5th wheel hitches offer a lot of utility – everything from a more smooth and stable towing experience to easy installation and greater maneuverability. A 5th wheel hitch in Calgary can make things effortless. However, there are a few variables to consider when it comes to choosing the right hitch for your pickup truck and trailer.
At Calgary Hitch Shop, we are your expert 5th wheel hitch supplier. As such, we have a myriad of 5th wheel hitches for any sized trailer and pickup. If you need assistance in selecting the right 5th wheel hitch, keep reading to learn 5 helpful steps to choose the proper hitch.
1. Think About Weight and Towing Capacity
Prior to hitching up your trailer and truck – or even choosing a 5th wheel hitch for your pickup – it’s essential to know the details of your gross trailer weight and towing capacity. Your gross trailer weight is the overall weight of your trailer once it’s fully loaded and hitched to your pickup. And towing capacity is the maximum amount of weight your truck is capable of towing.
2. Determine Your Truck Bed’s Length
Once your towing capacity is firmly fixed in your mind, the next step is to measure your truck bed’s expanse. The reason being is that your truck bed’s length determines the amount of space or clearance your pickup and trailer will have once they are hitched up.
Typically, a long-bed pickup truck will offer more clearance, while its short-bed counterpart will offer less clearance. As a result, this determines the kind of mounting platform that will be required by your 5th wheel hitch.
3. See If Your Truck Bed Has a Puck System
A puck system is a 5-hole, built-in towing system. It’s essentially a mounting platform that comes as standard equipment in many of today’s pickup trucks. Calgary Hitch Shop offers numerous 5th wheel hitches for both long-bed and short-bed pickups.
The puck system streamlines the 5th wheel hitch installation process; making it quicker and more efficient.
4. Select 5th Wheel Rails (Permanent or Removable)
If your pickup lacks a puck system, the conventional method for inserting a 5th wheel hitch is to utilize 5th wheel base rails. You can opt for installing removable or permanent base rails, based on personal preference.
Permanent 5th wheel rails
Permanent 5th wheel base rails offer industrial strength mounting points. In order to attach the base rails, an under-bed bracket kit will be required to fasten them to the structure of your pickup.
Removable 5th wheel rails
Removable 5th wheel base rails are a distinct mounting alternative you can select for your truck. Unlike conventional brackets and base rails, this configuration permits you to fully remove the rails from your truck bed.
Additionally, this option also offers the advantage of arming your pickup for towing gooseneck trailers.
5. Pick Your Preferred 5th Wheel Hitch Style
When you feel confident about the type of mounting platform required for your truck, you can search our inventory of 5th wheel hitches by weight capacity and other attributes. And that’s where we at Calgary Hitch Shop can be of service – we provide a myriad of options to choose from.
And more than that, we have a dedicated team of experienced and knowledgeable staff who can help you make the right choice based on your truck and trailer. If you’re interested in learning more or have any questions, contact us today for more information.
