Gear | Reviews | Road Trips

Best 5th Wheel Hitches for Safe and Reliable Towing

ByRoadTrip Honeys January 21, 2026

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When you’re towing a fifth wheel, your hitch is the real MVP. It keeps your truck and trailer locked together through every mile, turn, and steep climb.

Picking the right hitch isn’t just about matching numbers on a chart. You want a setup that gives you confidence—something you trust, especially when you’re out in the middle of nowhere with a big rig behind you.

There’s a sea of options out there, all built for different trucks and trailers. If you get how these hitches work, and which ones fit your setup, you’ll make a smarter call for your next adventure.

What are 5th Wheel Hitches?

A 5th wheel hitch connects your trailer right to your truck bed, not the bumper. This gives you a smoother ride and way more stability.

The hitch sits over your truck’s rear axle, so it balances the load between your truck and trailer. That makes a huge difference, especially on rough roads.

You’ll see setups like the Ford OEM puck system, RAM puck system, and GM OEM puck system. They’re all about quick hookups and easy removal.

Manufacturers build these hitches to meet SAE J2638 standards, so you get strength and safety right out of the box.

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Factors to Consider when Selecting a 5th Wheel Hitch

Trailer Weight and Capacity

The weight of your 5th wheel really matters when you’re picking a hitch. You’ll want to check two numbers: gross trailer weight (GTW) and pin weight.

GTW is the total weight of your loaded trailer. Pin weight is how much of that weight actually presses down on your truck through the hitch.

Always pick a hitch with a towing capacity that’s higher than your trailer’s weight. Look for the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on your RV’s label to know your safe limit.

Weighing your rig at a certified scale is a good idea. That way, you’ll know for sure you’re not over the GVWR.

Pin weight, or hitch weight, usually sits around 20% of your trailer’s total weight. Choose a hitch that’s rated above this number to keep things safe.

Heavy-duty hitches often use interlocking jaws or dual jaws to lock the kingpin tight and reduce movement.

Features like a self‑aligning head, dual‑pivot head, or auto‑latch system make coupling easier and help spread weight more evenly.

Pickup Bed Size and Clearance

Your truck bed’s length decides how much turning room you get. Standard and long beds usually give you plenty of clearance.

If you’ve got a short bed truck, turning gets tricky. The space between the kingpin and the cab shrinks, so you risk hitting the cab during tight turns.

A sliding 5th wheel hitch or slider hitch solves this. Manual sliders need you to unlock them before turning, while automatics move themselves as you steer.

Sliders fit nicely with OEM puck systems and help prevent your trailer from kissing your cab.

Many modern hitches offer height adjustment and quarter‑turn anchors. These let you install or remove the hitch quickly—no tools needed.

How You Use Your Truck and RV

Think about how often you tow. If you’re only hitting the campground a few times a year and need your truck bed for other jobs, a removable fifth wheel hitch makes life easier.

You can pull it out fast and use your bed for hauling gear or supplies.

If you travel a lot or live in your RV, a permanent hitch gives you more stability. Long-haul setups often use locking systems and coupling indicators for easier, safer hitching.

Part-timers might get by with a lighter single‑jaw or dual‑pivot head unit. Full-timers usually want something beefier with heavy‑duty towing features for the long haul.

The Best 5th Wheel Hitches

If you ask me, Andersen hitches are a top pick. They mix strength and convenience, so you get a towing setup that’s reliable but doesn’t weigh your truck down.

You get three versions: rail mount, gooseneck mount, and toolbox mount. All aim to make towing simpler, cleaner, and just less of a headache.

Rail-Mounted Andersen Connection Hitch

The Rail-Mounted Andersen Connection Hitch brings together durability and easy handling. It can tow up to 20,000 pounds GTWR and handle a 4,500-pound tongue weight, so it’s got plenty of muscle for most midsize or large RVs.

You can set the hitch height in three positions, which keeps your trailer level and spreads the load evenly. That takes some stress off your pickup and your fifth wheel.

At just 40 pounds, this hitch is light enough to lift out solo. You’ll spend minutes, not hours, getting it in or out.

The greaseless coupler keeps your hands and truck bed clean. No need for messy lubrication.

Here’s a quick look at the specs:

You can use it with most trucks that have industry-standard rails. That makes it a flexible choice for a lot of setups.

