5th wheel hitches?

[npauls]

Well it looks like I have inherited a 5th wheel from the wife's aunt and uncle.

I now have to get a 5th wheel hitch for my truck and have no idea what I am looking for.

Can anyone tell me if there is any differences in the 5th wheel hitches that I see for sale all over the net?

Thanks,

Nate

[nick0danger]

Its worth every penny to get one that tilts left and right not just forward and aft. That said the best price, for them i have found ever is in calgary at auto truck parts, it might be worth the trip north but that is up to you.

[chubbdarter]

Well it looks like I have inherited a 5th wheel from the wife's aunt and uncle.

I now have to get a 5th wheel hitch for my truck and have no idea what I am looking for.

Can anyone tell me if there is any differences in the 5th wheel hitches that I see for sale all over the net?

Thanks,

Nate

they should have one ....

[hayseed]

What is the pin weight of the trailer... I think my dsp is only rated for 17,000 lbs... and say a bigger triaxle toy hauler is like 18-18, 500 lbs??

There are a few kinds ... but knowing what you need would be a good start.

[npauls]

they should have one ....

Ya they do but they are keeping it for their new 5th wheel. Hence why they ended up giving us their old one. I just wasn't sure if there was a difference in ball sizes or anything like there is with a normal hitch.

I am not to sure on any other specs just yet. I am thinking it is about 24 feet long at most and was towed with a half ton for many years. They already have a hitch on the back of it for towing a boat. Next time I can make it out to vauxhall I will get a look at it and get all the info.

[pseelk]

Well it looks like I have inherited a 5th wheel from the wife's aunt and uncle.

I now have to get a 5th wheel hitch for my truck and have no idea what I am looking for.

Can anyone tell me if there is any differences in the 5th wheel hitches that I see for sale all over the net?

Thanks,

Nate

Some have rails that are installed lengthwise in the box and others like Highjacker that are installed crossways.The highjacker is easier to remove because there are no grooves to fill with crap making it almost impossible to slide out.Some have heads that tiltfrom side to side as well as front to back.I was told by the dealer to stay away from those as they can allow you trailer to rock in high winds which can cause rollovers.Dont know how true that is but I bought the other one and have had no issues in 11yrs of use.Hope this helps.Wilf

[couleefolk]

i would say it depends on how much you want to spend, and what you want your truck floor to look like. I have used both rail setups, and thought the slider one was better for me. If you want to have a clean box when you are not towing, they have some that mount under the box, where you only have to drill five holes in your floor (one for the main pin, and four for the chain attachments). When you are not towing, you have nothing to hook onto when sliding stuff into your box. These units can be used for a gooseneck or you can get the 5th wheel attachment, but they are pricey. I was also told that unless you have lots of clearance between truck box and camper, a lot of guys crunch their boxes when the camper tilts whereas a nontilting will push your suspension down, and some of the backroads i travel, i have scraped the corners of my box, and i don't have the tilt model. you may also want one that slides back if your truck is a shortbox, or you may find you get close to the cab in tight quarters.

[npauls]

Ok so any one of the ones I have been looking at should be fine it is all just minor things that will be different with them.

I guess the mother in law is buying us one for our anniversary present so I just had to find out what I needed and now go find one and get it installed. I hope there isn't a difference in them if you have a super short box on your truck.

I am looking for one to fit a 2008 gmc sierra quad cab all terrain edition with the 5'8" box, hd suspension, and the 6litre engine.

[deanmc]

..............I just wasn't sure if there was a difference in ball sizes or anything like there is with a normal hitch...................



If its a ball setup they are all 2 5/16 I believe.

This is what I have and I really like it. You always have the hitch with you and you will never need help getting the fifth wheel in the truck. Also when you get to your camp site and unhook you have your box to use without the wheel setup in the way. the only thing protruding from the floor is the ball. It takes about ten seconds to flip it over and then your floor is clear.

http://www.popuphitch.com/flipover.htm

[Boss442]

You can get one as cheap as $500. I got one installed at Eldorado rv in Lethbridge in 2007, its a Husky and was not cheap, cost around $1800 installed with rollers that allow you to adjust it back and forth. My truck being a short box I figured I'd invest in a good one now instead of after (crushing in the side of your cab) in a tight turning spot! It is very well made, and should last a life time.

http://www.huskytow.com/Products.aspx

[Slash8]

Its worth every penny to get one that tilts left and right not just forward and aft.

X2

[Freedom55]

I have a monster hitch that I bought in the seventies to fit my old 3/4 ton gmc and a 27' winnebago trailer. This hitch does not attach to the frame; rather, it is bolted to the floor and wheel wells with plate washers and grade 8bolts. The actual hitch is removable but the rest of it stays in place to reduce the width of my floor. My question is this: can I still use this hitch to haul a trailer if I transfer it to a newer truck?

I am told that new hitches must be attached to the frame but am unclear if older models are exempted by a 'grandfather' clause. I have been unable to sift through the government documents and find an adequate answer.

Can you help me? Thnx.
ps. if it is legal, do you want to buy it?

[Off in the Bushes]

If you have a 5'8" box get a hitch like this and then you can turn sharper and not munch the cab and the trailer together.
http://www.reeseprod.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=2&parentid=7300&catID=7380 &part=0

[JB_AOL]

Freedom 55...
I'd be very leery about using your hitch. Seems like ALL the stresses from pulling would be put on the box, and most trucks I've had, I can drop a hammer in it, and it will bend. Not real confidence inspiring. I imagine it's probably grandfathered, although if I was to use it, I'd be figuring out a way to put some bolts through the frame.