How to Choose the Best 5th Wheel Hitch for Your Rig

When it comes to towing a 5th wheel trailer, your hitch is more than just a connection point — it’s the foundation of your towing experience. Choosing the best 5th wheel hitch for your rig ensures safety, stability, and a smoother ride, whether you're heading out for a weekend getaway or living life on the road full-time.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to choose the best 5th wheel hitch for your rig. Here are the topics we’ll cover:

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1. Knowing Your Towing Capacity
2. Measuring Your Truck Bed
3. Determining If Your Truck Has a Puck System
4. Deciding Between 5th Wheel Rails vs. a Gooseneck Adapter
5. Choosing the Best Hitch Style for Your Needs
6. Additional Considerations

Before selecting the best 5th wheel hitch for your setup, it’s essential to understand your truck’s towing capacity. This ensures your hitch can safely handle the weight of your trailer and prevents damage to your vehicle or risk on the road.

Here are the most important terms to know:

• GVWR is the maximum weight your trailer can safely carry.
• GTW is the total weight of your loaded trailer.
• Pin weight is the portion of the trailer’s weight that rests on the hitch.

GVWR stands for “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating” and refers to the maximum total weight that your trailer is rated to carry, including the trailer itself, cargo, fluids, and any additional equipment. This number is set by the manufacturer and should never be exceeded.

When choosing a 5th wheel hitch, make sure it can support your trailer’s GVWR. Overloading your trailer can lead to poor handling, increased braking distance, and potential structural damage.

GTW stands for “Gross Trailer Weight” and is the actual weight of your 5th wheel trailer at any given time, fully loaded with everything you plan to bring on your trip. This includes water tanks, gear, food, and personal belongings. It’s important to weigh your trailer periodically to ensure you’re within safe limits.

Your 5th wheel hitch must be rated to handle your GTW comfortably, with some margin for safety. A hitch that’s under-rated for your trailer’s weight can lead to premature wear or even failure.

Pin weight is the portion of the trailer’s weight that rests directly on the hitch in the bed of your truck. It is the weight applied at the immediate connection point between the pin box and the hitch. Also known as the kingpin weight or vertical load, it typically accounts for 15-25% of the trailer’s GTW. This weight is critical because it affects your truck’s rear axle load and overall balance. Too much pin weight can overload your truck’s suspension, while too little can cause instability and sway.

When selecting a hitch, ensure it’s designed to handle the expected pin weight of your trailer, and that your truck’s payload capacity can support it as well.

You can usually find your truck’s towing capacity in the owner’s manual, on the manufacturer’s website, or on a sticker located inside the driver’s side door jamb. Look for the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) and payload capacity as well. If you’re unsure, many manufacturers offer online VIN lookup tools that provide towing specs specific to your vehicle.

Using a hitch that’s under-rated for your trailer’s weight can lead to serious safety issues, including hitch failure, poor braking performance, and loss of control. On the other hand, choosing a hitch with a higher weight rating than your trailer provides peace of mind and long-term durability. It also helps reduce wear and tear on your towing components, especially during long trips or when traveling through mountainous terrain.

The next step is to measure the size of your truck bed. Your truck bed length plays a critical role in determining the type of 5th wheel hitch you need. It directly affects how much clearance you’ll have between your truck cab and the front of your trailer, especially during tight turns. Choosing the wrong hitch for your bed size can lead to frustrating maneuverability issues or even costly damage to your vehicle.

• Long Bed (8 ft): Typically offers plenty of clearance between the cab and trailer during turns. A fixed hitch is usually sufficient, but some situations may vary.
• Short Bed (6.5 ft or less): Requires additional clearance to prevent the trailer from hitting the cab during tight turns. A sliding hitch is usually recommended.

Note, no matter which bed size you have, always measure your specific vehicle before making a purchase.

If your truck has an 8’ bed, you’re in luck. Long beds usually provide ample space between the cab and the trailer, meaning you can typically use a fixed 5th wheel hitch without any clearance issues.

This setup is simpler, more affordable, and offers a stable towing experience. Fixed hitches are also easier to install and maintain, making them a popular choice for long-bed truck owners.

Short-bed trucks are more compact and convenient for everyday driving, but they present a unique challenge when towing a 5th wheel. The reduced distance between the cab and the trailer increases the risk of the trailer corner striking the cab during sharp turns. To solve this, you’ll need a sliding 5th wheel hitch. These hitches allow the trailer to move backward during turns, creating the extra clearance needed to avoid contact with the cab.

To determine your bed length, measure from the inside of the tailgate (when closed) to the inside of the front bulkhead (the wall behind the cab). Round to the nearest half-foot to determine whether you have a short or long bed. This measurement will guide your hitch selection and help ensure safe, smooth towing.

