Generally speaking, the fifth wheel hitch sits on the truck bed floor and features a plate for the trailer tongue (called a kingpin) to rest on with jaws to grasp it. It’s also attached to the truck via safety chains and trailer wiring.

Conducting detailed inspections and regular maintenance procedures is critical to avoiding severe damage to your towing equipment. This is especially important during winter travel.

Chucking

If you ask most 5th wheel hitch owners, chucking is the number one problem with their hitch. This occurs when the trailer bucks up and down and back and forth while towing, making riding in the truck an uncomfortable experience (and sometimes scary).

If you hear or feel movement while towing your fifth wheel, checking for signs of damage or wear and tear is a good idea. While extreme chucking can cause damage to the trailer or tow vehicle, most of the time, it’s more of a comfort issue and can be easily remedied with some pragmatic maintenance.

Applying water-resistant lithium grease to all points of contact on your hitch head and kingpin is a great way to prevent this problem from occurring. Ensure the yoke tips, cam profile, kingpin shaft, secondary lock, and release handle are lubricated. A complete, thorough inspection before and after winter is also a good idea to catch any problems that may arise.

Swaying

As you’re driving along, if your trailer hits bumps or other debris, it can cause your hitch to sway. This can be a nuisance, especially when hauling a heavy load. An excellent fifth-wheel trap will minimize this sway and give you a smoother ride while towing your trailer or camper.

A swaying trailer can be unsafe for you and your passengers. If it’s too much, you could be forced off the road, causing injury or damage to your truck and trailer. If you have a short-bed truck, consider using a sliding fifth-wheel hitch to expand the distance between your vehicle and trailer.

These systems come in fixed or sliding styles and use a single or dual jaw system. They’re more expensive but can have a larger turning radius to help you maneuver tight turns. Choose a hitch system compatible with your truck type and towing capacity. CURT has a variety of OEM puck system legs and slider kits designed for different trucks so you can find the right one for your vehicle.

Pin Comes Off

A fifth-wheel trailer hitch mounts over or in front of the axles in the truck bed, providing a solid pivot point for maneuvering and turning. This type of hitch can be more expensive than a standard receiver hitch, but it is worth the investment for some heavy-duty trucks and larger RVs. Before installing a fifth-wheel hitch, it is essential to review the vehicle’s towing capacity figures and the trailer’s weight rating to ensure the rig is correctly attached to the tow truck.

To hook up a 5th-wheel trailer hitch, you must open the coupler locking device and back the truck until the kingpin in the trailer moves into the jaws of the hitch plate. Once the kingpin is in the hitch plate jaws, close the coupler lock bar and connect the breakaway switch lanyard. The resulting connection is one of the most secure and quiet hitches for hauling large trailers.

Faulty Hardware

The rigors of hauling heavy loads can take their toll on your truck and hitch. Detailed examinations before winter will help keep your towing equipment working well.

Keeping the right amount of grease on the areas where metal-to-metal contact is required is essential for proper operation and longevity. These spots include the handle guide, the jaws, and other points that need articulation while towing.

If you notice any signs of corrosion or paint peeling, it may be time to replace your truck bed hitch. A corroded and rusted head plate can compromise the structural integrity of your trap and lead to failure. This is dangerous to the driver and the trailer being hauled.