What 5th Wheel Hitch Do I Need

Many users don’t know how to choose a fifth wheel hitch after purchasing a 5th wheel. Next, LUEN will teach you how to choose a fifth wheel hitch that suits you.

Know Your Towing Limits and Load Size

Before you connect your LUEN tractor to your LUEN trailer, or even select the right 5th wheel hitch for your tractor, you first need to determine your towing limit and the fully loaded gross trailer weight. The towing limit refers to the maximum mass that your tractor can safely tow. The total mass of the trailer loaded on the tractor and connected via the fifth wheel, when fully loaded, constitutes the gross trailer weight. LUEN reminds you that the towing limit is always limited by the load capacity of the lowest rated towing component in the system. Therefore, it is best to purchase a fifth wheel hitch that matches or exceeds the towing capacity of the tractor.

Evaluate the tractor bed size

Next, accurately measuring the length of the tractor bed is a key step when selecting a 5th wheel hitch. The length of the bed and the design of the trailer cover together determine the amount of space margin or clearance that the tractor and trailer can provide when connected. Long bed pickups tend to provide more clearance, while short bed models may face less clearance challenges. For some short box tractors, installing a sliding fifth-wheel hitch may be an effective solution to optimize space utilization. Before making a purchase decision, please fully consider the unique configuration requirements of the LUEN vehicle you are purchasing.