Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch Information and Installation Tips
- The installation instructions provide the exact location for installing the fifth wheel trailer hitch for optimum towing.
- With an 8-foot-wide fifth wheel trailer, Reese and Draw-Tite recommend a distance of 52" from the cab of the truck to the center of the fifth wheel hitch.
- Because the hitch must remain in front of the rear axle, long-bed full-size trucks are
recommended.
- Any truck with a bed less than 8 feet long is considered a short bed.
- If a short-bed truck will be used, it is recommended that a Slider Fifth Wheel Hitch and an extended pin box be used to help compensate
for the reduced turning clearance.
- Without the slider or pin box extension, the trailer can strike the cab on sharp turns.
- The Slider allows the vehicle to make normal turns during low-speed maneuvering.
- The extended pin box (minimum 13") creates even more space between the truck cab and the trailer.
Slider Fifth Wheel Hitch
- When you are towing a fifth wheel trailer on the highway, the trailer king pin must be between the cab of the truck and
the rear axle.
- This makes maneuvering a trailer around a narrow campsite with a short-bed truck very difficult.
- The slider locks in place between the cab and the rear axle for highway towing.
- However, when you are maneuvering around narrow spaces, the slider can be released, moving the hitch - and therefore the king pin - 10" closer to the tailgate.
- The greater space between the cab and the trailer allows for greater turning clearance.
This diagram shows how sliding the hitch closer to the end of the truck provides a greater distance between the cab and
the trailer, optimizing turning clearance.
This diagram shows how turning is restricted when the hitch is located in its proper position for highway use.
Fifth Wheel Hitch Installation
Installing a Fifth Wheel Hitch without a Bed Liner
- When bracket installation is performed properly, there is no benefit to welding the installation brackets to the frame compared with bolting the brackets.
- If welding is preferred, make sure it is performed by a certified welder.
- The universal rail kit, 6005 mounts to any full-size pickup and often requires drilling.
- If the vehicle is a late model
Ford (1997 +), Chevrolet (1999 +), Dodge (2002 +) or GMC (1999 +), drilling can be avoided with the Custom Installation Kits.
- The custom rail kits mount to existing holes in the frame, reducing installation time by up to 50 percent.
- The custom rail kits will also work with both long-bed and short-bed trucks.
- Not included with the custom installation kits are the rails that the fifth wheel hitch sits on.
- The custom installation kits are designed to be used with fifth wheel hitch rails part #6008 but work with most fifth wheel rails.
- If the vehicle is a late model
Ford (1997 +), Chevrolet (1999 +), Dodge (2002 +) or GMC (1999 +), drilling can be avoided with the Custom Installation Kits.
Installing a Fifth Wheel Hitch with a Bed Liner
- Fifth wheel installation rails cannot be installed over plastic bed liners.
- The liner will eventually disintegrate resulting in a loose hitch.
- However, the installation rails can be installed over a spray-in liner.
Fifth Wheel Hitch Maintenance
Lubrication is extremely important. Before lubricating, remove the old, dirty lubricant.
- Use either a plastic lube plate or automotive-type chassis grease to lubricate the skid plate surface.
- The plastic lube plates must have a diameter of at least 10 inches and be no thicker than 3/16 of an inch.
- To keep moving parts in good working order, use engine oil or white lithium spray lube.
- For the joints inside the hitch head, use a white lithium spray.
- For the other moving points, use a high-pressure lube (80/90 gear lube).
- Also, lubricating the interior handle and the spring coils eases hitch operation.
- Before each use, engage the jaws to make sure they operate easily.
- Make sure the pull pins are in the proper position, including the spring retaining pins.
- Periodically make sure all the hardware is securely fastened.
