5th Wheel Slider Hitches - What They Can Do For You
Whether you have a compact car or lifted diesel-powered 4X4, a trailer hitch is a vital part for towing any load. It is crucial to have the right tow-setup for your vehicle, and there are different types of trailer hitch setups.
It is important to remember that safe towing involves a number of different things. Your vehicle need to get the load up to a safe speed, but it also needs to be able to control that weight. When towing a load, brakes are just as important as engine horsepower and torque. If you can’t safely stop the vehicle, then you shouldn’t be towing a load that heavy. So you need to evaluate the current condition of the brake system. Make sure the brakes been maintained properly and installed with up to date trailer brake parts. If you are using electric brake controller, make sure that they function as well.
For trucks, you have to determined which type of hitch you'll need to have. Some trucks have trailer hitches built into their rear bumper, others have a normal trailer hitch installed on them from the factory, and others will lack a trailer hitch all together. You’ll need to evaluate what your truck has and go from there. Larger trucks also have 5th wheel mounting points in the bed of the truck, to which a 5th wheel hitch can be mounted. 5th wheels are used for hauling very heavy loads because it uses a much stronger hitch connection and because it centers the weight on the vehicle between the axles. This keeps the truck from tipping over backwards once it’s loaded. Similar to a 5th wheel is the gooseneck hitch, which can be used with gooseneck flatbed trailers and gooseneck livestock trailers. A gooseneck hitch attaches to the bed of the truck and centers the trailer's weight, but a gooseneck hitch uses a traditional ball-style hitch rather than the 5th wheel-style of hitch connection. If you are towing a really heavy load, you might want to consider a weight distribution system or 5th wheel stabilizer to help reduce or eliminate trailer sway.
When you purchase your truck you should decide whether or not you want a long or short bed truck. Long bed trucks are better for towing a 5th wheel, or anything else for that matter. The longer wheelbase makes it tow better and handle a heavier and bigger trailer with less effort. For 5th wheel towing it is especially important to have a long bed truck because most 5th wheel trailers are made to accommodate long bed trucks. If you have a short bed truck you usually need to have a 5th wheel slider hitch. On a short bed truck if you make a sharp turn the corner of the camper can cram into the corner of the truck cab or bust out your back window. People often tow with short bed trucks, they just have to use a 5th wheel slider hitch. Most people use a manual slider which is just a 5th wheel hitch which sits on a sliding mechanism that can be unlatched and the hitch can move back 10 to 12”.
An automatic slider will move back automatically as you turn so you don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to get out of the truck. It tows as if you had a long bed truck. The major reason why everyone doesn't have the automatic slider is the price. Full 5th wheel kits with manual sliders start at around $600. Full 5th wheel kits with an automatic sliders start at $2,000. If you can afford the automatic, it is far superior. Most companies carry the Pullrite and Hijacker brand automatic slider hitches.
Just know that 5th wheel trailers tow better than travel trailers which are pulled off of the bumper. You also won’t experience nearly as much sway. This is why trailers are available in longer lengths and bigger sizes in 5th wheel variations than they are in bumper pull configurations.
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