Choosing the Best 5th Wheel Hitch For Your RV

 

If you’re planning on bringing your RV or camper around with you on your travels, you may want to consider investing in a 5thwheel hitch. The tool will play a crucial role in enhancing your ability to travel with your RV or camper safely and with ease.

With that said, it is important to make sure that you choose one that is high quality and durable so that you can have peace of mind knowing that your RV or camper is secure as you tow it.

Allow us at RVupgrades to be your resource for all things related to your RV and camper accessories.

Since the early 2000s, it has been our core mission to provide high-quality RV accessories and parts to our customers to improve their general RV experience. Our team works together to provide the best products in the industry at affordable prices so that we can develop a stronger connection with anyone who visits our website.

Aside from our products, we also take pride in providing our customers with quality service and expert tips. If you are new to the world of RVs, you are bound to have questions about which products are the best for your RV or how to properly use them. If this is the case for you, this is where our team will come in.

When it comes to 5th wheel hitches, you may have some questions, considering we have a large selection to choose from. This article is going to act as a guide where we provide tips, recommendations, and advice on choosing the best 5th wheel hitch for your RV. There may be some additional accessories that can be useful when it comes to using one that we will tell you about as well. First, it's crucial that you understand what a 5th wheel hitch is and how it works.

What is a 5th Wheel Hitch?

If you’ve never heard of 5th wheel hitches, you might be curious as to what they are. A 5th wheel hitch is an attachment system made for 5th wheel campers and can be installed over the bed of a pickup truck. Once it has been connected, you can then take your RV or camper with you wherever you need to go.

A good quality hitch will encompass a few different qualities. For one, it will make driving your vehicle with an attachment a lot smoother and easy to navigate. When your hitch is properly connected, you won’t have to worry about experiencing too much rattling, noise, or even any issues with it disconnecting or not being strong enough to hold your attached RV.

They will also be durable and heavy-duty to guarantee a very secure towing experience for you and others who are tagging along.

The ones that we offer here on RVupgrades are durable and guaranteed to make installation and navigation easier for you. The last thing we’d want to provide you with is a hitch that is too complicated or hard to install. We want to ensure that you walk away from our online store equipped with the knowledge to install your hitch with ease.

Typically, 5th wheel hitches are compatible with vehicles like pickup trucks to make towing your RV or trailer as easy as possible. If you are ever curious about what vehicle the 5th wheel hitch you are looking for is compatible with, you can view the product description for additional information, or, you can contact a member of our team to assist you.

Gooseneck Hitch vs 5th Wheel Hitch

When looking at hitches to tow your trailer or RV, you may come across the term 'gooseneck hitch’ every now and then.

Both gooseneck and 5th wheel hitches have very similar capabilities which make the two sometimes difficult to differentiate. For example, they can both be attached to pick up trucks and can be used to tow heavy trailers.

The primary difference between the two kinds of hitches heavily lies within their size, pricing, and how they can connect to your vehicle.

Gooseneck hitches tend to use a hitch ball connection to hook into place, whereas 5th wheel hitches use a kingpin connection to properly hook into place.

You may also find that pricing between the two varies. Gooseneck hitches tend to be less expensive than 5th wheel hitches because they can take up less space on your truck bed and aren’t as bulky.

The main question you probably have in mind is: Which one is better for towing your 5th wheel RV?

If you are going to choose between the two, 5th wheel hitches are a much better option when it comes to towing your 5th wheel RV. They are designed for recreational towing so that you can simply attach and bring it along with you.

As for gooseneck hitches, it is best to use those when it comes to livestock trailers or anything related to commercial and agricultural towing.

The right 5th wheel hitch will have good mobility so that you can experience a smooth and quiet ride. Our selection of 5th wheel hitches is also suitable for many different vehicles. If you need a specific one for your vehicle, you’ll most likely find it on our website.

 

5th Wheel Hitches at RV Upgrades

Now that you are familiar with how the different types of hitches work and which is best to use for towing your RV, you are ready to begin searching for the best one for you.

On RVupgrades.com, we split all of our accessories and supplies into categories so you can narrow down your search and go directly to where you need to be. Our RV Tow hitches product page is where you can find all things related to hitches and their accessories.

