Is 1/8" Of Play Normal When Installing A Demco Autoslide?
Updated 08/22/2025 | Published 08/20/2025
Question:
I bought a Demco autoslide 21K hitch from you about 5 years ago. I am extremely happy with it but I have one question. The swiveling lock pins that secure the hitch to the under bed system are allowing about 1/8 inch play up and down. I noticed this from the start but dont see any way to adjust that slack out.
asked by: Dewayne H
Expert Reply:
Hi Dewayne!
That is normal with any of the puck mount hitches. Whether it is a Ford, GM, or Ram truck, they all have similar puck mounts in the bed of the truck. There is a locking tab at the bottom of each pin. The locking tab is rectangular shaped and rotates 90 degrees to allow it to slide in or out of the puck mount in the truck bed. The pin handle is rotated 90 degrees and the locking tab rotates 90 degrees across the puck mount opening locking the hitch in place. There is no way the hitch can come out of the puck openings when the pins are in the locked position.
A little play (1/8”) is normal and acceptable. It is similar to the receiver hitch under the back bumper of the truck. When you slide the ball receiver into the opening under the bumper it isn’t super tight. There is a tolerance there allowing the receiver to slide in and out of the opening. The same is true with the puck system. There is a slight amount of tolerance allowing the pins to slide in and out and move up and down in the opening. There isn’t a way to take out the slack. That is how the units are designed.
Out of curiosity, what kind of trailer are you pulling?
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Demco Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider - Single Jaw - Chevrolet/GMC Prep Package - 21K
- 5th Wheel Hitch
- Sliding 5th Wheel
- OEM - GM
- 5250 lbs Vertical Load
- 21000 lbs GTW
- Double Pivot
- Premium - Single-Hook Jaw
- 18 - 19-1/2 Inch Tall
- 14 Inch Fore/Aft Travel
- Demco
more information >
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Dewayne H.
8/21/2025
I'm pulling a 36ft Columbus 298RL GVWR 14,200. I bought the 21K overrated hitch on purpose. I only asked the question about the slack because several of the other hitches have a threaded lock rod with castle nuts to snug up those connections. By the way I installed the under bed system on my 2015 HD 2500 Duramax. They put the puck system in in 2016 I believe but I didn't mind. The one I installed I think was more dependable the way it attached to the frame.....