In addition to bed length, it’s important to consider hitch height — the vertical distance between the truck bed and the trailer’s kingpin. A level trailer is essential for safe towing, as it ensures even weight distribution across all axles, improves handling, and reduces tire wear.

Many 5th wheel hitches offer adjustable height settings, allowing you to fine-tune the connection point to match your trailer’s frame height. This is especially important if your truck has been lifted or if your trailer sits unusually high or low.

Choosing a hitch with vertical adjustability gives you the flexibility to achieve a level, stable towing setup. Before purchasing any hitch, be sure to check the hitch height and adjustability options to ensure it will be the right fit for your bed.

Once you’ve measured your truck bed, the next step is to check whether your truck is equipped with a factory puck system. This system, also known as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) prep package, is a set of pre-installed mounting points in the truck bed designed specifically for towing 5th wheel and gooseneck trailers.

• How to Identify: Look for three or five circular holes in the bed — two or four in the corners and one in the center.
• Benefits: Cleaner look, easier installation, and no need for aftermarket rails.
• Compatibility: Lippert offers puck-compatible hitches for Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Nissan, and Ram trucks.

A puck system consists of five circular mounting holes (three for Nissan Titan XD models) — four in the corners and one in the center — integrated into the bed of the truck. These holes allow for a clean, drop-in installation of compatible 5th wheel hitches without the need for aftermarket base rails. The system is designed to provide a strong, secure connection while maintaining a sleek, factory-installed appearance.

To check if your truck has a puck system, look in the bed for the five mounting points (three if you drive a Nissan Titan XD). They are typically covered with plastic caps when not in use. If you see these evenly spaced holes, your truck is puck-system ready. If you’re unsure, consult your vehicle’s manual or contact the dealership where you purchased the truck.

Factory puck systems offer several advantages. First, they simplify the installation process — no drilling or additional hardware is required.

Second, they allow for quick removal of the hitch when you need full use of your truck bed.

Third, they provide a cleaner, more integrated look compared to traditional rail systems. Many truck manufacturers, including Ford, GM, Nissan, and Ram, offer puck systems as part of their towing prep packages.

Through our brand CURT, Lippert offers a range of OEM puck-compatible 5th wheel hitches that are designed to drop directly into these factory systems. Whether you drive a Ford Super Duty, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan XD, or Ram HD, Lippert has a hitch that fits your truck’s puck layout — no adapters or modifications needed.

If your truck doesn’t have a factory puck system, you’ll need to decide how you want to mount your 5th wheel hitch, using more traditional methods. There are two primary options: a permanent base rail system or a gooseneck adapter. Each has its own advantages depending on your towing needs, how often you use your truck bed, and whether you tow other types of trailers.

A traditional base rail system involves installing two steel rails directly into the bed of your truck, through the bed and bolted onto the frame. These rails serve as the mounting points for your 5th wheel hitch. This setup is widely used and compatible with most standard 5th wheel hitches on the market, including many of Lippert’s most popular CURT models.

Base rails are a great option if you tow frequently and want a solid, reliable connection. However, because the rails are bolted into the bed, they are considered a permanent installation. While the hitch itself can be removed when not in use, the rails remain in place, which may slightly reduce the versatility of your truck bed for hauling other cargo. They also visibly stand out, affecting the overall visual aesthetic of bed, which can be a significant factor depending on the preferences of the truck owner.

If your truck is already equipped with a gooseneck hitch — or if you want to maintain a clean, unobstructed truck bed — a gooseneck adapter might be the better choice. These adapters allow you to tow a 5th wheel trailer using a gooseneck hitch setup by connecting the kingpin of the trailer to the gooseneck hole in your truck bed.

Gooseneck adapters are ideal for truck owners who also tow gooseneck trailers, such as horse trailers or flatbeds, and want to avoid installing permanent rails. They offer a more flexible solution and can be removed easily when not in use. However, not all 5th wheel manufacturers recommend using gooseneck adapters, so it’s important to check compatibility and warranty guidelines.

Once you’ve determined your towing specs, truck bed length, and mounting system, the final step is choosing the best 5th wheel hitch for your needs. This decision depends on how often you tow, what kind of trailer you have, and how much convenience or performance you want from your setup.

If your truck has a factory puck system, OEM puck system 5th wheel hitches are the cleanest and most convenient option. These hitches drop directly into the puck mounts, eliminating the need for base rails and allowing for quick removal when you need full bed access. Lippert offers puck-compatible hitches for Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Nissan, and Ram trucks.

Fixed 5th wheel hitches are ideal for long-bed trucks where turning clearance isn’t an issue. They offer a stable, secure connection, and are typically more affordable and lower maintenance than slider models. If you tow frequently and want a dependable, no-fuss solution, a fixed hitch is a great choice.