Our fifth wheel hitches product page is specifically where you can start your fifth wheel hitch search. Price points and brands will vary depending on which one you get, however, just know that no matter which one you decide to choose on our website, our team of experts have carefully curated the most durable, heavy-duty and safe to use hitches in the industry.

Another thing we continue to keep in mind as we stock our hitches is easy installation. We want all of our customers to have an easy time installing their hitch so we made sure to stock up on fifth wheel hitches that are simple to do so. Below are some recommendations from our very own website so you have options to choose from.

 

R eese 30081 Select Plus 20K Fifth Wheel Hitch

This specific fifth wheel hitch is a popular pick on our website as it uses a base and mounting kit that is known amongst our customers from the Select Series Line of Fifth Wheel hitches. This hitch is easy to install and can be removed in seconds if for any reason you need to access the rest of your truck bed.

 

If you are interested in a simple, sleek look, this 120-pound model has a black powder coat that is made with steel. For easy installation, this hitch comes with instructions and the installation hardware needed to assemble the piece together.

 

Blue Ox BXR6200 Super Ride Adaptable Fifth Wheel Hitch

Although a pricier option, with this hitch you know you are getting something that is both high performing and heavy-duty. This is another hitch that you don’t have to worry about difficult navigation or assembly.

It is easy to hook up, easy to remove and it has 11 inches of adjustable range making it convenient if you have a truck with a shorter bed. Because of the springs that are used to support the head of this hitch, you won’t have to worry about there being too much stress on your truck or on your RV. This will ensure a smooth ride.

There are plenty more hitches to choose from whether you want to view the fifth wheel hitches or another kind. You can also view products based on what is popular amongst our customers if you’d like to have additional assurance.

Installation Tips

When it comes time to install your hitch after you’ve purchased the one that meets your needs best, you are ready for installation. This may be the most daunting part of the process, but with our expert tips, tools, and knowledge, we’ll make it as easy as possible for you.

We recommend that with all of our hitches, you first refer to your vehicle’s manual for towing guidelines and restrictions first. This is just to ensure that your hitch and towing doesn’t take too much of a toll on your vehicle as you begin to use it.

 

With all of our product descriptions for our hitches, you’ll be able to view the gross trailer weight capacity of each hitch model. This may be useful to keep in mind especially depending on the RV or trailer that you are planning on attaching to your vehicle.

With our products online, we always make sure to attach an instruction manual online to further guide you with the installation process. You are more than welcome to reach out to our team or ask any further questions as they arise and our team will be available to support you as best as possible.

 

Additional Hitch Accessories

As you shop for RV Tow Hitches on RVupgrades.com, you notice that we have plenty of relevant accessories in stock as well. For example, we have hitch extenders, to accommodate those who want to extend the length of their hitch.

One of the ones we carry is the B -Dawg D-HE3 Class III Hitch Extender, a simple and affordable option you can purchase to meet that need. We also have ball adapters, sway control pieces, base rails and so much more to maintain the integrity of your hitch.

You can narrow down your search for RV tow hitches and accessories based on brand, pricing, category, and what’s trending for other customers who are purchasing similar products as well.

No matter what, we’ve made sure to give all of our customers options when it comes to RV tow hitches and the other products that we carry on our website as well.

 

How RVupgrades Can Help You

If you are interested in RV hitches or anything else related to RVs, we have them on our website. This includes the products necessary to keep your RV clean, electrical pieces, lighting, sealants, wheels, and many other things.

We understand that sometimes you may not be completely happy with a product or mistakenly have purchased the wrong item. This is bound to happen especially as it relates to ordering things online. We don’t want our customers to have to worry about that, therefore, we have an easy return system.

If you aren’t happy with your purchase you can return your product in unused condition within 90 days of purchase. Once you do that, you will get 100% of your money back.

Your RV experience is valuable to us as we know how large of a role they can play in creating memorable life experiences.

To align with our mission of providing as much support as possible to our customers, you can go to the Q&A section of our website. This allows you to ask questions or even find the answers to the questions you may have. Head over to our Q&A page and you may be able to find the exact answer you are looking for.

 

If you can’t find an answer to your questions anywhere on our website, our team is easy to get into contact with. You can go ahead and call us at 1-866-332-7881 where our team is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

 

Another way you can get into contact with us is by sending an email to s ales@rvupgradestore.com for further inquiries, or you can email us at r eturns@rvupgradestore.com for questions regarding returns.

