Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch Recommendation for a 2011 Ford F-150

Question:

I have a 2011 Ford F-150 with a 6 and 1/2 foot bed, and will be purchasing a 2012 Cougar X-Lite Fifth Wheel RV with a 10,000 GVWR. What would be the correct / best Fifth Wheel Hitch assembly for my situation, and do I need a slider?

asked by: John W

Expert Reply:

On a short bed truck you will need to use a slider 5th wheel trailer hitch. There are many options available. First, you will need an installation kit for your 2011 Ford F-150.

There are universal kits and custom kits. I always recommend a custom kit because they are easier to install and require much less drilling so they take about half the time to install versus a universal kit. The custom kit for your truck is # RP50081-58. I have included a link to the installation instructions for you.

For a trailer hitch, there are a few options in terms of capacity and the type of slider. With a 10,000 pound 5th wheel, going with a 16K hitch with 4,000 pound pin weight capacity would work well. I do recommend going with a round tube slider rather than a square one because round tube sliders offer 12 inches of travel which is the most you can get.

For a 16k hitch with a round tube slider, there is only 1 option, the Reese hitch # RP30075. This is a good all around hitch with a double pivot head (back to back and side to side) to make hooking up easier. It also features a 2-jaw latching system that is one of the safest and most secure connections.

expert reply by: Michael H