Best Fifth Wheel Slider Hitches

Fifth wheel slider hitches are an elegant engineering solution to a towing issue that many people are faced with when setting up their rig. Most fixed position fifth wheel hitches on the market are not compatible with short-bed trucks. So if your truck bed is less than eight feet long you will probably have a problem.

There is a very sound reason for this. It all boils down to weight distribution, and making sure that your trailer is attached to your truck at the point where it is structurally strongest. For safety reasons, your hitch needs to be located directly over your rear axle.

When it comes to shorter trucks, this means that the trailer should be much closer to the cab than on trucks with more space in the rear. If you were to just attach a stationary hitch close to your cab, you would quickly run into problems.

The corners of your trailer are likely to make contact with your truck cab during sharp turns, which can cause significant damage to both your truck and trailer, and can endanger your safety on the road.

RV trailer manufacturers have tried to mitigate this problem by introducing rounded front caps. However, they inevitably result in a much smaller turning radius, and you don’t want that.

The best solution, then, can be found by installing a hitch that is specially designed for short bed trucks: the fifth wheel slider hitch.

As the name suggests, this type of hitch slides backwards on your truck bed to accommodate sharp turns. When you want to perform a turn, the entire hitch temporarily slides towards the back of your pickup truck to make room for the trailer to rotate.

These sliding hitches let you turn up to 90 degrees. It returns to its original position once you have finished maneuvering. Depending on how advanced the model is, this sliding motion is performed either manually or automatically.

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Will you be performing tight turns regularly?

This is the very first question you should ask yourself when choosing a between a stationary and sliding hitch. Sliding hitches are not all that necessary unless you need to turn at really sharp angles often. If you use your rig on the open road, the sliding option might not be that important.

On the other hand, if you will perform a lot of complex maneuvers, a sliding hitch will prove to be a lifesaver. RV parks and campgrounds are a perfect example of a slide intensive environment. The 3 point turns and complex maneuvers required to get your rig in and out of tight spots will be a whole lot easier with a sliding hitch.

How often will you need to remove your hitch?

Fifth wheel hitches can take up a lot of valuable truck bed space, so you will need to think about how often you will need to remove it from your vehicle. If you plan to keep your RV attached to your truck, this will not be a concern, and you do not have to worry about how easy the hitch is to take on and off.

Weight is one of the most important characteristics that influence mobility, and hitch designs can range from lightweight ones that can be carried by one person to extremely heavy models that require several people to take on and off.

Another consideration that you should factor into your decision is what additional equipment you have to remove and install your hitch. If you have some kind of hoist in your garage, for example, the maximum weight of your potential hitch can be larger.

Finally, you need to objectively consider your fitness levels and how willing you are to put some elbow grease into the process of mounting and un-mounting. If you are not that strong or willing to get physical, a lightweight model is the way to go.

How big is your truck bed?

As mentioned in the intro, fifth wheel slider hatches are specially designed for short bed trucks. The main question is how short your truck bed is, and whether a specific hitch model will be compatible or not.

Sliding hitches move on special rails, and the length of these rails will determine if you can use it on your truck. For the most part, manufacturers will provide the rail lengths as well as recommended truck bed compatibility. If you are not sure whether your truck can accommodate a specific model, it is always a good idea to ask the manufacturer.

What type of fifth wheel slider hitch do you need?

The two main types of slider are manual and automatic; the former requires you to get out of your truck and manually slide the hitch back, while the latter does this automatically. Manual models are significantly cheaper than their automatic counterparts, and there are a more models to choose from.

For a higher price tag, you can opt for an automatic model that will not require you to pull over and exit your vehicle when you want to slide your hitch back. Apart from the higher price, an additional downside of automatic models is that they require more maintenance. We will delve deeper into the pros and cons of each later on in the guide.

How much weight will you be towing?

The maximum towing capacity of your hitch dictates how much weight you can safely tow. This number is always displayed prominently on the product specifications, and you should choose one that is greater than the weight of your fully loaded RV.

A sliding fifth wheel hitch is a large piece of equipment, and can be quite costly, so it makes sense to think ahead when making your purchase. If you plan to purchase a heavier trailer down the line, for example, it might be a good idea to go for a model that has a higher towing weight than you currently need.

How powerful is your truck?

Trailers weigh thousands of pounds, so hauling them puts a lot of strain on your engine and vehicle in general. Pulling more weight than it is designed for can be catastrophic for your truck, so knowing your vehicles towing capacity is a must.

This number is determined by the manufacturer and is influenced by quite a lot of factors. Among them are the rear axle load, the tire capacity, engine horsepower and torque, and many more. Make sure you do not go over your vehicle’s towing capacity

Can sliding hitches pull as much as stationary ones?

