Depending on your needs and budget, there are several factors to consider when choosing a fifth-wheel hitch. For example, a slider is an excellent option for short-bed trucks because it slides backward during turns, which prevents the fifth wheel from hitting the truck cab.
It’s also important to understand your tow vehicle’s gross trailer weight and tongue weight restrictions and ensure your rig fits within those limits.
Size
While budget is always a consideration, price shouldn’t be the only factor when choosing a fifth-wheel hitch. It would help if you were sure that the hitch you choose can handle your RV’s trailer weight, and it is also essential to ensure that it is correctly installed for safe driving.
If you need to get more familiar with a fifth wheel, it is a large trailer that has a kingpin in the front to allow you to connect it to your truck for travel days. Depending on your needs and budget, a gooseneck or a kingpin hitch may be best.
It’s worth noting that many RVs on the road exceed one or more of their weight safety ratings. This can cause issues with steering, traction, and even loss of control. The easiest way to avoid this is by making sure that the hitch you’re considering can handle your RV’s trailer weight.
Weight
The fifth wheel hitches, which must be properly installed for safe travel, can add much weight to the truck. If the RV’s GCWR (gross vehicle weight rating) exceeds the weight limit of the tow vehicle, it can cause safety issues on the open road.
The ability to easily remove the hitch allows the truck to be used for hauling other items without taking up precious bed space. It also helps reduce the overall payload of the car.
This hitch is designed to work with the puck system and features a quarter-turn anchoring system for easy installation. Its spherical axial bearing gives the head free movement, while the dual jaws provide 360-degree kingpin contact and are visible so you can visually check that they are closed. It has a 3-point indicator system with color coding to determine when the hitch can uncouple, couple, or tow.
Towing Capacity
Fifth-wheel RVs differ from travel trailers by connecting via a ball hitch on their truck’s rear bumper; instead they require an in-bed hitch with superior stability and weight distribution than its ball counterpart; therefore making this setup ideal for transporting larger or luxurious trailers.
When selecting a fifth-wheel hitch for your camper or trailer, take note of its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), tongue weight and maximum payload capacity of your truck – our hitch selector tool can assist in finding an appropriate solution based on these essential considerations.
Your pickup truck’s length determines what kind of hitch you require; short beds need a sliding hitch so as to prevent its fifth wheel from hitting the cab when turning, while longer beds may use either traditional or gooseneck hitches.
Safety
As soon as your RV is set up and ready to head out on the open road, securing everything properly is of utmost importance. Doing so can prevent embarrassing scenarios whereby pulling away only to hear an abrupt crack as your trailer hitch separates from the truck.
Fifth-wheel hitches should feature safety features to help mitigate such incidents. For instance, indicators indicate when they’re ready to uncouple, couple, or tow; others feature visible jaws so you can double check that your trailer has been safely hitched onto them.
An effective fifth-wheel hitch can also enhance your towing experience by evenly dispersing the weight of your RV across both axles of your pickup truck. This can make for a smoother ride while decreasing the chances of damage to both vehicles or trailers.
