How to Pull a 5th Wheel with a Bumper Hitch: 4 Alternatives Revealed!

If you are wondering how to pull a 5th wheel with a bumper hitch, you have to come to the right place! This idea came to many innovative gear-heads. Two major factors that come into play are the size of the trailer and the pulling capacity of the tow vehicle.

Let’s discuss the legal aspect of this, the conversion of the 5th wheel to a bumper hitch, and alternatives to bumper pull or 5th wheel towing. Let’s begin!

Pulling a 5th Wheel with Automated Safety Hitch – Steps

We have to make it clear that, if you are planning to pull a 5th wheel, it is very likely that the towing capacity may not be enough. In ideal situations use trucks with tow ratings to pull your RVs.

Follow the steps below to link your fifth-wheel camper and the bumper hitch. You should also watch this video to perfectly understand the process and preparation.

1. Park your vehicle, or trailer, with a bumper hitch on a smooth, leveled surface.
2. Put chocks around the wheels to make sure the trailer does not move.
3. Measure the height of the trailer’s kingpin box skid plate and the height of the pickup bed of your towing vehicle from the ground.
4. The difference between the trailer’s kingpin box height and of pickup bed elevated from the ground will be the hitch’s height of the fifth wheel trailer.
5. Make sure that the locking mechanism is greased and does not have debris.
6. Set the hinge into the linking position then back the towing vehicle/lifted truck. Precaution! Ensure that the tailgate is down and no one is around the kingpin box.
7. Back the towing vehicle, till there is about 4 inches distance left from the hitch.
8. Adjust the trailer jack to place the kingpin skid plate half an inch above the fifth-wheel trailer skid plate.
9. Now slowly back the towing vehicle to fix the fifth wheel camper by the hitch so its jaws can clutch the trailer.
10. Check the jaws if they have successfully clutched the trailer. After you are satisfied insert the safety pin to lock the jaws.
11. Confirm that the handle safety linchpin is installed.
12. Now connect the electrical harness of the trailer to the towing vehicle.
13. Now you will attach the lanyard of an electric breakaway switch.
14. After, closing the vehicle’s tailgate, and removing the chokes your truck will be ready to go.

For more details, check out this video.

Is it Illegal to Pull a 5th Wheel with a Bumper Pull?

The rule varies state-to-state. To confirm whether your state allows setup where the bumper pull drags a fifth wheel, you should call either of the following:

Some states see safety hitches towed as another vehicle. They may term the pulling as double towing. It is illegal to double tow for non-commercial use in many states.

However, you have to make sure that the brakes of both trailer and vehicle are perfect.

5th Wheel to a Bumper Pull: Is the Conversion Possible?

It is definitely possible to convert the 5th wheel into a bumper pull. Using a bumper pull adapter manufactured for this purpose can help you with the task. Let’s look at the type of adapters:

The benefit of the Automated Safety Hitch adapter is that it is a separate vehicle. This means that is easier to make turns and reverse without the vehicle bumping and damaging.

This also gives you space to put things such as propane tanks, tools, or bulky batteries on it.

Things to Remember When Preparing to Pull the 5th Wheel

Trailers, fifth-wheel camper vans, and RVs are bulky automobiles. Moving these around is not easy. These require proper safety precautions and preparation. Please read the following before undertaking the task of pulling a 5th wheel with either a safety hitch or bumper pull.

Inspect Trailer Tires

Checking the wheels is vital! Read below on how to take care of the tires.

Tire Pressure

You should test the tire pressure to avoid wear and tear. It is a must if you have not driven the trailer in a few months. If the weather is cold, you should check the tires in 3-4 hours just to be safe.

In case the pressure is low the vehicle maneuvering can be difficult and can become the cause of an accident.

Tread Depth

The ideal should be above one-sixteenth of an inch and below one-eight. A useful hack to check if the tread depth is correct is, by slipping a penny coin into the grooves with Lincoln’s head upside down. If the president’s head is visible you need to replace the tires.

If the tread depth is incorrect, it can cause a blowout.

Uneven Wear

Inspect the tire for smoothened spots. Check if one side has more wear than the other. If the tires are uneven, an unsafe driving situation can come up. Do not take your vehicle on the road if the tires are skewed.