Sliding hitches, on average, are rated for 20,000 lbs. pulling weight. This number is standard for hitches in general, so just because a hitch has a slider does not mean in has poorer performance than a stationary hitch.

Where stationary hitches have an advantage over sliding ones is in pulling extremely heavy, oversized loads. If you need to pull more than 20,000 lbs., a sliding hitch might not be the right choice.

How do I calculate cab clearance?

The distance between the cab of your truck and your trailer is a key metric when looking for a sliding hitch and can differ depending on truck and hitch model. There is a simple formula for calculating this clearance, so you can be confident performing 90-degree turns without worrying about damage.

The first step is to measure the distance from the fifth wheel hitch jaw to the truck cab. When you have this number, add it to the length of travel of your hitch model. This number is specific to each hitch model and is clearly stated in the product specifications.

Four inches of clearance is the minimum distance needed for safely executing a 90-degree turn. Once you have this number, subtract from it the width of your trailer divided by two. To recap, the formula you need is:

Clearance = (A+B) – C

A = Distance from fifth-wheel hitch jaw to your truck cab

B = Length of Travel of your sliding hitch

C = Width of trailer divided by 2

Type

The two main types of slinging fifth wheel hitches are automatic and manual. The latter requires you to physically get out of your truck and pull a lever to disengage your hitch from the slider rails.

You then need to drive your truck slowly forward in order for the RV to move towards the back of your truck bed. While some models automatically lock into place once fully extended, others do not.

Automatic fifth wheel slider hitches, on the other hand, do not require any action on your part. Once you turn your truck more than 10 degrees, the rotation of the hitch head automatically slides the hitch towards the back of your truck bed.

Travel

The travel of your sliding hitch is what sets them apart from regular or gooseneck hitches. This is the maximum distance your hitch can travel along its rails in the back of your pickup. The amount of travel is an important statistic to have when calculating whether your RV will have the clearance you need when executing a 90 degree turn. This number usually ranges from 10-12 inches.

Product Dimensions

The size of a sliding hitch can be either a deal breaker or a selling point, depending on a variety of factors. When you know how much space a sliding hitch will take up in your truck bed, you can get an idea of weather of not it is a good fit for your needs.

The product dimensions can also be of importance when it comes to garage storage. It is always good to know how much space you will need to store your slider hitch when you need to remove it from your truck.

Maximum Load Weight

This is another self-explanatory but crucial statistic. It represents the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow. If your trailer weighs more than the maximum load weight of the hitch, you will need to go for a more heavy duty model.

Maximum Tongue Weight

While the load weight measures how much weight the hitch can handle horizontally, the tongue weight measures vertical weight capacity. In other words, this is the maximum amount of downward weight your hitch can take from the tongue of the trailer. As a rule of thumb, this number should not be more than 10% of your tow vehicle’s gross combination weight rating.

How do I maintain my fifth wheel slider hitch?

Your hitch is an extremely important part of your setup, as it is the main contact point between your vehicle and your trailer. Hitch failures can have extremely dangerous consequences, so it is vital that you are vigilant in servicing and maintaining your hitch.

Vigilance is key here, and you should do a visual inspection of your gear before every trip. Thoroughly inspect your hitch regularly for signs of wear and damage. If you suspect anything is not in order, be sure to contact the manufacturer or certified mechanic.

Hitches experience huge amounts of stress during daily use, and improper installation can cause malfunctions. If your hitch is off center, for example, the weight distribution will be off and can cause wear on your equipment. Correct installation is an important prerequisite for long and malfunction-free hitch life.

Reading and understanding the user manual will help you understand how to best care for your product. Friction is the enemy of sliding hitches, so most models will require intermittent greasing to make sure everything runs smoothly. The two main areas to focus on are the claws that grip your trailer’s king pin and the rails that the hitch slides on.

Cleanliness is particularly important when maintaining your hitch, and regular thorough cleaning will prolong the life of the product. If there is dirt, grime and dust in your truck bed, it can act like sandpaper when your hitch moves or is under stress. Hitches require no special cleaning, wash it as you would any other part of your vehicle.

How do I install my fifth wheel slider hitch?

The hitch is an integral part of your rig, and it literally has a lot riding on it. Even the best, most well engineered and solidly built hitch will not perform well if it is incorrectly installed.

Most hitches require some basic tools for installation, but some might also require drilling and modifications to your truck bed. As these models can be quite heavy, it is always useful to have some helping hands during installation.

In general, models come with detailed instructions, but the ease of installation will depend heavily on your previous tooling experience and expertise with power tools. The internet is also a valuable resource, and there are a bunch of great tutorial videos on YouTube if you get stuck.

It is best to err on the side of caution when it comes to hitch installation. If you are not completely confident in your tools or skills, it might be best to leave it to the professionals and consult a mechanic.