Demco or Pull Rite auto slider hitch backing up

[PA-RV]

I have been using the Demco slider hitch since April. One issue I was having that I did not know was slider hitch related was backing up. I live on the only curbed dead end street in the most rural part of my county. I experienced issues with trying to back my 36 foot fifth wheel into my driveway. Over the years I have doubled the width of my driveway so that I would not have issues backing in or exiting various motorhomes and trailers I have owned over the years. Not since I bought a fifth wheel and using a slider hitch. The other unique attribute of my street is that it is curved in front of my driveway heading up to the dead end of which I live in the last house on the street. Backing the fifth wheel in using the slider hitch I was either jumping the curb with my truck, scrapping the drivers side front tire on the curve and/or having to remove my mailbox just to get the fifth enough into my driveway so I could pull forward to straighten it out. I recently bought the Anderson Ultimate hitch to try as I heard if was short bed friendly. Low and behold, I was easily able to back my fifth wheel into my driveway with plenty of clearance, no issues whatsoever. The only issue with the Anderson hitch is that I can only get about a 70 degree turn with it which so far has not been a problem. Two things I cannot stand about the Demco slider hitch is the 300 LB weight and there is basically no tolerance when hooking up or detaching which can make the process frustrating and time consuming. The Anderson hitch is a breeze to hook up and detach. The only other thing I noticed is that the Demco slider hitch feels a little bit more secure than the Anderson (where the fifth wheel and truck become one) and I believe this is because the Anderson allows for more side to side movement since it rides on a ball. Nevertheless, I plan to keep the Anderson and use it as my primary hitch. Would love to hear from others who have experienced this difference in backing up their fifth wheel using a auto slider hitch.

[Jim34RL]

I have had two slider hitches! One was a manual Reese sliding hitch and the other is a Demco Glide Auto Slider hitch. I agree there is a learning curve with an auto slider hitch as the king pin is moving back as you try and turn to put the trailer in to a spot.

Once I had overcome this issue the Demco Glide is a breeze to back up with regardless of curves roads or not. I will keep my Demco Glide hitch as I like the firm grip and secured feeling towing with this hitch.

I for one will never tow with an AL tepee designed hitch with the off set hitch ball. I did a force diagram on the Anderson hitch to check on the forces that act on this hitch when towing. Let me just say I for one will not tow with a Anderson hitch.