Fifth-Wheel Trailer Hitch Guide - Behind The Cab

  |   fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch Guide valley Industries Hitch Fifth-wheel trailers have many advantages over conventional trailers, or diesel-pusher RVs: They are easily maneuverable, the weight is situated nicely over the rear axle of the truck, and when the trailer is disconnected, the owner is free to travel easily, leaving the fifth wheel trailer behind. However, what type of hitch is best for these setups? What are the options? Basically, a fifth-wheel hitch is a type of hitch that mounts in the bed of a pickup truck and is designed to be like those hook-ups on big tractor/trailer rigs. It uses a plate in the bed of the truck, and a pin on the trailer. This type of hitch offers improved stability and ease of turning and maneuverability, as well as the ability to tow substantially more weight than is possible with a ball-variety, weight-carrying hitch or weight-distributing hitch. Usually, a fifth-wheel hitch is located in the center of the truck bed over the rear axle, and when connected to the trailer, the hitch pin is in front of the centerline of the tow vehicle's rear axle. The basic fifth-wheel hitch is made up of the following components: - Fifth-wheel plate-the unit that contains the hitch plate, the plate jaws, and the handle. All of these components are mounted in the truck's bed. - Handle-this device is used to release or lock the plate jaws. - Hitch plate-the "wheel" that allows the trailer to rotate. - Pin-the connecting device attached to a fifth-wheel trailer. It is designed to fit into the plate jaws mounted in the truck bed. - Pin box-the structure attached to the bottom front section of the trailer's frame (the pin is attached to the bottom). - Plate jaws-this holds the pin. - Side rails-these are support rails that are bolted to the tow truck bed and used to support the fifth-wheel hitch. Most fifth-wheel hitches are made to be removable from the base rails, using pins. In addition, many hitches offer tilting or pivoting ("single-rocker", "double-rocker") of the plate. The side tilt makes it much easier to hitch and unhitch the trailer. In addition, without the tilt feature, cornering can introduce considerable stress on a fixed hitch system. Since the fifth-wheel hitch does interfere with bed space and the tailgate, many companies have developed a number of fifth-wheel accessories, or options, over the standard type of hitch to solve this and other problems. We'll outline a few of these. Sliding HitchesSince fifth-wheel trailers sometimes can make contact with the cab of an extended cab or crew cab truck (especially with shortbed models) during tight maneuvers, several companies offer fifth-wheel hitches that slide rearward-moving the hitch back gives extra clearance for those tight turns. Under-Bed SetupsAn under-bed type of fifth-wheel hitch mounts to the frame of a truck, and eliminates the bedrails. This allows for full use of the bed when the hitch is removed. Some companies offer a hitch setup that can be used for both fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailers, in case you need to tow both designs. Upside-Down VarietyThis type of hitch puts the fifth wheel on the trailer to free up the bed. The bed is located in the bed of the pickup and can be easily removed. This type of hitch also frees up the bed of the truck. Air-RideSome hitches use their own suspension components, smoothing the ride for both the trailer and the truck. There are numerous aftermarket companies that offer alternatives to the standard fifth-wheel hitch, in addition to the standard type, in a variety of sizes, weight loads, and configurations. In short, there's a fifth-wheel hitch for everyone and every situation; you just need to determine your own needs and preferences.