Help
Fifth Airborne Sidewinder ComparisonFifth Wheel Help
Information about Fifth Wheel HitchesFifth Airborne Replacement Trailer King Pin by Fifth GearSidewinder with Rotating Turret for Short Bed PickupsCompatability of Fifth Wheels on Truck Beds Shorter Than 6 FeetProper Lubrication of Sidewinder ProductsQuestions and AnswersRecent Fifth Wheel Questions and Answers
View All Fifth Wheel Questions
Question:
can a fifth wheel hitch be put in a 2007 Chevy Avalanche
asked by: Lee last update: January 5, 2009
Reply:
Although the use of a Sidewinder would extend the pivot point to the rear to allow more clearance, the side accent pieces that angle from the top of the bed rail to the roof of the truck would prevent you from being able to tow a fifth wheel trailer.
reply by: Mike
Question:
If you had to choose between a Reese Dual pivot fifth wheel or a Hijacker Dual pivot fifth wheel, which one would you pick and why?
asked by: Russell last update: December 31, 2008
Reply:
I am not all that familiar with the Hijacker product, so I've had to do some research. When comparing price vs. features, the Reese Select Plus seemed to be comparably priced to the Hijacker models I looked at. You don't mention what capacity hitch you need, or which model you were interested in. The Reese Select Plus is available in the 18K capacity, while Hijacker offers several models in 16 or 21K. Long story short, I wasn't really able to compare apples to apples. Probably the 2 big impressions I get in favor of this Reese product is the size/shape of the head and the funnel area and the jaw locking mechanism. The head on the Reese hitch has a very large surface area which helps provide for greater stability, the extra wide funnel will aid in making the hitching operation a little easier. (Let's face it, sometimes it's difficult to get that king pin to go in there!) The Reese product uses a single piece jaw that actually wraps around the the King pin, which in my opinion would hold more securely than the single bar that the Hijacker uses. Another nice feature of the Reese is the integrated grease fitting which takes some of the guesswork out of lubricating the moving parts of the hitch. If you are looking for something that's more economical, Reese offers the Pro Series 15K model. It lacks some of the extra features of the Select Plus, but it's a great hitch.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a GMC 80 bed and need a extension pin box. My fifth wheel gvw is 16,000. What box would I Need. The present Box is 12 wide and the two rows of bolts are 7 7/8 apart with 2 bolt spacing. The bolt size is 5/8. The Present hitch is 9 1/8 from center of first row of bolts to center of hitch pin. It is a Mor/ryde.
asked by: James last update: December 31, 2008
Reply:
We have several extended pin boxes to choose from. To choose the correct one, we'll need to know the manufacturer and model # of your existing pin box. This information should be listed on a sticker or stamping somewhere on your pin box. You mention Mor/ ryde, is that the manufacturer of what you currently have?
reply by: Mike
Question:
Would you recommend a single pivot fifth wheel or a dual pivot fifth wheel? The truck is an 08 Chev 2500Hd and the camper has a GVW of 11400 lbs. We would typically be going to many different campgrounds and moving a lot. Is the dual pivot worth the extra dollars?
asked by: Russ last update: December 29, 2008
Reply:
Are you asking about the pivot on the head unit? I believe the models that have the greater range of motion (dual pivot) are well worth the premium in price. When you are trying to hitch or unhitch the fifth wheel on ground that isn't perfectly level, the extra leeway that the greater range of motion offers will be really appreciated.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a 2007 GMC 2500 Duramax 8bed, and a Hallmark 9 popup. For winter use, and occasional longer outings, I am considering the purchase of a 5th wheel, perhaps about 25. What difficulty and length of time will I incur to remove the 5th wheel hitch for mounting the camper, and in the re-installation for the trailer? Are some hitch options more appropriate? I have seen horse trailers and construction trailers with a hitch that appears to recess in the bed of the truck, but I have zero experience in this area.
asked by: Wayne last update: December 22, 2008
Reply:
There are two different fifth wheel mounting systems that are available. The standard mounting system uses rails that sit on the surface of the truck bed, and are bolted through the bed to the mounting brackets that attach to the truck's frame. The hitch itself mounts to these rails using pins and clips. The hitch is easily removable, but the rails would remain in the bed, and would rise about 1 inch above the surface of the truck bed. I don't know if that one inch would interfere with the installation of your camper. The other option is the Signature Series mounting system. This system uses 'power pucks' for the hitch to mount to, which only protrude 1/2 an inch above the bed surface. The beauty of this system is that when the hitch is removed, you have full use of the bed, all mounting hardware is under the truck bed itself. I believe the hitch that you are speaking of is a gooseneck hitch. These hitches are primarily used for agricultural or commercial use, not for recreational type equipment.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a F-150 2007 with a 5 1/2 bed. I have a Reese KwikSlide 16K hitch already installed in it.. I want to put a sidewinder on it. The clearance ratio looks good. What problems do you think I might incur?
