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  1. 5th Wheel Hitch
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FITS 2018 Ram 1500
Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram - Single Jaw - Above Bed - 21,000 lbs
Demco

Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram - Single Jaw - Above Bed - 21,000 lbs

Part Number: DM68TV
$1,136.81
5th Wheel Hitch
Confirmed to Fit
2018 Ram 1500

5-1/2 Foot Bed with EcoDiesel engine

5-1/2 Foot Bed without EcoDiesel engine

6-1/2 Foot Bed with EcoDiesel engine

6-1/2 Foot Bed without EcoDiesel engine

8 Foot Bed with EcoDiesel engine

8 Foot Bed without EcoDiesel engine

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The best technical support and full 5th wheel hitch installation instructions. Great price 1500 5th wheel hitch and expert service. Ram 1500, 2018 5th wheel hitch by Demco are available from etrailer.com. For expert service call 1-800-940-8924 to order your Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram - Single Jaw - Above Bed - 21,000 lbs part number DM68TV, or order online at etrailer.com.
  • All Info
  • Reviews (98)
  • Q & A (0)
  • Videos (3)
  • Photos

Demco 5th Wheel Hitch - DM68TV

  • 21000 lbs GTW
  • Above Bed Rails
  • Demco
  • Fixed Fifth Wheel
  • Premium - Single-Hook Jaw
  • 15-1/2 - 18 Inch Tall
  • Double Pivot
  • 5250 lbs Vertical Load

Heavy-duty hitch comes in 2 lightweight pieces for fast, easy installation and removal. Sturdy wraparound jaw has a locking bar for extra security. Pivoting head eases hookup and helps limit chucking. Polyurethane bumpers ensure a smooth ride.


Features:

  • 5th-Wheel hitch mounts in your truck bed so you can tow your 5th-wheel trailer
  • Wraparound, single-piece jaw provides a secure connection
    • 360-Degree jaw-to-king-pin contact
    • Less rattle and more security than slide-bar jaws
  • 3/4" Thick, solid steel locking bar reinforces the connection of your coupled trailer
    • Automatically locks into place when the jaw closes
  • Double-pivot hitch head eases hookup and helps to limit chucking
    • Pivots front to back and side to side
  • 3 Height settings to fit your application
  • Cushioning polyurethane dampeners help reduce noise and absorb road shock
  • Spring-loaded handle with comfort grip allows for simple coupling
    • Tethered safety pin lets you secure the handle in the open or the closed position
  • Sturdy steel construction with rust-resistant black powder coat finish
  • Lightweight, 2-piece design makes installation and removal quick and easy
  • Simple installation with included base rails and installation kit
  • Made in the USA


Specs:

  • Gross towing weight: 21,000 lbs
  • Vertical load limit: 5,250 lbs
  • Hitch height settings: 15-1/2", 17-1/4", and 18"
  • 5-Year limited warranty


Note: This fifth-wheel hitch is compatible with rotating pin boxes, such as the Reese Sidewinder, Reese Revolution, and 5th Airborne Sidewinder, only when used with a wedge (sold separately).


Secure Wraparound Jaw with Locking Bar

Single Dimensions

The single-piece, strong wraparound jaw completely surrounds your trailer's king pin for 360 degrees of contact. This wraparound jaw provides a more secure connection than standard 2-piece jaws that close in on the king pin from the sides. The increased jaw-to-king-pin contact on the Recon hitch offers tighter tolerances around the king pin, which minimizes both rattle and chucking, for a smooth, quiet ride.


A 3/4" thick solid steel locking bar spans the area in front of the jaw. This bar provides an added barrier of protection against accidental disconnection so you can have peace of mind that your trailer is secure. The locking bar is attached to the jaw and to the spring-loaded handle. The bar automatically locks when the jaw closes around your king pin.