Some More Must Have Camper Supplies

We like to think of ourselves as one of the authorities in the field of camping in general and the pastime of RVing in specific. That’s why you can stop by here to get some of the best information on how to care for your RV awning and for other best practices for the care of your camper, RV or motorhome travel trailer. Of course, published content aside, you can always get in touch with our team to get their insight into what products to bring where and when, and how to improve your camping experience overall.

We’ve also compiled some lists of important RV Parts and Additional Must-Have Accessories for your camper so that you are better prepared and less likely to be caught unaware when you are out in the field. In those articles, you will find some of the most critical RV accessories and supplies that you should keep with you, some of which you should even keep as spares, because of how important they are when you are out in the field. Critical accessories like spare toilet paper, holding tank treatment, leveling blocks, spare hoses, water pumps, softeners, and treatments are well represented in those articles. Check them out to get some more information on some of the most important RV supplies that you can keep, without which you would not want to be. Many of the most important of them are in there.

In this article, we’re going to aim to present you with some more important camper accessories that you could probably go without but would probably make your trip much better. Check out our list of these following important camping accessories that can make you a lot more comfortable when you’re off the road and in camp.

Water Filters
We’ve covered the importance of RV water softeners and pressure regulators in our blog before, and these accessories can help extend the life of your appliances and preserve the value of your RV. Water filters won’t necessarily offer you that, but they will make your stay in camp a lot more enjoyable.

Let’s face a fact - you won’t really know where your water is coming from in camp, or how it has been kept and treated. The safe thing to do is to invest in a water filter that you can get relatively inexpensive and bring along with you. That way you can always give your water a little extra treatment before you drink it or use it in your cooking.

Fire Extinguisher
The importance of carrying a fire extinguisher with you in your RV is not, as you might expect, for the purpose of controlling a campfire, although that is an acceptable ancillary use. The reason you should never be without a fire extinguisher in your RV is because it can protect you against surprises and fires that might arise due to cooking.

You just can’t make up for the lack of a fire extinguisher. Give yourself and your family an additional layer of protection and carry one with you when you go out on the road.

Cooking Supplies
The necessity of cooking supplies should be somewhat self-explanatory, but if it isn’t let it be known that you can’t cook in camp without them. We can’t give you a comprehensive list of the cooking essentials that you need because we don’t know what your needs are in cooking. That’s something you’ll need to figure out for yourself, but you might want to bring along anything you would reasonably need in your kitchen at home.

Cups, Plates, and Paper Towels
Just as you’ll need pots and pans and other cooking utensils and equipment in your camper kitchen, you’ll also need to bring along stuff you need to eat on and clean up. You can’t drink without cups and you can’t eat without bowls and plates. Make it easy on yourself and be prepared with some of each of these, along with plenty of paper towels (and real towels) so that you don’t get blindsided by a deficiency. You might not think of cups and plates as camper supplies but without them, dinner will be a bit tough to serve.

Compressor
As we have mentioned previously in our blog, you probably need a TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring system, in order to keep tabs on the pressure and temperature of each of your tires so that you can avoid problems like a blowout. Keeping your tires properly inflated will also help prevent uneven wear and help you maintain proper control of your RV or camper.

Why have a compressor, then, if you have a TPMS to help keep any changes in front of you and forestall a problem. Well, if you are out on the road and suddenly get an alert that your tires are underinflated, and you are far from help, what can you do? If you have a compressor, you might be able to bring your tires up to the pressure for which they are rated. That way, in the best-case scenario, you can complete your trip, and at the very least you can get to a shop where you can get help or service.

Battery Charger
A battery charger is one of those things that every home needs because if you walk outside one day and your car won’t start, there’s a decent chance that it just needs a charge. That’s why you need a battery charger at home and not in the truck, because there’s nowhere to hook up on the road, most of the time.

If, however, you bring your RV into a camp where there are power hook ups, and bring a battery charger with you, then you can charge your battery right there in camp in the event that it ever goes dead on you.

Portable Power Pack
A battery charger can help you out if your battery ever goes dead on you in camp because then you can charge it and be back on your way. What good would a battery charger do you if you were really off the grid when you were camping and had no access to power?

