Best Auto-Slide 5th Wheel Hitch Needed for 2019 Ford F-250 With Short Bed

Question:

For 2019 ford f-250 with a short bed, I think it is 6-1/2 feet or 6-3/4 feet, I am looking for a fifth wheel hitch. I have read that I will need a fifth wheel hitch that slides. I don't have any problems using a hitch that slides but I really do not want to get out of the truck and back in. I heard there are some hitches that slide on their own. What would be the best one for my truck? I don't have the factory rails or anytyhing so I would also need a kit to put base rails in.

asked by: Lenny A

Expert Reply:

An autoslide 5th wheel hitch is going to make your life much, much simpler if you are towing a 5th wheel trailer with a short bed truck like your 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty. The best autoslide hitch is the Demco Hijacker because of its highly secure jaw system which ensures a complete, secure connection to your trailer's king pin as well as its cushioned head which will give you a smoother and quieter ride while towing.

The Hijacker is available in two different towing capacities, 18,000 lbs at part # DM8550034 and 21,000 lbs at part # DM8550035. To install this in your '19 Ford F-250 you would need Demco Hijacker Premier Series Above-Bed Base Rails and Custom Installation Kit for 5th Wheel Hitches # DM8552031-71 which is a custom fit for your truck and will not require you to drill into your F-250's frame rails to install.

The Hijacker's autoslide is one of those features that you'll think back on one day and wonder how you ever used a fifth wheel hitch with a manual slider. It is the perfect option for you since you mentioned not wanting to keep on getting in and out of your F-250. As fantastic as the auto-slide is, it isn't the only thing that makes this fifth wheel hitch the best option for your truck.

The single-piece jaw on the hitch, which you can see in the accompanying photo, provides an outstanding connection with your king pin because it wraps around it completely. The jaw-to-king pin connection is also reinforced via a 3/4" solid steel bar that locks into place once the jaw is closed. The Hijacker has a cushioned head which utilizes dampeners to minimize the noise often associated with fifth wheel towing; its head also pivots both front to back as well as side to side which creates a smoother ride by limiting the chucking (the unwanted back-and-forth movement of your trailer).

Both Hijackers, the 18,000 lb model # DM8550034 and 21,000 lb model # DM8550035 give you 14 inches of front-to-back travel, have three different height settings (15-1/2", 16-3/4", and 18-1/4") and are made in the USA.

I have added links to a couple video reviews of this hitch for you to take a look at.