Andersen builds these hitches in the USA and backs them with a satisfaction guarantee. Not too shabby.

Gooseneck-Mounted Andersen Connection Hitch

The Gooseneck-Mounted Andersen Connection Hitch works like the rail-mounted version, but it drops into a gooseneck base. You skip the bed rails and hook up straight to your standard gooseneck system.

It hauls up to 24,000 pounds GTWR with a 4,500-pound tongue weight. Even with that capacity, it only weighs 35 pounds, so you can handle it on your own.

If your truck already has a gooseneck hitch, this one slots right in—no extra drilling or hardware needed. For more comparisons, check out these top-rated fifth wheel hitches for smooth towing.

Toolbox-Compatible Andersen Connection Hitch

The Toolbox-Compatible Andersen Connection Hitch is perfect for trucks with a permanent toolbox. Its raised frame means you keep your storage and still get full hitch clearance.

It weighs 35 pounds and handles a 4,500-pound tongue weight, matching the gooseneck model. The GTWR goes up to 24,000 pounds, so it’s got serious towing power.

Andersen’s design here is just smart—light, tough, and efficient. Each version fits a different truck layout, so you can tow with peace of mind.

For a deeper dive into versatile hitches, check out these durable 5th wheel hitches built for smooth towing.

Other Great 5th Wheel Hitches

B&W Companion Hitch

The B&W Companion Hitch is a beast. It’s built strong and delivers a smooth ride, even on rough roads.

Its fully pivoting coupler head moves front to back and side to side, so you stay in control on uneven ground.

With a 20,000-pound towing capacity, it doesn’t flinch at heavy loads.

At around 70 pounds, it’s heavier than something like the Andersen Hitches 3220, but you get rock-solid stability once it’s in the bed.

It fits both fixed hitches and slider setups. That’s handy if you ever swap trucks or trailers.

If you’re after durability and control, the B&W Companion delivers.

B&W Companion Slider Hitch

The B&W Companion Slider comes through for folks with bigger trailers or short-bed trucks. It gives you up to 12 inches of travel between the cab and trailer, so you avoid those scary close calls on sharp turns.

The slider design keeps the same 20,000-pound capacity as the standard B&W but weighs in at about 287 pounds. Yeah, it’s heavy, so you’ll need some muscle (or a buddy) to get it in.

Still, it’s one of the best-rated slider hitches out there. The dual-jaw locking system and stout frame cut down on trailer movement and make long drives a lot more comfortable.

Key Advantages:

• Smooth sliding action
• Heavy-duty construction
• Ideal for short-bed trucks

CURT 16115 E16 Fifth Wheel Hitch

If you’re watching your budget, the CURT 16115 E16 5th Wheel Hitch brings solid value. It handles up to 16,000 pounds GTW and a 4,000-pound pin weight.

The hitch weighs about 95 pounds and bolts right onto industry-standard base rails. Install it fast and get rolling.

CURT added a dual-pivoting head that moves up to ten degrees in any direction. That helps smooth out the ride and keeps things quieter.

You also get an anti-rattle skid plate and automatic locking coupler for extra safety.

This hitch works with other CURT models like the CURT Q20, Q24, and Q25. All of them are known for easy installation and tough, long-lasting materials, plus a limited lifetime warranty.

Fifth Wheel Hitch Maintenance

I always tell folks: keep your fifth wheel hitch in good shape by giving it a regular look-over and sticking to a basic maintenance routine. Check for rust, cracks, or any worn parts.

If you spot damaged pieces, swap them out right away. A solid and clean hitch really helps you avoid towing headaches and keeps your rig safe on the road.

Lubricate all the moving bits to cut down on friction and wear. I like to use a lube plate between the hitch and pin box—it makes coupling a whole lot smoother and keeps metal-on-metal contact to a minimum.

Some hitches come with a greaseless coupler. You won’t have to grease it as much, but I’d still give it a look for any debris or buildup.

If you feel chucking or jerking while towing, double-check that the hitch jaws really close around the kingpin. Misaligned latches or worn couplings can cause annoying movement between your trailer and truck.

Keep every connection tight and always check your safety pins. I make it a habit to store my hitch clean and dry between trips—it really adds years to its life.

Want more hands-on advice? Take a look at these fifth wheel hitch maintenance tips.