Pros and Cons of 5th Wheel Hitch With a Slide Bar Jaw Versus a Dual Jaw Hitch

Updated 05/14/2016 | Published 05/12/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs

(396)

$509.66

Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs

(216)

$736.95

Curt Custom 5th Wheel Installation Kit for Ford - Carbide Finish

(185)

$264.43

Question:

What is the difference or pros and cons of a slide bar and a dual jaw fifth wheel hitch? Thanks for you time

asked by: Tracy

Expert Reply:

The difference between a slide bar jaw and a dual jaw is how tightly the fifth wheel king pin is held. Both do a good job securing the king pin, preventing it from coming loose. The Dual Jaw will hold the king pin much more tightly, preventing the king pin from rattling around in the pin box.

Any movement of the king pin in the hitch jaws will be easily felt and heard in the truck cab. Every time the you brake or accelerate, if there's any movement in the hitch jaws-you're gonna feel it. This might not be too bad for short trips, but would prove to be very unpleasant for longer trips.

Unless you're on a super-strict budget, I'd avoid a fifth wheel hitch with a slide bar jaw. Curt offers a cushioned dual jaw fifth wheel hitch with a 16K capacity that's at an attractive price point, part # C16120. For a short bed truck, you'd want to use the sliding model, part # C16521. The correct install kit for a 2014 Ford F250/350 would be part # C16424-204. Curt's cushioned fifth wheel hitches aren't compatible with the Reese Sidewinder/Revolution pin boxes, but they work great with everything else.

I've linked you to the instructions for the installation rail kit I mentioned.

expert reply by: Mike L