Towing a 5th Fifth Wheel Trailer with a 2017 Nissan Titan XD 6 1/2 Bed

Question:

this truck has the factory hitch, they told me a 6 1/2 ft bed would be long enough to pull a 5th wheel camper, the hitch you have advertised for the in factory hitch says it is for an 8ft bed and they dont make an 8ft bed to my knowledge. do you know if i can pull a 5th wheel camper with this set up on a 6 1/2 ft bed?

asked by: Tony S

Expert Reply:

In 2017 Nissan added a single-cab body style to the Titan XD line up. This new body style includes an 8' bed which is compatible with standard fifth wheel hitches. The 2017 extended cab and crew cab models still have a 6 1/2' bed.

There are a couple of options for towing a fifth wheel trailer with your 2017 Nissan XD with a 6 1/2' bed. The first option would be to go with a fixed fifth wheel hitch like # C16515-16026. With your short bed, I highly recommend using a Sidewinder on your trailer to give you the turning clearance necessary. Otherwise you may cause significant damage to your truck when making tight turns. You'll also need a wedge such as # C16991 to keep the king pin from rotating inside the hitch.

The second option is to purchase the gooseneck-to-fifth wheel adapter from Nissan. The adapter is only available from Nissan and will make your factory tow package compatible with any 5th wheel slider hitch like the Reese 16K # RP30051. You will need to check with your Nissan dealer regarding the price and availability of the adapter.

The reason we recommend that you use a slider or a trailer with a Sidewinder is that when the Titan XD 6 1/2' bed is used with a fifth wheel hitch, it does not allow the trailer enough clearance to make sharp turns. This could cause significant damage to your truck. When towing a fifth wheel trailer, the kingpin must be between the cab of the truck and the rear axle. This makes maneuvering a trailer around a narrow campsite with a short-bed truck very difficult. Diagram A (attached) shows how turning is restricted when the hitch is located in its proper position for highway use. The slider hitch locks in place for towing, but can be released when maneuvering in narrow spaces, moving the kingpin 10" closer to the tailgate. The greater space between the cab and the trailer and allows for greater turning clearance, which you can see in Diagram B. A Sidewinder achieves greater turning clearance by moving the pivot point of the pinbox closer to the tailgate of your truck (Diagram C). Either a slider hitch or a Sidewinder will solve your clearance issue, but they can not be used together.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.