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?

expert reply by: Lazer S

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.....

Lazer S.

8/22/2025

@DewayneH Yeah that makes sense. You could put some hard rubber spacers between on the posts that go into the pucks, but it would probably make installing the hitch harder. It would get rid of the "slop" though. Which pucks did you install on your Ram? Was it the Demco under-bed set up?

Dewayne H.

8/22/2025

@LazerS Yes it was the Demco under bed setup DEMCO 8551010 Frame Brkt Kit For Chevy. I have a 2015 HD2500 Duramax.

Lazer S.

8/22/2025

@DewayneH Sorry, don't know why I said Ram in my previous response. The play you have is within tolerances as Demco had to be able to get the hitches to fit with bed liners when using their underbed system # DM8551010. I think the hard rubber washer would be the best choice to get rid of the play you have.