How to Choose the Right Trailer Hitch for Your Travel Trailer or 5th Wheel RV

Hey, Mavericks!

Let’s talk hitches.

We know, we know—not the most glamorous part of RV life. But if you’re towing a travel trailer or hauling a 5th wheel RV, choosing the right hitch is basically the difference between smooth sailing and a white-knuckle disaster.

And if you’re new to the game? The hitch aisle at your local RV store might as well be written in ancient Greek.

Weight distribution. Goosenecks. Sway control. Drop shanks. It’s a lot. 🤯

That’s why we’re breaking it all down in plain English—so you can figure out exactly what kind of hitch you need for your trailer, your tow vehicle, and your kind of camping.

Whether you’re hauling across the country or just getting your feet wet with weekend trips, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s hitch it up. 🔧

🔨 First Up: The Basics of Trailer Hitches

If you’ve got a travel trailer, you’re towing it from the rear bumper of your tow vehicle. That means your hitch setup is attached to your truck or SUV’s receiver hitch, usually a Class III, IV, or V, depending on your rig’s weight.

If you’ve got a 5th wheel RV, you’re hitching from inside the bed of a truck, directly over the rear axle. That gives you better stability and handling, especially for heavier rigs—but it also limits you to pickup trucks with enough payload to handle it.

The hitch isn’t just “that metal thing” you slap onto your truck. It’s the connection point, the shock absorber, the load balancer, and the safety system all rolled into one.

So yeah, it matters.

⚖️ Travel Trailer Hitches: What Are Your Options?

If you’re towing a standard travel trailer, here are the most common types of hitches you’ll run into:

1. Ball Mount Hitch (aka Bumper Pull)

The simplest and cheapest option. It’s just a metal shank with a ball on top that fits into your receiver.

Best for:
- Small travel trailers or teardrops
- Lightweight loads under 3,000 lbs
- Short, local trips

Pros:
- Cheap
- Easy to install
- Minimal moving parts

Cons:
- No sway control
- No weight distribution
- Not ideal for longer trailers or high-speed towing

🛑 If you’re towing more than a little camper or utility trailer, you’ll probably outgrow this fast.

2. Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH)

A WDH uses spring bars to spread tongue weight evenly across all axles of your tow vehicle. Better braking, steering, and less sag.

Best for:
- Mid to large travel trailers (3,000–10,000 lbs)
- SUVs and half-ton trucks
- Highway towing

Pros:
- Better handling and ride comfort
- Helps prevent rear sag
- Can include sway control

Cons:
- Pricier
- Heavier setup
- Requires fine-tuning

Fun fact: You need a WDH if your trailer’s tongue weight exceeds 10% of your vehicle’s GTWR. Check those numbers!

3. WDH with Sway Control

All the benefits of a WDH, with added friction arms or dampeners to reduce side-to-side sway.

Best for:
- Tall or long travel trailers
- Cross-country trips
- Windy highways

Pros:
- Smooth, stable towing
- Peace of mind

Cons:
- More setup time
- Might need to be unhooked for backing up

🚛 The longer your trailer, the more you’ll appreciate this. Don’t skimp on sway control - your blood pressure will thank you.

🛻 5th Wheel Hitches: Making the Bed - RV Style

With a 5th wheel RV, the hitch mounts in your truck bed directly over the axle. This gives you more control, better weight distribution, and a tighter turning radius.

1. Fixed 5th Wheel Hitch

The standard setup. It bolts to rails in your truck bed and connects to the kingpin on your RV.

Best for:
- Standard-bed or long-bed trucks
- Frequent towing
- Full-timers

Pros:
- Rock-solid connection
- Great for heavy rigs

Cons:
- Not ideal for short beds
- Takes up bed space

2. Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch

Perfect for short-bed trucks. It slides back during tight turns to avoid cab collision.

Best for:
- Short-bed pickups
- Tight campgrounds

Pros:
- Prevents trailer-to-cab damage

Cons:
- Heavier and more expensive
- More moving parts

3. Gooseneck Adapter

Turns your 5th wheel trailer into a gooseneck setup using an adapter.

Best for:
- Multipurpose trucks
- Experienced towers

Pros:
- Clean bed when not in use
- Often cheaper

Cons:
- Can stress the RV frame
- May void trailer warranties 

⚠️ Always check with your RV manufacturer before using a gooseneck adapter—it can void your frame warranty.

🚦 Hitch Match-Up Cheat Sheet

 🧰 Don’t Forget the Leveling

You can have the best trailer hitch setup in the world—but if you’re not level once you get to camp? You’re gonna have a bad time.

Uneven trailers can mess with your fridge, your slide-outs, and your sleep. That’s why GrabPad is a no-brainer add-on for any kind of hitch setup.

With up to 200% more surface area than your stock jack foot and built-in Terrain Flex to handle concrete, gravel, dirt, or desert, GrabPad makes sure your RV stays locked in and level from the second you unhook.

Gravel campsite? No problem. Boondocking in the middle of nowhere? Still solid. If you're camping with a travel trailer or 5th wheel RV, make sure you're leveling up with GrabPad.

🏁 Final Thoughts: Hitch Smart, Tow Confident

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to hitches. It depends on your rig, your truck, and how you like to camp. But the right hitch setup can turn a stressful drive into a confident cruise.

And when you finally pull into that campsite? A solid leveling solution like GrabPad keeps the good vibes going.

Stay safe. Stay level. Stay wild, Mavericks. 🤘