Choosing the Best Fifth Wheel Hitch

Getting a fifth wheel is only the first step. Once you have the model that’s going to work best for your family, you’ll need to make sure you have the right fifth wheel hitch to match. And this may come as a surprise, but there isn’t just one fifth hitch to rule them all. Different campers have different needs, so there are different fifth wheel hitches to fit this. This means it’s important to know which hitch is right for you. Campers RV Center has provided some tips for accomplishing this, but we know it can be a little confusing, so if you need additional help, stop by our dealership in Shreveport, Louisiana, near Bossier City, Ruston, and Monroe. We also serve Marshall, Longview, and Tyler, Texas.

How a Fifth Wheel Hitch Works

But let’s start by making sure we’re all on the same page. Fifth wheel hitches aren’t like the kind that stick out behind your tow vehicle, because they’re hauling too much weight and this wouldn’t provide enough stability for the driver. Instead, they get installed directly in the open or flatbed of the tow vehicle. In other words, your tow vehicle needs a bed, so something like a pickup truck. Sometimes you can fudge a short-bed truck to make things work, but it often requires more work than it’s worth, so we recommend something with a full flatbed.

Types of Fifth Wheel Hitches

Weight is the biggest concern when you’re towing anything, let alone something as big as a fifth wheel. This is why most of the decisions you make surrounding choosing the right fifth wheel hitch are going to be about what’s going to best help you maintain and control all that extra weight when you’re on the road. The bigger and heavier the rig, the more important this will be. 

Your first consideration should be 2-way versus 4-way pivot heads. This can affect how smoothly the unit handles and how easy it is to maneuver it. 2-way pivot heads are often the standard, with forward and aft pivots. To boost how smooth your driving experience is, consider upgrading to the 4-way pivot head which also features side-to-side pivoting.

Next are the rails. You can choose between the general, universal rails or custom rails. Essentially, the rails are where the hitch is mounted, and you can choose to either use rails that generally work for all hitches, or you can invest in something that’s more personalized. 

Finally, you’ll want to decide between single or double jaw hitches. The jaw is the piece that holds the fifth wheel in place once it’s been secured, so choosing a particular type of jaw is going to affect how the whole unit handles. Double jaw hitches tend to be quieter and single jaw hitches will be a little more secure, though both can offer a lot of benefits to the driver.

What to Consider

As we mentioned, the biggest concern you should have is weight. You’ll want to make sure your hitch is strong enough to haul your fifth wheel. Also think about who’s going to install the hitch. If you’re fine with paying a professional, then this may not have a particularly big impact on what you choose, but if you’re looking to install it yourself, then you may want to steer clear of more complicated models. And, as always, think about what you can afford. Don’t pinch pennies if it’s going to lead to an unsafe investment, but you should budget in the cost of the hitch when you’re looking for a fifth wheel. 

But of course, you need the fifth wheel before you can get the hitch. If you’re still looking for the right RV, then stop by Campers RV Center and ask one of our friendly staff to show you around the models we have available right now. We welcome all current and future RV owners from Shreveport, Bossier City, Ruston, and Monroe, LA, as well as Marshall, Longview, and Tyler, TX.