5 Great 5th Wheel Hitches Options
A fifth-wheel (5th wheel) travel trailer requires a unique hitch that mounts in the bed of a pickup truck. Rather than using a traditional hitch ball, a 5th wheel connects to a hitch with a kingpin that locks the trailer in place. The type of 5th wheel hitch you need will vary depending on your needs and the size of your pickup bed. Since the hitch’s location is between the front and rear axle of the pickup truck, it lends itself to a smoother ride. Semi-trucks also use the setup when connecting the cab to the trailer.
Key Features of 5th Wheel Hitches
When towing with a short bed truck, a slider hitch will make it easy to maneuver and turn your vehicle. A slider hitch will slide backward as you turn to ensure that the front of your camper does not hit the rear window of your truck.
You can purchase either a manual or an automatic slider hitch. With a manual slider hitch, there are two basic positions: one for towing and one for maneuvering in tight situations. You need to stop and manually switch the position based on your needs at a given time. The automatic slider costs more money but does not require the owner to stop and manually adjust the slider. The Andersen Ultimate Connection Gooseneck Hitch does not slide, but it also works with a short-bed truck.
When choosing a hitch, purchase one rated for the total gross weight of your trailer. The total gross weight is the trailer’s weight when fully loaded for travel, including all fluids and baggage. To find this weight, take your trailer to a truck scale.
It is best to purchase a 5th wheel hitch rated close to the actual weight of your loaded trailer and ensure that the hitch is not rated for less weight. Using a hitch rated for less weight than your trailer is a safety concern. Buying a hitch rated for a much higher weight than your loaded trailer is not a safety concern, but it will typically be heavier, larger, take up more room, and cost more money.
Fifth-wheel hitches are rated for maximum kingpin weight. The kingpin weight is the weight of the trailer that is applied directly to the kingpin. Typically, you can calculate this weight by taking 25% of the total gross weight of your trailer. If the total gross weight of your trailer is 12,00 pounds, the maximum kingpin weight would be 25% or 3,000 pounds.
Campers and Campfires rates the following hitches amongst the best in the market. Read on to learn about the features to determine which hitch best fits your needs.
Curt 5th Wheel Hitch
The CURT Q25 (Check it out on Amazon) is a favorite of Campers and Campfires. The hitch head tilts and moves a full 360 degrees, providing for a quiet and safe ride. A built-in coupling indicator makes it easy to tell if the hitch is engaged and ready to tow.
This Curt hitch is extremely easy to use because a single level locks the entire system in place. This model does not slide. The Curt utilizes a quarter-turn locking mechanism for installation, making it one of the easier 5th wheel hitches to install on the market. It also has a lifetime warranty.
B & W 5th Wheel Hitch
B&W RVK 3500 Companion 5th Wheel Hitch (Check it out on Amazon) has a 4-way pivot which means that it will pivot from front to back and side to side. The coupler is adjustable to three different heights and can also be adjusted from side to side, allowing more flexibility in setup.
Polyurethane bearings are used to ensure a quiet, rattle-free ride. This B&W hitch has an easy-release handle, making it simple to disengage the trailer from the hitch, even when the camper is not level.
Andersen 5th Wheel Hitch
Andersen 3200 Ultimate Connection (Check it out on Amazon) is a fantastic gooseneck hitch made specifically for a gooseneck trailer. A gooseneck trailer connects to a traditional hitchball rather than using a kingpin. The hitch ball is mounted in the bed of your truck.
Many horse trailers are gooseneck trailers. The Andersen hitch comes with an adapter so that a 5th wheel requiring a kingpin hitch can easily be connected to the Andersen gooseneck hitch. The turning radius is so tight that the hitch will even work in a short-bed truck.
The best attributes of the Andersen hitch are that it weighs only 35 pounds and can be removed/installed in less than five minutes. Most 5th wheel hitches weigh at least one hundred pounds, and some can weigh over 300 pounds, making it difficult to utilize the bed of your truck. Instead, the Andersen can be easily removed any time you need to use the truck bed.
At this lightweight, the hitch is still rated to handle a trailer weight of 24,000 pounds and a tongue weight of 4,500 pounds.
Pullrite Automatic Glider 5th Wheel Hitch
Pullrite Superglide (Check it out on Amazon) is an excellent all-around 5th wheel hitch. The Pullrite is quiet, and the automatic glide feature is excellent. No more getting out of your truck to adjust the slide. You will need a standard set of mounting rails to mount the hitch in your vehicle.
This model does not come with a capture plate, but a capture plate is needed to connect the hitch to your camper. When purchasing, ensure that you selected the correct capture plate for your camper.
Curt Manual Slider 5th Wheel Hitch
Curt 16516 E16 Manual Slide (Check it out on Amazon) has a dual pivot head allowing movement from side to side. This Curt hitch has an anti-rattle skid plate so that you can enjoy a quieter ride. There is an auto-lock feature to ensure that the coupler is locked safely into place. The hitch is easy to install, but it does require mounting rails that are not included. Overall, this is a highly recommended manual slide hitch.
Do you have any 5th wheel hitch tips for fellow campers? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below.
