Fifth Wheel Hitch - How To Choose The Right One For You
If you are in a hurry and already know the type of fifth wheel hitch you need, I'll cut to the chase and tell you your best bet is to get a Reese hitch on Amazon.com. (By the way, for your convenience all links here open in a new page on your screen.)
Why? Because Reese is the brand I found recommended most by experienced 5th wheel RVers. (Save your time, don't reinvent the wheel, right?)
For one thing, most Reese heads pivot 4 ways - spring-loaded to return to the best receiving position.
But whether you go with Reese, Curt, or some other manufacturer here's why you should get your fifth wheel hitch on Amazon.
The pivoting Reese hitch image is from etrailer.com, where there is a handy point 'n click 5th wheel hitch selection guide (top right of page). If you use it, double-check that the hitch it recommends is strong enough for your trailer.
...Bottom line, trust both your truck and hitch manufacturers' guidelines.
NOTE: In general, you can't get too large or beefy a hitch; but you can get one that is too light for the job....The only downside to getting one rated extra high for your needs is if you need to use the bed of your truck for other things when not towing; the heavier-duty hitch will weigh more, which will make assembly and reassembly harder.
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Quick 'n Easy Hitch Selection Tutorial
NOTE:
The information here is assuming your pickup truck is capable of towing your intended fifth wheel trailer.
...If you're not sure, here is a detailed calculator that answers the question, "How heavy a trailer can I tow with my truck?"
The type of fifth wheel hitch you need depends on 3 basic things:
- Trailer weights
a. GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
b. Max king pin weight - Length of pickup truck's bed
- Do you need to use your truck's bed for other tasks when not towing?
The above 3 items broken down:
- Trailer weights
a. GTW (Gross Trailer Weight) is also known as the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) and the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).
It is the combined weight of the trailer plus full fluids, cargo, and propane. The fifth wheel trailer manufacturer will provide this number for you.
Experienced RVers have found, however, that this number is often listed by the manufacturers as optimistically low. Apparently it is a selling point for a fifth wheel trailer to be lighter....So it is recommended you get the entire rig weighed at a public scale. I found a good guide here for this. (Obviously you can't do this beforehand, but after your rig is setup you should have it weighed. That way you'll know if there's any necessary upgrades you'll need to do.)
b. Max king pin weight (or Max Tongue Weight for non-fifth wheel trailers) is the weight pressing vertically down on the hitch when the trailer is fully loaded. This number is a percentage of the GTW and should also be provided by the trailer manufacturer.
It is usually 25 percent. For example, to get the max king pin weight for a trailer with a GTW of 10,000 pounds, you'd multiply 10,000 X 0.25 = 2500 pounds.
...So in this example, your trailer - when fully loaded - would press down on your fifth wheel hitch with 2500 pounds of weight.
Why is the max king pin weight an important number?
Because you do not want to exceed your pickup truck's maximum allowable rear axle weight rating. - Length of pickup truck's bed
If you have a short bed truck - generally less than 6.5 feet long - you will need a "sliding hitch." It's identical to a standard fifth wheel hitch with the exception of the ability to manually release the hitch and slide it rearwards about ten inches for tight turning and backing...
This comes in handy on short bed trucks when maneuvering in a campground, for example. Without the ability to slide the hitch rearward, the nose of the fifth wheel trailer could contact the cab of a short-bed truck in a tight turn, usually when backing up.
You may be tempted to think, "why not just leave it in the rear position all the time." The reason this would be bad is because the king pin weight would be too far to the rear - behind the rear axle - instead of slightly in front of the rear axle. - Do you need to use your truck's bed for other tasks when not towing?
If you do, you may want to consider a custom "gooseneck" hitch setup. With an under-mount gooseneck hitch, only a ball hitch sticks up - and even that can be removed when not in use.
Otherwise you can disassemble a standard fifth wheel hitch, but the mounting rails on most models will still be bolted in the bed.
Well, that's pretty much all the basic info you need for your fifth wheel hitch setup. The following info is 'extra' information that you may find useful, although some of it is already covered above.
...There is a handy hitching checklist lower on this page. Whether you use this one or another, the main thing is to always use a checklist when hitching or unhitching - especially if you're new at this.
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How Do Fifth Wheel Hitches Work?
