Does it Matter Which Side Slider Handle is On for Reese Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch

Updated 05/04/2018 | Published 05/03/2018

Question:

have had it for eight years and have operated it with the slider control arm on the passengers side. looking at your pictures they show it on the drivers side along with the fifth wheel release arm. Sould i change my fifthwheel to match? i also notice the adjusting boits for the fifth wheel legs that go into the rails my boits are in the rear and most of yours in the pictures are in the front, is this also a problem?

asked by: David A

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is no particular reason that you can't have the sliding handle inserted through the passenger side of your Reese Sliding 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30051. The reason that most sliding hitches you see have the handle coming out from the driver's side is simply for convenience. Since you will be coming out of the driver's side door when needing to operate the slider, this just allows for quicker access instead of having to walk all the way around to the other side of the truck. Another reason why the sliding handle might be flipped is to avoid interference with the locking handle on the hitch head, as some of them have a design that angles further down from the head.

As long as the hitch legs are securely attached to the rails with the pin and clips, the side that they insert through is also not an issue. This is again just a matter of convenience. It is a bit easier to access the clip if you go in through the front of the rails instead of from behind.

expert reply by: Chris R