For short-bed trucks, sliding 5th wheel hitches are essential. They allow the hitch to move backward during tight turns, preventing the trailer from hitting the cab. While they require manual engagement before turning, they’re a reliable and cost-effective solution for short-bed towing.

If you’re looking for a hitch that’s easier to install, remove, and handle on your own, consider a lightweight 5th wheel hitch like the CURT CrossWing™. These hitches are engineered with a leaner design to reduce weight without sacrificing strength. They’re perfect for RVers who want to maintain flexibility and don’t want to wrestle with bulky components every time they hitch up.

For those towing large, heavy trailers — such as toy haulers or commercial 5th wheels — a commercial-duty 5th wheel hitch like the CURT PowerRide™ is built to handle the job. These hitches offer higher weight capacities (up to 30,000 lbs. or more), reinforced construction, and premium features like dual jaws and articulating heads for smoother towing. They’re ideal for full-time RVers, contractors, or anyone carrying serious weight.

If you’re just getting started or only tow occasionally, a budget-friendly 5th wheel hitch like the CURT E-Series offers solid performance at a lower price point. These economy hitches are simple, dependable, and compatible with standard base rails. While they may lack some of the premium features of higher-end models, they’re a great entry-level option for casual RVers or weekend adventurers.

1. Ease of Installation & Removal
   Not all 5th wheel hitches are created equal when it comes to installation. Some models are heavy and cumbersome, requiring multiple people or even lifting equipment to install or remove. This can be a major inconvenience for RVers who frequently switch between towing and using their truck bed for other purposes.
   Lightweight hitches or those with modular designs — such as removable heads or base assemblies — make the process much easier. If you plan to remove your hitch often or want the flexibility to do it solo, look for a model specifically designed for quick, tool-free dismounting.
2. Jaw Design & Coupling Mechanism
   The jaw mechanism is what physically locks onto the trailer’s kingpin, and its design plays a big role in ride quality and safety.
   Dual jaw systems, for example, wrap fully around the kingpin, providing a tighter grip and reducing movement between the truck and trailer. This helps minimize “5th wheel chucking” — the back-and-forth jerking motion that can occur during acceleration or braking.
   Some hitches also feature self-locking jaws or visual indicators that confirm a secure connection, giving you added peace of mind before hitting the road.
3. Ride Comfort & Noise Reduction
   Towing a 5th wheel trailer doesn’t have to mean a noisy, jarring ride. Many premium hitches are designed with features that absorb road shock and reduce vibration. Look for models with cushioned or pivoting heads, rubber dampeners, or shock-absorbing components, like the CURT CrossWing™ hitch. These features help isolate the trailer’s movement from the truck, resulting in a smoother, quieter towing experience, especially on rough roads or long hauls. Investing in ride comfort can make a noticeable difference in driver fatigue and overall enjoyment.
4. Maintenance Requirements
   Like any mechanical system, 5th wheel hitches require regular maintenance to perform at their best. Some models are designed with ease of maintenance in mind, featuring grease fittings (zerk fittings) for quick lubrication or grease-free couplers that reduce mess and upkeep. Others may require more frequent attention, such as manual greasing of moving parts or periodic bolt tightening.
   If you prefer a low-maintenance setup, look for hitches that are engineered for durability and ease of care, especially if you tow often or in harsh conditions.
5. Security Features
   Security is an often-overlooked aspect of 5th wheel hitch selection. A quality hitch should not only provide a strong connection but also protect against theft and accidental uncoupling.
   Some 5th wheels come with built-in locking mechanisms or are compatible with aftermarket padlocks that secure the hitch head or release handle. Others include secondary latching systems that act as a backup in case the primary jaw fails. These features are especially important if you leave your hitch installed in public areas or want extra assurance while towing.
6. Budget & Long-Term Value
   While it’s tempting to choose a 5th wheel hitch based solely on price, it’s important to consider the long-term value.
   Budget-friendly models may save money upfront but could lack features that improve safety, comfort, or durability. On the other hand, investing in a higher-end 5th wheel hitch with premium materials, smoother ride technology, and easier maintenance can pay off over time, especially if you tow frequently.
   Think about how often you’ll use the hitch, the type of terrain you’ll encounter, and whether you plan to upgrade your trailer in the future.
7. Future Towing Needs
   Your current trailer setup might not be your last. If you plan to upgrade to a larger RV, switch to a different truck, or tow multiple types of trailers, it’s wise to choose a 5th wheel hitch that offers flexibility.
   Opting for a higher weight rating now can save you from needing a new hitch later. Similarly, choosing a hitch that’s compatible with different systems — or one that can be adapted with a conversion kit — gives you more options down the road. Planning ahead ensures your investment continues to serve you as your towing needs evolve