How much should I expect to pay for a 5th wheel hitch?

[Blanco1]

I've never had a 5th wheel trailer but see myself getting one next year, so I'm wondering what brand or options should I get for a personal 5th wheel for traveling across the country on camping trips?

I think I've seen them with air bags built in?
Is that good or a weak point?

I have a '97 long bed 4x4 cummins diesel 5 speed dually truck.

& does it alway get mounted directly centered above the rear axle?

Are some much easier to remove?
I've seen stakebed trucks with retractable 5th wheels in the bed, can that be done in a pick up truck?

[agesilaus]

Blanco1 wrote:
I'm actually thinking of maybe buying a new 5th wheel trailer or one just a couple years old.

Be very careful to pay close attention to the payload capacity of your truck. For most cases that is the limiting factor not the towing capability. The pin weight will be roughly 20 percent of the fifth wheel's weight, then you have to add the hitch weight (and rails) and the weight of every single thing carried in the truck. Cargo, passengers, pets ect.

[Blanco1]

I'm actually thinking of maybe buying a new 5th wheel trailer or one just a couple years old.

[agesilaus]

Well I thought I could look online and find a nice explanation with drawings and such. But didn't find any after a short search.

OK a standard hitch works on 95% or more of modern trucks and trailers. Slider hitches actually let the head slide on rails--side to side. That is useful for older trailers that do not have a rounded front end and for short bed trucks. A standard hitch head is fixed and does not side around tho it will swivel.

So unless you are getting a fairly old rv then a standard hitch is probably all you need. Even with new RVs some people like sliders with a short bed truck but most seem to feel that you are fine without one if you are careful.

Unless you are getting a new truck and get it with 'hitch prep', which you should, then you'll have to get rails installed under the truck bed to attach the hitch to. If you have a prep package then you need to buy a hitch designed to use that setup.

I never had rails installed but I think the rails plus installation should run in the $200 range plus/minus. Rails can leave the bed of your truck obstructed when the hitch is removed. The prep packages leave a nice flat bed.

Be warned that these hitches weigh around 200 pounds, sliders more. Look on etrailers.com for more info.

[BB_TX]

You have a long bed so do not need a slider hitch. Short bed trucks sometimes need those for cab clearance on tight turns.

Above prices are about right for standard hitches. Air ride hitches (those with air bags) are much higher.

[Blanco1]

agesilaus wrote:
For a top of the line non-slider $800-1100, a step below that, $700 or so. A slider double all those numbers

(Top of the line= Pullrite or B&W)

What dose this all mean & slider hitch?or slider hitch?

[agesilaus]

For a top of the line non-slider $800-1100, a step below that, $700 or so. A slider double all those numbers

(Top of the line= Pullrite or B&W)