Cracks and Bumps

Thoroughly check the tires for any cracks or bulging. If there is even a slight sign of rotting, cracking, or bruising, involve a professional. It is better to be safe than sorry. It is possible you would be away from home, middle of nowhere If a tire causes a problem you will be helpless.

Switch the Tires Positions

This is a tip rather than a precaution but a crucial one. If you switch the tires’ positions, it will create even wearing.

Top-Notch Tow Vehicle Maintenance

Your tow vehicle has to be in top-notch condition. It will be assigned the task to bumper pull a heavier camper hence you should:

Match the Ball Hitch Size

Ensure that the ball size of your trailer hitch is a perfect fit for the hook of your wheel camper. Wrong sizes can cause accidents. Though there are standard sizes, measure just to be on the safe side.

Trailer Safety Chains

Purchase a set of safety chains to further secure the connection between the bumper pull camper and the tow vehicle. Connecting the chain in an “X” shape. The cross will be able to catch the trailers’ tongues in case the trailer disconnects. This will prevent tongue dragging on the road.

Ensure That Trailer Lights and Wires are Working

Switch on each light and have someone tell you if they are turning on or not. You have to check the wiring of these lights as well. Make sure they are not loose, and vulnerable to sparking by tangling up.

Use Clip-On Wider Tow Mirrors

Trailers would more likely be wider than your towing vehicle. Add clip-on mirrors to have a broader view of cargo from your sides.

Use a Larger Fuel Capacity Tank

You will be utilizing more fuel than usual. It is better to increase the size of fuel containers rather than make multiple stops as that would not be always feasible.

What is a Better Towing Option: 5th Wheel or Bumper Pull?

Basically depends upon your preference, but if you were to ask us, we would choose the fifth-wheel camper over the bumper pull. View our reasoning below.

Fifth Wheel Benefits

The reason is the fifth-wheel camper does not require any additional equipment such as safety chains, sway bars, and weight distributors. Whereas, the bumper pull does.

Backing up is comparatively easier with the axle of the fifth-wheel camper. Although if your driving skills are good bumper pull would not be a problem either.

Bumper Pull Benefits

The benefit of the bumper trailer is that it is not as heavy as the fifth wheel. This means bumper pull can allow less towing capacity than a fifth-wheel camper would.

About Automated Safety Hitch and Its Pros And Cons

Dragging the fifth-wheel camper in the past might have been a problem but not since the invention of the automated safety hitch. Its benefits are numerous but it does come with a few flaws. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons:

5th Wheel Towing Not Possible? Here’s What to Do Instead

Not everyone can afford an automated safety hitch or a bumper pull. Oftentimes, there is no option to arrange one. This is why we have listed below some alternatives to fifth-wheel camper towing. Check them out!

Install Bench Seats in the Truck

If you have a large family or traveling with a group of friends, you should look into purchasing seats that can be hooked on a truck bed. Additionally, use bench seats. These will help fit in more than 6 people inside only. However, you will need to pack less to accommodate space.

Attach a Sleeper Cab in the Truck For Seating Space

You can install a sleeper cab at the back of your truck camper with the help of a professional. It will increase the passenger seating space. It will make space for the storage of coolers, daypacks, and kids.

Having said that, it can be a hefty investment so assess your need and choose accordingly.

Buy a Mini-Van or 8 Seater Truck

If your family is large or your friends like to be on the road a lot, we suggest investing in a minivan or six-door truck. It can seat 8 people easily. The driver should be an expert as these are hard to maneuver due to their huge size.

Use Two Vehicles

Go to the basics! Take two vehicles with you. Use a bumper pull to tow the fifth wheel or haul the camper with one vehicle and another one can carry luggage, food items, and other essentials while seating a few people.

FAQ

Conclusion

So far we have learned that in order to pull a fifth-wheel camper a heavy-duty vehicle is required. A pickup truck has sufficient tow capacity and the truck bed allows space for fifth-wheel hitches.

To convert a fifth wheel into a bumper hitch switch many adapters are available. The best one is an automated safety hitch. It provides more stability, easy maneuvering, and space for storing a few items, and its jaws clutch onto the frame of the camper perfectly.

Are you now planning to arrange a safety hitch or just using the traditional method of chains and tugging? Please share your experience with a bumper pull trailers in the comments section.