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The Curt E16 5th Wheel Hitch with S20 Slider is rated for 16,000 lbs gross towing weight and a 4,000-lb vertical load limit, giving you the backbone you need to pull heavy fifth wheels with confidence. The sturdy steel construction and carbide black finish keep it solid and stable mile after mile. It mounts above bed rails for a secure setup, keeping your trailer steady when the road gets rough.
Hooking up feels simple with the E16’s auto-locking, slide-bar jaw mechanism. Once the king pin slides into place, the rear steel tension bar tightens down to clamp around it, minimizing rattle and movement. That added tension makes a noticeable difference—less play means a smoother, quieter ride and more peace of mind when you’re heading out on long hauls.
Tight turns can be tricky with a fifth wheel, but the included S20 slider gives you 12" of fore and aft travel to create the clearance you need at slow speeds. The non-binding design helps the hitch slide smoothly without fighting friction or hang-ups, so backing into spots or maneuvering in tighter areas feels more controlled. It’s built for trucks with beds from 6' to 8' long to prevent contact between cab and trailer during sharp turns.
Getting the trailer level is straightforward thanks to four height positions ranging from 14" to 17". The dual-pivoting head offers 10 degrees of lateral movement that makes coupling on uneven ground far less stressful. It connects easily, stays quiet with its anti-rattle skid plate, and works smoothly with a nylon lube plate (sold separately) for cleaner hookups over time.
This hitch includes base rails and an installation kit for mounting in your truck bed. The steel build feels strong under load while still being simple enough for DIY installation. When it’s all set up, you get a secure fifth-wheel connection that’s smooth to operate and ready for thousands of towing miles ahead.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hey guys, this is Jake here with etrailer. Today we're gonna be going over the CURT E16 replacement 5th wheel head. This is designed to replace your E16 5th wheel head. If you've already got one and you're wanting to replace it. If it got damage or if it's old and rusty this is gonna be a perfect fit. It's also gonna come with the replacement bracket.
If you'd like to swap out the head on the S20 which is their new slider base, you can put this in, mount it to the correct height and then put this hitch head right in the top of it. You are gonna get all the replacement parts that initially come with the kit so you'll get new hardware, new pins, a new handle, and this bracket. The best way to get this set up inside the S20 base is to set your head height with the bracket first and then set the head on top of it. Now with our new hardware, we can set the height of our hitch a lot easier than a lot of other hitches out there. A lot of 'em are gonna have to set it with the head attached but this bracket only weighs about 10 pounds so it's really easy to get it in place.
Now to get your new head in place, it's as simple as setting it on top of the bracket. And again, it will come with two new pins. And that's, I think that's kind of nice 'cause when you're replacing you know, new parts you'd like to put new hardware in too 'cause chances are these are gonna be pretty wore out. So some of the reasons why you would need to replace your 5th wheel head is if it's got a lot of rust on it it's gonna start to affect the integrity of the strength of the hitch itself. So if it's got too much rust you might think about replacing it.
If you've not been using enough grease or any grease at all this head can start to score and once it starts scoring you can't really go back 'cause it needs a smooth surface to slide on your kingpin base. Another reason is your grease gets dirty that can cause scoring. If you're not using a lube plate. There's a lot of different reasons of why you would need to replace this head. If your mechanism isn't working correctly anymore.
But it's good to know that you can just replace the head. But with that being said, a lot of people what they'll do is they'll, if they have an A16 or an E16 head and they have the traditional base but they get a new vehicle and they'd like to switch to the slider, you can keep your old head, get the slider, and then later on you can replace the head. So there's several different options and reasons of why you would need a new E16 head. Well, with all that being said, we've got it all installed it's ready to go, and it's ready for our next trip.
Ratings & Reviews
John
9/26/2025
Still no rust on the rails or the bolts. My opinions havent changed, I would definitely buy again.
Mike S.
6/9/2018
Thanks for the follow up. I’ve enjoyed the products ease of installation and use. I easily hook up my 5th wheel camper by myself and have had no issues. Great products!
Les
11/1/2017
Still using and I really like the hitch and other items I purchased a year ago. After installing the Curt fifthwheel hitch, Ive used it several times and I will be using it a bunch over rbe next several weeks. Easy to maintain and use.
Sean O.
3/5/2018
I am so pleased with the Hitch and the kit, they have been trouble-free and the price and quality cant be beat. We just returned from a 2800 mile trip, and the Curt Hitch worked like a champ! Thanks for following up with me, and for offering such a Great Product! The Customer Service from etrailer is Wonderful!
Heather A.
10/9/2017
If the handle is not releasing the kingpin is binding with the jaws. The hitch needs weight on it to couple and uncouple so it makes sense that you have to move the truck back a bit to release the jaws.
Steven
10/9/2022
Fantastic with no problems
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Richard P.
8/31/2017
Rails have been in place for a year and used many times. Absolutely no issues and the bolts have all remained tight, thanks to the proper torque.