Need advice on hitch for TH?

[Born2RV]

Even though we're seasoned "vets" as far as camping goes - and we've owned popups, trailers, motorhomes, etc. - we've NEVER owned a fifth wheel.

We're going to be selling/trading in our 2003 Fleetwood Providence Diesel Motorhome and purchasing a fifth wheel toy hauler and a used pickup truck. We've looked at a number of models, but it'll come down to price in the end - new or used. We like the Fuzions, Cyclones, Voltages, etc.

Where do we begin looking for a fifth wheel hitch for the truck bed?? What type should we buy?? What are things we should look for, both in the hitch and a fifth wheel? We mainly are looking for room to haul our golf cart and bikes, etc.

[jimcumminsw]

First of all the hitch you pick will be based on the weight of the trailer and if the truck is a short bed or long bed. Short bed requires a slider hitch.

I would recommend that you buy a TV that has enough capacity that it can pull this trailer and any future trailers that you may want. To me this would be a 1 ton long bed dually diesel pick-up truck. For a hitch this could be a Reese hitch or a B&W companion hitch rated to pull said trailer.
Most hitches have then dual cam jaw that locks around the king pin. In my opinion do not buy the single cam or sliding bar type that grabs the king pin. These tend to wear unevenly and will not lock correctly on the king pin.

Have the dealer install the hitch for you and buy from him if possible. Make this part of the selling agreement when buying the trailer sometimes you can get a discount in cost of the installing the hitch and or the hitch.
Jim W.

[Born2RV]

Thank you for your advice! We went looking yesterday, and fell in love with a number of models. Now, if we can just figure out what to do about our negative equity on our motorhome.