Troubleshooting Demco Hijacker Jarring and Chucking at Start and Stop

Question

Question:

apparently have one of the earlier versions of the 18K demco hijacker, no matter how many times I adjust it, when I have come to a stop and then take off it feels like there is slack in something and it jerks and pops , it operates fine except that, is it the design with just the locking bar or something else ? I see the new head has a traditional locking device, and looks more secure, was wondering if this is a fix for the clunking ?

asked by: Gary G

0

Expert Reply:

I reached out to my contact at Demco and he said that depending on the year, there was a gear adjustment bolt on the cab side of the base of the older Hijacker models. He also said some of the slide bar heads had an adjustment bolt there as well for a better king pin/pin box connection. These adjustments should clean up the slop that you are experiencing. If you have your owners manual it will walk you through those adjustments. If you don't have the manual, let me know your model number and send a photo and I'll see what further troubleshooting we can do.

expert reply by: Jason S

0

To M.

6/9/2025

What way do you do? Adjust the bolt to stop the jerking

Kate F.

6/10/2025

@ToM Since you have the older version with the locking bar design, there is going to be some slop in the jaws. The thing is, that locking bar can sometimes leave a little slack or play between itself and the king pin. It’s not dangerous, but it can create that annoying feeling like something’s shifting around when you stop and start. It’s especially noticeable in heavier trailers or under load. There are a couple of things you can try to reduce the jerking. On many of those bar-style hitches, there’s a small adjustment bolt that controls how snugly the bar fits around the king pin. You can tighten that just a little bit, like 1/8 of a turn at a time, until it holds things more securely. Just be careful not to overdo it, since overtightening can affect how the latch operates or even wear on the pin. Also, it helps to inspect the bar and channel for any visible wear and give everything a good cleaning and lubrication with fifth-wheel grease. Dry metal surfaces can exaggerate movement, and a bit of lube goes a long way in smoothing things out. If things are still clunking after that and you want to look into getting a new hitch, let me know your year, make, model, bed size, and if you have the OEM Prep Package or not so I can find a better hitch for you.

Answer 1

Yes, fortunately, you do have a couple of options that will allow you to use your Demco Hijacker 18K Fifth Wheel #DM8550034 on your 2020 Ford F-250 with the OEM Prep Package. Your first option is to use the Demco 5th Wheel Rail Adapter #DM6175, which…

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Answer 2

Hi Jeff; it does sound like you need to adjust the gear adjustment bolt as seen in the picture below. Try this first to see if it solves the problem. If not, feel free to reach back out in the comments below and I will help you troubleshoot further.…

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Answer 3

Hey Michael, thanks for reaching out. So, this is actually normal for the Demco autoslide, and to be honest, it is one of the only downfalls of their hitch design. It takes a tremendous amount of force to rotate the head, so if you disconnect at an…

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Answer 4

In regards to a Demco Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch like part #DM8550034, there are not adjustments for the locking jaw mechanism. If there is too much slop inside the jaws with the kingpin they are either too far worn or damaged and need…

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Answer 5

The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Spring Kit #F2550 is a confirmed fit for the 2002 Ford F-250, both 2WD and 4WD versions. I linked an installation video showing this kit in a 2002 F-250 like yours. This kit works on trucks that have the stock…

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Answer 6

I attached a diagram and instructions on where and how often to grease the Demco Hijacker part #DM6077 that you have. It's recommended that you use white lithium grease like the part #L11354 for a cartridge for a grease gun.

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Answer 7

The Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider #DM8550024 should not be able to be manually turned. The movement of the hitch head side to side is only possible when the weight of the trailer is on the hitch head. The reason for this is so…

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Answer 8

Hey Andrew! Yes, Furrion does have a Chill Cube model with a heat pump. This was actually just released for aftermarket sale. You will need a complete system to make the switch, new R32 units aren't backwards compatible with old R410A systems.…

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Answer 9

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 10

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 11

Hi Paul, you’re definitely on the right track here, and I can help you narrow this down with confidence. With your tandem 3,500 lb Dexter axles and 33 inch spacing, both the Dexter EZ Flex part #K71-652-00 and the Lippert Road Armor part #LC53CK are…

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Answer 12

Hey Jeff. There is definitely a correlation between weight and capacity. I've listed the weight of all three of the Power Mountain Tallboy Off-Road Bottle Jacks we have below: Power Mountain Tallboy Off-Road Bottle Jack - 7-15/16" to…

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Troubleshooting Demco Hijacker Jarring and Chucking at Start and Stop

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