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Backing into tight sites or navigating sharp turns doesn’t mean stopping to pull a lever. The automatic slider gives you 22-1/2" of fore/aft travel so the hitch head glides smoothly toward the tailgate when you turn and back toward the cab as you straighten out. The built-in roller-and-guide assembly keeps the motion controlled and steady, letting you corner confidently without getting in and out of the truck.
The single, wraparound jaw closes completely around the king pin for 360-degree contact. That tight fit keeps things quiet and cuts down on rattles compared to slide-bar jaws. A 3/4" solid steel locking bar reinforces the connection and automatically locks when coupled, giving a strong, secure link that feels planted on the road.
The double-pivot hitch head moves both front to back and side to side, so it naturally follows trailer motion. Three polyurethane dampeners absorb shock and reduce towing noise, taking the harshness out of uneven roads. The head also tilts automatically during hookup, making it easier to connect without wrestling the trailer height or angle.
Installation is simple thanks to the included base rails and hardware. Bolt on the side plates, pick one of three hitch height settings—15-1/4", 16-1/2", or 18"—and pin it into place. The sturdy steel construction with a black powder coat finish adds durability and corrosion resistance for long-term use.
With a gross towing weight rating of 13,000 lbs and a vertical load limit of 3,250 lbs, this hitch is ready for serious towing duty. It combines heavy-duty strength with an automatic system that takes care of clearance on every turn, keeping your fifth wheel tracking smoothly wherever you travel.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hello everybody, this is Jeff at etrailer.com. Today. We're going to take a look at this Replacement Head and Base Assembly for the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches. Has a 13,000 pound gross towing weight capacity. Now this will replace the head and the base assembly on your Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch. It is designed to fit the hitch part number DM8550040 and part number DM8550041.This 5th Wheel Hitch will mount in the bed of your short bed truck so that you can tow your 5th Wheel Trailer.
The hitch does come all pre-assembled for easy installation, all you have to do is bolt on the side plates and attach the head to the hitch face. Now, this does offer an automatic slider, which provides clearance that's required for your short bed truck to turn safely at slow speeds. There's no more getting in or out of your truck to operate a manual slider.This rotating hitch head will turn up to 90 degrees with your trailer. The rotation will create the force that propels that automatic slider. So basically the head will slide towards the tailgate when you turn, and back towards the cab when you straighten out.
Total travel it'll give you as about 22 and a half inches front to back. The roller and guide assembly that's underneath here in the base, creates a nice, smooth and controlled movement. If you notice on the hitch head right here, they have these built-in brackets. This just stabilizes your pin box so the king pin won't rotate in the hitch, and there is no need for any separate capture plate for a standard non cushion pin box.It is a rail free design, allows for full access to your truck bed when the hitch is removed. Does offer two separate tracks to allow for up to two and three quarter inches of side to side clearance, to keep your pin box from hitting your bed rails.
The jaw on this hitch head here is a nice wrap around single piece jaw, provides a nice secure connection. Gives you a 360 degree jaw to king pin contact, which will give you less rattle, more security than the slide bar jaws. Now, at the end of this video, I'm going to demonstrate how the king pin will slide in here. It does also use, if you look in front of the wraparound jaw, this bar right here, it's a three quarter-inch thick, solid steel locking bar. This'll reinforce the connection of your coupled trailer.
