Comparison of Demco Hijacker Autoslide and Curt A16 Sliding 5th Wheel Hitches for 2017 Ram 2500

Question:

what are the advantages/disadvantages of the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider - Single Jaw - Above Bed - 18,000 lbs Item # DM8550034 over the Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ R16 Slider - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs Item # C16521

asked by: Eugene N

Helpful Expert Reply:

The obvious difference is that the # C16521 uses a manually operated slider and the Demco Hijacker Autoslide # DM8550034 uses an automatic sliding mechanism. The Curt offers 12 inches of rearward travel, while the Demco Hijacker Autoslide offers 14 inches. The Demco is height adjustable from 15-1/4 inches to 18 inches above the bed floor while the Curt can adjust from 17-1/2 to 21-1/2 inches in height.

The Demco Hijacker uses a single wrap around jaw that contacts the king pin all the way around for outstanding ride quality with very little rattling and banging. The Curt A16 uses a dual jaw system, which typically doesn't get full contact with the king pin and thus the ride suffers, but the Curt A series uses an extremely impressive interlocking 2 piece jaw that works just about as well as the Demco Hijacker. The difference in ride quality is very slim.
The hitches both have differing capacities, 16K for the Curt, 18K for the Demco Hijacker. That about covers the main differences.

So now the big question, Which one should you choose? That will depend on several things. If you camp quite a bit, especially in some of the older state parks with smaller campgrounds, maneuverability could be an issue. The convenience of the autosliding feature and the extra 2 inches of rearward travel could be a big thing for you. If you don't camp very often, if you need that extra height provided by the Curt A16 to clear your bed sides, or you don't think the convenience offered by the autosliding feature is worth the price premium, you can choose the Curt without feeling like you've sacrificed anything quality-wise.

If your truck isn't already so equipped, you can install a 7-way in the side of the truck bed using part # C56000.

I've linked some installation videos that you might find helpful.