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.

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.

Recent Fifth Wheel Questions and Answers

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Question:

What size fifthwheel hitch would I need for a 2001 Holiday Rambler, Presdential, 30?

asked by: Ellen       last update: June 10, 2009

Question:

What is the difference between a gooseneck and fifthwheel hitch. I thought they would pull the same trailer. If I buy a gooseneck trailer will a fifth wheel hitch work or vice versa?

asked by: David       last update: June 10, 2009

Question:

Shopping for a fifth-wheel hitch for my 2008 Siverado 2500 short-box. I see there are many options. I will be pulling a 4-horse aluminum featherlite need to look up model & weight. Can you make a recommendation? I do have a bedliner I would like to continue to use - can I cut it out around the rails?

asked by: Brian       last update: June 10, 2009

Question:

how much clearance do i need from the front of the fifth wheel standard 8 wide and the cab of the truck?

asked by: Lawrence       last update: June 4, 2009

Question:

Is there ever a clearance problem between the trailer and bed rails on a 5th wheel hitch? I have a 1994 Hitch hiker II and have converted it to a gooseneck due to already having a gooseneck hitch in the Chevy 2500 crew cab short bed that I pull with. I am having clerance problems. The trailer has dented the bedrails several times. Should I add a 5th wheel hitch to my truck or is it possible to make the gooseneck work?

asked by: Mike       last update: June 3, 2009

Question:

i have a 2007 dodge half ton and i want to install the 5th wheel my self but i have a tube frame! do i drill through both sides of the frame to mount the brackets or will this hurt the frame!

asked by: Ernie       last update: June 3, 2009

Question:

Hello, I just bought a 2001 Timberland 5th wheel. I have a 22k reese heavey duty hitch for it. Swivels and all. I have a 1996 ford F-150. 5.8l. My questions are. How much space is needed between the truck bumper and the camper, and is 8 to 10 inches enough clearance between the camper and the truck bed.

asked by: John       last update: May 28, 2009

Question:

I am installing a Huskie 15K 5th wheel, in a 1994 chevy. My rails are horizantle with the truck and I am looking for the best way to install it. I am looking for the center of the hitch. I have a 2005 Salem trailer. With an extention King Pin and a slider hitch.

asked by: Andy       last update: May 26, 2009

Question:

I just replaced my truck. What is the minimum clearance between the top of the box to the underside of the fifth wheel overhang.The new truck is much higher then my old one.

asked by: Dale       last update: May 26, 2009

Question:

I HAVE AN 04 FORD F150 CREW CAB WITH A 5.5 BED. I WANT TO PULL MY FIFTH WHEEL. WHAT ALL DO I NEED TO DO THAT...

asked by: Ben        last update: May 20, 2009

Question:

I have a 2007 Ford f150 short bed truck. I purchased a 30ft. Cedar Creek camper. What do I need to be able to pull this camper safetly?

asked by: Spencer       last update: May 19, 2009

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