Double-Pivot, Cushioned Hitch Head

Side PivotPin

The double pivoting, cushioned head improves your towing experience dramatically by helping to reduce jarring and unwanted noise. Built-in pins allow the hitch head to pivot back and forth and side to side. And hookup is easy because the hitch head will automatically pivot to the proper angle when it comes into contact with your pin box.


Polyurethane dampeners help to cushion the movement from the pivoting head and to reduce towing noise. These dampeners are built into the head assembly to cushion the head's side-to-side pivoting.


Easy Installation

The Recon hitch is designed to mount to the included industry-standard base rails, which install in your truck bed and are anchored to the included custom brackets that attach to your vehicle's frame.


Recon detailedRecon detailed 2

Assembling the hitch is quick and easy because of its lightweight, 2-piece design. First, attach the base to the base rails. Then simply slide the head assembly into the opening in the base. There are 3 different height settings to choose from - just slide the head up or down to find your desired height.


Recon detailedRecon detailed 2

Once you have chosen your desired height, use the included pin to secure the head to the base. Finally, tighten the bolt to eliminate any movement and rattle.



8550043 Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Single Jaw - Above Bed - 21,000 lbs

6071 Demco Bed Rails for High Jacker Premier Series Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitches

6169 Replacement Head for Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch

6180 Replacement Base Assembly for Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - 21K

8552030 Demco Custom Bracket Kit for High Jacker Premier Series Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitches

Replaces Demco DM8552022 and DM8552029

Installation Details DM68TV Installation instructionsAlternate Instructions DM68TV Installation instructions

California residents: click here


Video of Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram - Single Jaw - Above Bed - 21,000 lbs

Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.




Video Transcript for Demco Fifth Wheel DM6180 Review

Today we're going to take a look at the replacement base assembly for the Demco Recon Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch. It has a 21,000 pound weight capacity. For this video I've placed the base onto a set of rails just to show you what it would look like when it's installed on the rails. This does replace the base assembly that's on your Demco Recon Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch. We sell that separately. It's Part Number DM 855043 and it is designed to be used with the Demco Recon Replacement Head, which is the DM 6169, that would attach to the yoke right up here. That does offer three height setting, hitch height settings, to fit your application.

It uses this adjustable yoke here that drops into the base. If you notice this pin . Let me turn it a little bit more, this large handle, if you pull the clip over here and pull this pin out this yoke will have three rows of holes that you can set it at whichever hitch height is required for your application to get as level of towing as possible. It will offer a hitch height setting of 15-1/2 inches, 17-1/4 inches, and 18 inches. The hitch height is always measured from the truck bed to the top of the hitch head, so when your hitch head is on this if you measure from the top of the hitch head to the truck bed, that's the settings you could get. This is a sturdy steel construction. It has a nice rust-resistant black powder coat finish on it.

It does come with the pins and clips you can see right here that is used to secure this base to your rails. This part is made in the USA. Again, the gross towing weight capacity is 21,000 pounds and the vertical load limit or pin weight capacity is 5,250 pounds. That should do it for the replacement base assembly for the Demco Recon Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch with a 21,000 pound weight capacity.

Ratings & Reviews

4.6

98 reviews
Heavy-duty hitch comes in 2 lightweight pieces for fast, easy installation and removal. Sturdy wraparound jaw has a locking bar for extra security. Pivoting head eases hookup and helps limit chucking. Polyurethane bumpers ensure a smooth ride.

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Great product



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As described



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Jesica was the best I needed it asap said Friday it arrived on Thursday very satisfied



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well built and good design! I like it alot and think you will too!



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Love it. It works well



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Fit perfect in my 2020 f350 tremor



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I like the hitch but for some reason after a long trip it seems to get loose and buck a little bit even after I torque it to spec! Other than that it's a great hitch.



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Easy to read and install. Just received it although it covers my safety chain brackets, should be a easy fit!



