by Joshua Thomas
A 5th wheel hitch is a very important component in your truck if you haul trailers. Because of this, it is necessary to cover it when not in use so as to protect it from the elements for durability purposes.
However, there are different varieties of these covers in the market and it is vital that you get a good quality product that fits on the hitch for effective protection. That said, these are the best 5th wheel hitch covers to consider for your pickup truck.
Contents
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES |
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1. Classic Accessories 80-116-010401-00 (Best Universal) |
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2. Reese 30055 (Good) |
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This piece from Classic Accessories stands out because it is designed to fit most 5th wheel hitches and has an elasticized hem on two sides to help in providing a tight fit. Once installed, a set of 4 metal hooks help to secure it around the hitch to prevent it from being blown away.
For the actual protection, the cover is made of a waterproof, heavy-duty vinyl material that is easy to clean and has a scratch-proof laminated knit polyester backing. Combined, these layers provide grease, dirt, UV and generally, all-season protection for maximum hitch durability.
Other features include an access hole opening for the hitch lever, a full-length design that goes all the way down to the rails for full coverage and a black colored finish that blends in very well with most truck bed liners.
However, the unit's access hole is quite large and might let in some dirt and debris inside. On the bright side, the piece is very affordable.
Pros
Cons
Reese's 30055 is the top rated 5th wheel hitch cover in this review, and this can be attributed to its perfect fitting design for Reese 15K and 16K 5th wheel hitches, as well as for Pro Series 15K, 16K, and 20K hitches.
In all these, the cover provides moisture, debris, and all-weather protection, and this can be attributed to its heavy-duty vinyl construction, which is also very durable.
Other features include adjustable nylon straps plus an elasticized hem for securing the hitch cover to the fifth wheel. However, the unit is quite costly and it does not have a full-length design. It covers the fifth wheel hitch's head only.
Pros
Cons
In selecting a 5th wheel hitch cover, the first and most important thing to consider is its compatibility because the product can only be useful if it fits on your 5th wheel.
You need to check the brands and models that the cover fits and this means you should have details about your truck's fifth beforehand.
To be on the safe side, you can pick the universally fitting size, though it might be unnecessarily big or have a wide opening to cater for differently-sized hitch levers.
Another vital factor to consider is the cover's durability. Ultimately, the more durable the unit is, the better because it will last longer, giving you value for money, but most importantly, it will help give better protection to the fifth wheel underneath.
That said, features to look for include a heavy-duty construction that is scratch-resistant, UV-resistant and weatherproof in general.
Ease of use, in this case, refers to how easy it is to put on and remove the cover. These units have different designs and regardless of the one you choose; the ease of use factor should be highly considered.
Some of the desirable features to check for include an elastic hem, which goes a long way in simplifying the fitting, and straps or hooks for secure fitting.
Combined, these features will help ground the cover even when there are strong winds or as you drive at high speeds and at the same time, removal is easy when you want to attach your trailer.
Price is always a must check and is an important determining factor in the whole selection process. With that in mind, an affordable fifth wheel hitch cover is not necessarily a poor-quality piece and likewise, an expensive cover is not necessarily the best.
What should be the primary guiding factor is the list of features that you need. Once you identify the products that match your requirements, you can then pick the most affordable one among them or the one that you can comfortably afford.
Classic Accessories Over Drive 15K 5th Wheel Hitch RV Cover, Black - Walmart Link
Reese Draw-Tite 30055 Fifth Wheel Cover, Silver - Walmart Link
FIA FW9021 Universal Fifth Wheel Hitch Cover - Walmart Link
Classic Accessories Over Drive 15K 5th Wheel Hitch RV Cover, Black - eBay Link
Reese Draw-Tite 30055 Fifth Wheel Cover, Silver - eBay Link
FIA FW9021 Universal Fifth Wheel Hitch Cover - eBay Link
As you can see, getting a high quality, sturdy and durable cover for your truck's fifth wheel is very important for better protection against the elements, which translates to a long-lasting fifth wheel.
Most of these products have similar features but you need to pay keen attention to the compatibility and durability factors because these basically determine how effective the unit is.
Having said that, going through the review and buying guide above will help you pick the best 5th wheel hitch cover that suits your needs.
About Joshua Thomas
Joshua Thomas just simply loves cars and willing to work on them whenever there's chance... sometimes for free.
He started CarCareTotal back in 2017 from the advices of total strangers who witnessed his amazing skills in car repairs here and there.
His goal with this creation is to help car owners better learn how to maintain and repair their cars; as such, the site would cover alot of areas: troubleshooting, product recommendations, tips & tricks.
Joshua received Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at San Diego State University.
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