asked by: Brian last update: December 16, 2008
Reply:
As long as the clearance looks good with the slider in the Forward position so that the king pin falls in front of the rear axle, the Sidewinder should work great for you. You'll want to make sure that you DO NOT tow with that slider slid back toward the rear of the truck bed.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I just boght a 1994 dutchman 32ft long 8 ft wide and ground up 11 ft tall. I am so new at this and i need coaching. what tipe of vehicle should i buy. I was thinking of an old f 150 crew cab but i am still not sure. and how do I know what type of fifth wheel to buy
asked by: Oscar last update: December 15, 2008
Reply:
I'd recommed a 3/4 ton truck at a minimum (F 250). When we're talking about fifth wheel trailering, bed length is important, as well. A full size (8 foot) bed is the best choice. Otherwise, you'll need to go with a slider or a Sidewinder rotating pin box (if your bed is shorter than 6 feet.) Fifth wheel hitches are sold by their weight rating, so you'll need to know the weight of your trailer to choose the hitch with the proper weight capacity.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a 2001 GMC 2500 HD Diesel 4 x 4 Short Box Ext Cab truck. I have a Hijacker SL 16 Double Pivot 5 th Wheel hitch. We purchased a 2007 Keystone Challenger CKQ35 5 th Wheel trailer with a Sidewinder Hitch. Just after we purhased the trailer we took it to Arizona. A couple ot times, when in an outturn, or inturn, the hitch seemed to bind in the turn, and jerk the truck. I assumed that the hitch was new, and needed to break in. We have used it all of this year, and it seems to be getting worse, and is binding on each turn that we take. This happens even when going aroung the block. I cannot see where the hitch is hanging up on the truck hitch. Can it be hanging up on the Wedge? It turns freely when not connected, but, on our last trip, the hitch seemed to bind on a corner, and I nearly lost control of the vehicle. I have it at my dealer now, but i would like to know what may be causing this problem. I like the hitch, and do not want to go back to a conventional hitch.
asked by: Martin last update: December 10, 2008
Reply:
It sounds as if you might not have the proper wedge for you hitch model. The wedge is intended to prevent any movement at the king pin. The only swivel that should be occurring is at the turret, where the pin box meets the trailer. It might be helpful to have somebody follow you in a car or on a bicycle (if it occurs at slow speeds) and have them watch the hitch/ trailer connection and see if they can observe any movement at the point where the kingpin meets the hitch. Can you observe any scratching or damage to the wedge, the Sidewinder, or the hitch? Please respond and let me know what you find.
reply by: Mike
Question:
I have a 2007 nissan tittan short bed I would like to put a 5th wheel in it. which do you recamind I have shops telling me they can put in a slider and some saying it cant be done. can you help. The truck is an 4x4 le crew cab.
asked by: Cecil last update: December 10, 2008
Reply:
How long is the bed? A slider won't work in a bed shorter than 6 feet because even when the hitch is slid back to the rearmost position, there still won't be enough clearance between the rear of the cab and the front of the trailer. The best way to go would be to use a Sidewinder rotating pin box. The Sidewinder relocates the pivot point from where the hitch connects with the king pin several inches to the rear to the point where the pin box connects to the trailer.
reply by: Mike
Question:
i have a 02f350 superduty with the 7 1/4 foot bed. i am aware that the kingpin should be mounted above or in front of the rear axle. would mounting the king pin behind the rear axle cause any stablity or sway problems? i am not concerned about the added weight to the rear of the truck because i have installed airbags for extra load capacity. just want to know if it is highway safe. my king pin weight is 2,300 lbs on a 35 camper 8,500 lbs total.
asked by: Mothman last update: December 10, 2008
Reply:
The main problem with mounting the hitch so that the kingpin falls that far back in the bed is that having all that weight behind the rear axle would lighten the load on the front axle to the point that steering control might be compromised (not a good thing!) A much better alternative would be to use a hitch with a slider or a Sidewinder rotating pin box.
reply by: Mike
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