higher stress points. Tomorrow a local fab shop will drill and bolt the brackets for my 18K Superglide rails. My 5er comes in at about 14.5k and a failure of the frame or hitch wouldn't be pretty.

bolt and use quality hardware is all you need, after all semis have their fifth-wheels bolted and i put about 60,000lb behind my volvo.

Sounds like bolting is the way to go for mounting, at least for my needs.

I would love to have the 16K hitch for extra insurance/ safety, but at nearly twice the cost the extra $$$ are definitely a drawback. Would the 15k hitch still be a safe bet or do I have to have the 16k to remain legal/ safe?

I run a 20 K hitch on mine. The gvw of my fiver is 17.5K. I also pull doubles.I would rather have too much than too little. And the frame rails on our trucks are not heat treated. But bolting is still the way to go.

If your comparing the Reese/Draw-tite 15k "Pro series" to the 16K then there are major differences in the construction of them. The pro series is narrower which means it pins to a narrower set of slots in the rails. It has a much lighter side to side pivot hinge. It has a piece of flat stock that slides behind the kingpin instead of curved jaws that contour around the kingpin on the 16K. And last but not least, every item that says pro series on it that I have gotten in so far has been made in China, including the 15K hitch. Basically I try to only sell the pro series to people with light (less than 10K)trailers that don't pull them that often.

always better to have bigger and beefier when dealing with towing. dont skimp

That's what I was thinking - looks like I'll shell out more and be safe (and made in US I hope) rather than save a few $.

Thanks to all for the feedback