How to Hook Up a Fifth Wheel to a Fifth Wheel Hitch

Fifth wheel trailers offer additional space with added towing safety.

Many travel and commercial trailers are equipped with a fifth-wheel pin box. These trailers are towed by connecting the fifth-wheel pin to a hitch installed in the bed or rear frame of a truck. Fifth-wheel hitches allow for towing greater loads than a standard hitch and provide additional stability while towing. There is no other equipment needed to tow a fifth-wheel trailer if your truck has a hitch installed. Hooking up a trailer will only take a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Trailer with a fifth-wheel pin box
• Truck with a fifth-wheel hitch installed in the bed
• White lithium grease
• Wheel chocks

Instructions

1. Lower the tailgate on your truck. Grease the trailer king pin and the receiver hitch jaws and skid plate with white lithium grease.

2. Release the hitch locking pin or clip. Pull the hitch release arm to confirm the hitch is operating properly. Chock a wheel on the trailer with wheel chocks.

3. Back up your truck slowly until the trailer king pin is just behind the hitch skid plate. Raise or lower the trailer landing gear until the king pin will slide onto the skid plate without lifting the trailer. Back up your truck again until you see the hitch release handle close to indicate the hitch jaws are closed.

4. Look in the back of the hitch and confirm the hitch jaws are completely closed. If not, pull the truck forward and raise or lower the trailer landing gear and reconnect until the hitch fully captures the king pin.

5. Raise the trailer landing gear just off the ground then put the truck in drive gear and give the connected trailer a short pull with the truck. If the hitch is not fully engaged the trailer may disconnect. If this occurs, repeat the connection procedure.

6. Place the hitch arm lock pin or clip in place to prevent the arm from opening and releasing the trailer. Connect the trailer lights. Raise the trailer landing gear. Remove the wheel chocks. Close the truck tailgate. Use the brake controller manual override to test the trailer brakes.

Tips & Warnings

• Periodically lube the hitch arm and internal latch springs with motor oil. Inspect mounting bolts annually.

• When you are testing the hitch connection by pulling forward, leave the trailer landing gear down but raised just off the ground. If the hitch disconnects the trailer will not fall onto the back of the truck but will stand on the landing gear.

• Never step under a connected truck and trailer until you have confirmed they are fully latched or the trailer landing gear has not yet been raised.

• Never stand between a truck and trailer if someone is backing up to connect them. Stand to one side if you need to visually confirm latching.

References

• Etrailer: Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch Information
• Crossroads RV: Towing Your RV

Resources

• Offroaders: Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitches - For Those Big Loads