The 5th wheel hitch is located in the bed of the pickup truck instead of on the bumper or rear frame. The added weight pressing down on the bed of the truck is therefore between the cab and the rear axle - not on the rear bumper as with ball hitches.
If you've looked closely at a big rig's hitching mechanism, you'd notice that a fifth wheel hitch for pickups is just a smaller version:
The head is the flat plate with a 'jaw' opening that funnels the trailer's king pin in to where it is locked in place. This completes the trailer-tow vehicle connection.
How Does The Fifth Wheel Trailer Attach To The Fifth Wheel Hitch?
With a "king pin." This is a downward facing pin that's connected to the trailer and rests on top of the 5th wheel hitch plate. The king pin is locked into position so that it's secure but it is free to pivot as the vehicle and the trailer negotiate turns.
How Much Does A 5th Wheel Hitch Cost?
Generally, the heavier the weight rating of the hitch, the higher the cost. We're talking around $300 for a smaller "budget" hitch to over $1500 for top-of-the-line models that have better bearings, sliding hitch features, and other heavier attachment hardware.
...But the $500 range 5th wheel hitches are fine for most recreational 5th wheel trailers.
Can You Install A 5th Wheel Hitch Yourself?
First off, regardless if you decide to install one yourself or get a professional to handle it, make sure that your tow vehicle can handle the extra weight. This can normally be found in the owner's manual.
After you've learned your pickup's bed weight rating (rear axle or "drive axle" weight rating) and any other pertinent info, you have a few choices:
- If you absolutely need every square inch of your pickup's bed when not towing, you'll need a custom "gooseneck" hitch that will attach to your fifth wheel trailer. Note that goosenecks are usually for livestock trailers but you can get adapter kits to extend your trailer's hitch to fit the gooseneck hitch in your pickup.
- Most modern standard fifth wheel hitches (that have the standard "head" assembly - such as on 18-wheelers) can be disassembled and removed from your bed. But unless it's a custom setup, you'll still have the mounting rails permanently in the bed. Goosenecks, on the other hand, can be installed mostly under the bed with just a hitch ball sticking up through a hole in the bed (which can be removed as well).
You can purchase a universal, 'one size fits all' fifth wheel hitch installation kit or one that's customized for your vehicle. Obviously the latter would be a better choice, but it will cost more.
...But if you're ready, willing and able to get the universal mounted one to work for you, great. Just be aware that you may have to do some welding and other customization under the truck bed.
Yep, the the custom kits are definitely the way to go, and many require no drilling or welding - with the holes in the brackets lining up with pre-existing holes in your vehicle's frame.
Other things to consider:
Your plastic bed liner will have to come out, but a spray-on liner is fine. (The plastic will eventually wear out where the fifth wheel hitch is bolted and become loose.)
Fifth Wheel Hitching checklist:
It happens: Oops! (or "Aww crap!") You pull forward while leaving your fifth wheel landing gear down, or you drop the trailer onto your truck bed because you forgot to lower your fifth wheel's gear first.
* The main thing is to never be in a hurry! *
Using a checklist will eliminate many expensive mistakes:
1. Raise or lower the 5th wheel trailer to set the king pin to the correct height.
2. Lower the tailgate of your truck (unless you have a special tailgate).
3. Open the locking bar on the hitch.
4. Back your truck under the trailer and engage the king pin of the fifth wheel.
5. Secure the locking bar on the 5th wheel hitch.
6. Test the hitch connection by merely putting the tow vehicle into drive gear.
7. Connect the breakaway switch cable & umbilical cord.
8. Check trailer lights & brakes.
9. Raise the p/u tailgate.
10. Raise the landing gear of the 5th wheel trailer.
11. Remove the wheel chocks.
The fifth wheel unhitching procedure is basically a reverse of the hitching procedure.
* The main thing is to never be in a hurry! *
Take your time and do it right, otherwise you will make a mistake which could prove costly and dangerous.
A fifth wheel trailer that is safely and securely connected via a fifth wheel hitch to a good tow vehicle drives very easy - especially compared to using a conventional ball hitch-pulled trailer.
And when compared to the cost of driving a full-size motor home, it is a no-brainer.
Fifth wheel trailers enable you to travel cheaper - without giving up comfort and space. But they also make for easier towing. After all, driving and maneuvering your rig is a big part of fifth wheeling fun, thanks to a 5th wheel hitch mounted in your pickup!