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It is heavier built than I expected, haven't gotten to use it yet, but I'm itching to. Extremely happy with the set up of the hitch. The welds are all clean and solid. I will write another review after my first use. But overall I'm extremely happy with the hitch so far. Good job Demco and thank you etrailer for a very easy and stress free transaction.



by:

Ultra Fast shipping and delivery Josh in costumer service awesome for getting dimensions quickly from Demco not listed easy install just waiting on RV to arrive to go pick it up.



by:

I like the ability to remove the entire hitch and only leave a small round plug on the bed floor.



by:

Easy install. This set up makes switching between 5th wheel and Gooseneck a breeze.



by:

Hitch works great and delivery from etrailer was fast.



by:

Very noisy!! Makes you think something broke. It’s good if you don’t want to break the bank. But when parking you’ll hear the loud noises coming from the hitch. Other than that it works fine.


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    The Demco Recon # DM8550043 and Curt CrossWing # C86JR have quite a few differences that separate the two similar designs. The Recon has an extra 1,000lbs of capacity and comes with a 15-1/2", 17-1/4", or 18" height setting. The CrossWing has a 16-3/8", 18-3/8", and 20-3/8" height setting so it can sit a bit higher, which could be beneficial depending on the height need for your trailer to sit level while towing. Both heads have rubber dampeners to help with ride quality, but the CrossWing...
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  • How Much do the Individual Pieces of the Demco Recon Weigh
    The head of the Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # DM8550043, which can be found as part # DM6169, weighs about 47 lbs. The base, which is part # DM6180, also weighs in at about 47 lbs. This puts the total weight of the Recon just under 100 lbs.
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  • Comparing Demco Recon and B&W Patriot Fifth Wheel Hitch for Ease of Removal/Install
    The Demco Recon hitch part # DM8550043 is a well-made fifth wheel hitch that is made here in the USA. I'd put the quality of this hitch up to basically any other hitch manufacturer out there. This hitch weighs 100 lbs which is a bit lighter than most fifth wheel hitches. The B and W Patriot hitch part # BWRVK3255 is also a great option too. Most people consider the jaw system and head design of this hitch to be the best around so it's hard to beat. This hitch is also made in the USA and...
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  • How Much Does the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch # BWRVK3305 Weigh
    The shipping weight of the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch # BWRVK3305 is 152 lbs so it will be just under that after you remove the packaging. Although it is still pretty hefty, the head unit part # BWRVC3006 can easily be removed off of the base unit # BWRVB3305 to help make moving the whole hitch more manageable. The head unit itself weighs in at about 70 lbs so it is almost half of the weight of the whole hitch. If you would like something that is a bit lighter then you can use...
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  • Recommendation on a Lightweight 5th Wheel Hitch That is Compatible With a Sidewinder Pin Box
    I have a solution for you. The Demco Recon 5th Wheel Hitch, # DM8550043, is a lightweight above the bed mounted hitch that is rated a 21K. The total weight of this hitch is 100 lbs. The Demco Recon will mount to the bed of your 2017 Ram 3500 using standard bedrails, like the Demco Universal Bed Rails, # DM6071. If your Ram has the OEM 5th Wheel Towing Pre Package, you can us the Reese 5th Wheel Adapter, # RP30154, to mount the Demco Recon to your vehicle. The Reese adapter will sit into...
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  • Dimensions of Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch
    The Demco Recon 5th wheel trailer hitch # DM8550043 tabs that fit in the rails are 21-15/16 inches apart on center. The measurement given by manufacturers is almost always listed as 22 inches. I went ahead and pulled the hitch and measured it at just a hair under 22 inches. Overall width of hitch is 24-13/16 inches Overall length of hitch is 24 inches I have 5 height measurements for you. With head on: Base to top of hitch in lowest position 15-1/2 inches Base to top of hitch in highest...
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  • Wedge for a Lippert Turning Point and a Demco Recon 5th Wheel Hitch
