How to Hitch Your Fifth Wheel

Having a fifth wheel is a lot of fun, but when you’re just starting out, the coupling process can be intimidating. Fifth wheels connect within the tow vehicle’s bed, meaning they need to be towed with pickup trucks. You should always make sure the fifth wheel you purchase will complement your truck!

1. Choose a Level Surface 

When you’re preparing to hook your trailer up to your truck, ideally the fifth wheel will be on a level surface. This is important for a safe and solid connection, plus it will be a lot easier to back up to the trailer! 

You should add wheel chocks for extra support and double check that your hitch is set at the correct height for coupling. 

2. Open the Wheel Jaws

Once you’ve established that the trailer is on a smooth surface and is secure to be coupled, you’ll need to open the jaws or retract the locking bar. This is done by pulling the side handle and setting it securely in the open position. 

It may be useful to apply high-pressure grease or install a lube plate to ensure a smooth coupling process. This can also help protect the hitch head.

3. Back Up Slowly

After the jaws and hitch are in the correct position, lower your tailgate and prepare to line up the hitch. Make sure no one is near the kingpin, but utilize a friend or family member to guide you to the trailer. 

Remember that your truck will shift slightly after you put it in park, so stop a little early to accommodate for that!

4. Adjust the Jacks

When you have the hitch properly aligned with the kingpin, you will need to adjust the trailer jacks. The fifth wheel hitch plate will need to be a little higher than the kingpin box, allowing it to ramp up onto the hitch plate. 

The kingpin box should generally be ½” below the top of the fifth wheel head. 

5. Engage the Coupler

You will now need to back up slowly until the kingpin is fully connected with the fifth wheel head. When it’s connected, place your truck in park and engage the emergency brake. 

Take a close look at the connection to make sure the fifth wheel jaws are locked and engaged completely. Note that some models will require you to manually engage the lock bar or wheel jaws and others will engage automatically.

Insert the safety pin to keep the coupling secure.

6. Test the Coupling and Complete Your Checklist

To finalize the coupling, you should be able to disengage the emergency brake, activate your trailer brakes, and place the truck in drive. Move forward slowly, allowing the truck to tug at the trailer; some resistance means the connection is secure.

After confirming that the trailer is securely coupled with your truck, you should run through a final checklist before hitting the road. Make sure to close your tailgate, the safety pin and chains are in place, all wiring is connected, wheel chocks have been removed, jacks have been lifted, and the trailer lights are fully functioning. 

With practice and patience, hooking up your fifth wheel doesn’t have to be complicated! Our team at Mountainland RV, located in North Logan, UT, is here to help with all of your RV needs.