This will automatically lock into place when your jaw closes.The hitch head itself is a double pivot hitch head, eases hook-up helps limit chucking, pivots front to back and side to side. They do use cushioning polyurethane dampeners underneath the hitch head to help reduce noise, absorb any road shock. And the handle on this head is a nice spring loaded handle, has a nice comfort grip, allows for simple coupling. And they do use this tethered safety pin right here you can see. And when it's closed, to lock it in place you drop it through and clip it. And then to open it you just remove it, and it is tethered, you can see if you let it go you won't lose it. Go ahead and put it back in there.Now this is a nice sturdy steel construction, uses rust resistant black powder coat finish. It is made in the USA. Few specs again, the application, it fits standard pin boxes from 12 inches to 14 inches wide. Now locking plates, which we do sell separately, are required for use with the following cushion pin boxes: The Glide Ride, the Mor Ryde, the Trailair Tri Glide, and the 5th Airborne. Gross towing weight capacity on this is 13,000 pounds, vertical load limit or pin weight capacity is 3,250 pounds. Now it does come with this nice operator's manual that'll describe how everything goes together and how it operates.And again, the last thing I do want to show you, here's an example of what the king pin would look like on your 5th wheel. So when you go to hookup, what you'll do again is remove the safety pin there, and then you'll take your handle and pull it all the way out. Once you get it all the way out, it locks into the open position. So you can see it's going to allow the king pin to slide in there and push up against the jaw. So you can see when it gets in far enough, just like that, the wrap around jaw comes around. And that bar we talked about will slide all the way across and lock into place, give you that extra security. Now you're all ready to go. All you have to do is take your safety pin, drop it through the hole, flip it and it's locked the handle, you're all ready to go. To disconnect it all you have to do is, again, pull out your handle and that'll allow you to remove the king pin from your jaws.But that should do it for the review on the Replacement Head and Base Assembly for the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches. Has a 13,000 pound gross towing weight capacity.
Ratings & Reviews
Seems to be built very well, and installation was fairly easy considering the size and weight. Won’t know how it travels until I get the RV in the Spring….we shall see! In my particular case, I had to use spacer washers between one of the brackets and the hitch so it wouldn’t jam in the truck mounts but no big deal.
I’ve also figured out a way to “store” the hitch for the winter.
I have not installed it yet but I know your product it always good
and easy to install.
Thanks
Fast delivery and all parts were de livered
2nd package got to me sooner than you quoted me and I appreciate that so much when I get it in I’ll send pictures. Thanks again Zachary T Smart from Peru NY
everything i have bought i am very happy with and will buy again.
Everyone that I spoke to on the phone were very helpful. I haven't hooked up my hitch yet but I like what I see so far.
E trailer is fantastic! Great service and prompt shipping!
Everything foot like a glove and it was a very nice installation process
Didn’t realize it was 13k thought it as the 18 k I wanted….
Your team was very helpful getting me the hitch that I needed, and it arrived a little sooner than expected. In fact my truck is still in the repair shop for the damage caused by the other hitch, so I have not installed the new one as of yet.
Thanks for all your help.
Hitch works great, my truck has a 5’7” box, I can back up turning 90 degrees if I need to. It’s very important that your pretty straight when you unhook or you can’t hookup. You have to be more accurate when hookup. The first few times it seemed like it was going to be a hassle, you just have to pay a little more attention. Hitch is worth it
I purchased these rails for my 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the new body style.
All holes lined up properly and the install was no more exciting than any other rail install I've done on other vehicles.
Some of the mounting hardware was lost by the shipping company but etrailer was quick to fix the shipping companies problem with the proper bag of hardware!
Wow, where to begin. I can't imagine towing a 5th wheel trailer in a shorter bed truck without an autoslide setup. After the initial install I noted on the 2nd(?) trip a clunking noise during acceleration after a stop - a couple emails back and forth with Demco support, as well as a quick phone call, and it was all sorted out (user error) with no further issues - Thank you Demco!
I tow a short & light Jayco 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton shortbed and having the ability to drive, turn, and park the camper without having to get out of the truck to manually engage or disengage a slide on the hitch has made for much more relaxing weekends away. The Hijacker autoslide gives PLENTY of space between the camper and cab and I've never had to worry, but I did my homework and ran the numbers well before I purchased my hitch so I wasn't surprised.
I would say the only downside for me would be the weight and bulkiness of the hitch. Not having the means to easily remove and store it between trips, the hitch is forced to live in the bed of the truck right now, but I did know about the weight going into the purchase.
All in all, for the peace of mind the Demco autoslide gives me, I'd spend the money all over again.
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Kevin
10/22/2021
its been great. love it