    The 6169 number you provided comes back to the Replacement Head for Demco Recon # DM6169. With the picture you provided, it looks like you have the Demco Recon 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # DM8550043. The wedge that you would need to use with your Lippert Turning Point is the 5th Airborne Custom Wedge # SWW-05. While the # SWW-05 wedge does not specifically list the Turning Point, we have had customers in the past let us know that this was a fit for their Recon and Turning Point.
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  • Is Demco 21K Recon Compatible with Lippert Turning Point for a 2015 Ford F-150 with 5-1/2' Bed
    If you have the 13K Demco Autoslider # DM8550040 that installs on industry standard base rails, like part # RP50087-58, then yes, the Demco Recon # DM8550043 will fit in the 5-1/2' bed of your 2015 Ford F-150. As far as compatibility with the Lippert Turning Point pin box goes, since the opening for the Recon hitch head is a little larger than normal 5th wheel hitches I doubt that the universal wedge that comes with the Turning Point will fit correctly. We have had customers say that the...
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  • Which Reese Goose Box Fits 2021 Grand Design Reflection 150 Series
    The 2021 Grand Design Reflection 150 Series uses a Lippert 1621 pin box so for a Reese Goose Box you'd want the part # RP85FR and you'd be set.
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  • Which Sidewinder Wedge to Use with Demco Recon Fifth Wheel Hitch
    The correct Sidewinder wedge to use with the Demco Recon fifth wheel hitch part # DM8550043 is the Reese Sidewinder wedge part # RP74FR.
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  • Difference Between Sidewinder Reese Revolution and 5th Airborne Pin Box
    The Reese Sidewinder and Revolution are the exact same thing. Sidewinder is the brand name when you buy one aftermarket and Revolution is the name if the pin box came on the trailer frame the factory. So basically Reese sells Sidewinders to customers and Revolutions to trailer manufacturers. But they are the exact same. 5th Airborne setups are a cushioned pin box that can be offered as a standalone cushioned pin box or as integrated into a Sidewinder/Revolution. So basically if you need...
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  • Using Demco Recon Fifth Wheel Hitch With Rota-Flex Pin Box on Montana Fifth Wheel
    The Demco # DM8550043 Recon Fifth Wheel Hitch is indeed compatible with the Rota-Flex cushioned pin box on your Montana Fifth Wheel. It's simplicity, ease of use and relatively light weight add up to make the Recon a great choice.
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  • Best 5th Wheel Hitch for a 2021 Nissan Titan Pro4x w/ a 57" Bed
    Thanks for the picture! To tow a 5th wheel trailer with your 2021 Nissan Titan with a 57" bed you are going to need both a 5th wheel hitch and a rotating pin box. With that short of a bed a sliding hitch is not going to be enough to give you the clearance you need. As far as the rails in the bed of your truck go, those aren't for towing and you will need to remove them. To mount a 5th wheel hitch in your Titan you will need the Demco Hijacker Premier Series Above-Bed Base Rails and Custom...
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  • Sidewinder to Replace Trailair for Lippert 1621 and Lightestweight Fifth Wheel Hitch
    I sent the picture of your pin box to Lippert so they could identify it and they stated you have a Lippert 1621 model so the correct cushioned Sidewinder would be the part # RP61422 that you referenced. If you didn't want the cushioned feature you could also use the Sidewinder part # RP34FR. Your Andersen Ultimate can't be used with the Sidewinder and since you are wanting the lightest hitch possible that would be the Demco Recon part # DM8550043 which only weighs 89 lbs. You will also...
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  • Is Blue Ox Gooseneck-to-5th-Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter Compatible with a Sidewinder Pin Box?
    If you use the Sidewinder in the locked-out position so it's like a standard pin box then you can use the Blue Ox Gooseneck-to-5th-Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter # BLU52XR, but if you're needing to use the rotating turret feature for increased turning clearance we need to look at another option as the Blue Ox will basically just spin on the gooseneck ball since that's the only connection point. To continue to use the turret I recommend checking out the Demco Recon # DM8550043 which is pretty...
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123. . .5



Do you have a question about this 5th Wheel Hitch?


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Updated by:
Lindsey S
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Dustin K
Video Edited:
Dustin K

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