Well, if you had brought along a portable power pack, you would be able to jump your camper, get back to a power source and then be able to charge the battery. A portable power pack is worth its weight in gold in a number of scenarios, and if you ever find yourself out on the road and away from power, you’ll be glad you kept a (charged) portable power pack somewhere in the camper. Honestly, it’s a great thing to keep in the trunk of a car as well.

Mats
If you haven’t ever used an RV mat before, then don’t fall into the belief that it’s just a regular mat with no specialized function. A mat is a mat, and an RV mat is an RV mat. They’re designed to be placed underneath the shade of your RV awning or outside your RVs living area to help prevent you from tracking dirt, mud, and sand into the interior of your RV.

It doesn’t sound very specialized, but they are - most of them are very lightweight and are designed to allow particulate matter (see: dirt) to pass through one way but not come back up through the weave the other way. That means if you’re on a sand surface, for example, sand will filter through the mat but not come back up; therefore, by using one, you can really limit the amount of dirt you track into the RV.

Tables
There’s no trick here; this is straightforward. The interior of your RV probably has a kitchen table, so you don’t need to bring along a table for that purpose, but if you ever plan on bringing the party outside under the awning, then you will be happy that you brought along a folding table.

A folding table is lightweight and discrete and will fold up out of the way. You’ll forget you even had it until you had a need to break it out, and then you’ll be glad you brought it. By the way, you’ll probably want to bring along a set of folding chairs so you can actually use the table.

Inflatable Mattresses
A folding table and folding chairs will improve your ability to enjoy the outdoors while you take your RV out on the road, but an inflatable mattress will make you more comfortable in camp. You don’t absolutely need one, but if you bring along a lot of people on the trip and decide later that you need some extra sleeping space, you’ll be glad you brought it. At the same time, it’s also something helpful to bring along if you bring a tent and you decide that you want to sleep outside for a night or two, or hike away from the camper and set up camp under the stars.

Bug Spray
One of the banes of camping is the perennial onslaught of biting insects, and even worse is the fact that it can’t really be predicted. Many outdoor camping trips have been ruined by the coming of gnats, mosquitos, deer flies, green heads, ticks, or other biting insects.

Sometimes, you can escape a plague of insects by retreating inside the camper, but for those nights when you really just want to enjoy the outdoors, you can lean on bug spray. It will keep you comfortable, keep the bugs away, and enable you to spend more time in the great outdoors. It’s also very affordable to throw a few bottles in the camper somewhere, but there are serviceable alternatives. If you don’t want to use bug spray, you can also get some citronella candles or other non-topical repellents.

A Grill
A grill isn’t a necessity, but it sure will come in useful at some point down the road. There are times when you might prefer to do the cooking inside or even outside over a real fire, but if you’re ever in a park somewhere where open fires aren’t allowed, you’ll be glad you picked up a grill and added it to your collection. You can easily find some small gas grills that fold up and can be easily stowed out of the way. You can get a lot of enjoyment from one without having to part with too much space or money.

Roof Tape
Roof tape is one of those things that you might never think of in advance but will be eternally grateful for if you ever have the need to use it. Simply speaking, RV roof tape is strong, waterproof, typically UV resistant tape that you can apply to your RV’s roof for an instant seal that will not only stop leaks that are occurring but will prevent them in the future. An RV is in constant motion and so it can be pretty hard to predict leaks. Keep a roll of RV roof tape handy and you’ll be glad that you did.

Tire Covers
Tire covers are really more important as camper supplies for long term outdoor storage of your RV than specifically for use as a camp accessory, although you can definitely cover your tires with them if your RV will be in camp for a while. Tire covers help protect your tires from damage due to UV exposure. They are remarkably useful for preserving the integrity of your tires, so use them if you can.

Tools
Finally, we have the invaluable addition of “tools” which is very nonspecific. What we mean is that you should keep a toolbox with some small essential tools. Make sure you have some screwdrivers, a hammer, some scissors, twine or tape, and other basic tools and essentials for making quick repairs on the fly. Be as basic or comprehensive in putting it together as you choose, but you should definitely bring one along.

There you have some more must-have camper supplies that you’ll be glad you brought along, either because they will increase your comfort or make your time afield more practical. There are a million more things that you might want to bring along with you, but you can start with this article, and the other two we listed at the top for a list of basic necessities. Of course, if you’ve never gone out before, you can always contact our team at 866-332-7881 and we’d be glad to make sure you don’t leave home empty-handed.