Hitch Advice

We have the Reese 15k slider that was included in our 2003 Laredo 5er purchase. It must have sat in the lawn for a while - our mechanic had to clean it up and lube the heck out of it because it had "frozen" - but it works beautifully now. We don't even need a slide hitch (long bed truck) - but are glad we have it in case our next truck is a regular bed.

Go Patriot. Locking wrap around jaws. Fail proof.

The slide bar lock is a positive lock. But there could be a hang up latter on. That bar that slides might become bent to the point where it will not release the trailer when you want to unhook from your trailer. And it also will wear the bar and the king pin where they make contact with each other giving you a sloppy ride over time. I would reconsider the slide bar hitch for something else.

I have a '97 16k square tube slider by Reese. The hitch has been on three trucks and two different 5th wheel trailers and still work like a hot knife through butter ( I keep it lubed and maintained). The sliding part is seldom used other than backing in extra tight conditions. The manual slider moves the pin 10" aft of the trucks rear axle which makes the trailer react quicker to steering input.

I'm not a brand cheer leader and there are other sliding hitch brands out here. My advise is make sure the hitch pivots four ways.

Many short bed GM owners report they don't need a sliding hitch or they don't have one. The GM trucks have a longer dimension from the back of the cab to the trucks rear axle. This along with the newer 5ers with a notched/rounded front corners make a sliding hitch not necessary. Your trailer dealer/manufacturer can help you with that part.

Just bought a B&W patroit from Tweedy's.com $399.80 very nice hitch.I think the rail kit is about $160.00. The workmanship on the hitch is second to none plus it is American made with American steel.