5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for a 2015 Ram 3500 Dually Short Bed and 19,000 Pound 5th Wheel Trailer

Question:

I am purchasing a 2015 ram 3500 drw with short bed. my question is do i buy a fixed 5th wheel hitch like the BandW companion with a sidewinder or do i go with a slider hitch option for a 40foot toyhauler and gvwr around 19k.

asked by: Mike M

Helpful Expert Reply:

A 2015 Ram 3500 dually; now that's a truck! I will be happy to help you out with selecting a 5th wheel trailer hitch. First, if the truck has the factory 5th wheel prep package with the 4 pucks in the bed then you could use a B&W Companion hitch, # BWRVK3600, with a Sidewinder. But there are a couple of things to consider for this set up.

First, Sidewinders only fit certain pin boxes. I would need to know the manufacturer and model number of the pin box. This information should be on a sticker or plate on the pin box itself. The other thing to consider is that you can only use a Sidewinder with the Companion hitches that fit in the 4 pucks and not the ones that only fit in a gooseneck hitch because they have just the single attachment point.

If the Sidewinder is not going to work or the truck does not have the 4 pucks in the bed then I recommend going with a slider hitch but you will first need an installation kit. You can use the Demco kit # DM8552026-71 and then for a hitch use the HiJacker, # DM8550035.

The HiJacker slides back automatically, you won't have to get in and out of the truck repeatedly to slide it back. And it offers 14 inches of travel to allow you to make tight turns. This HiJacker model is rated for 21,000 pounds. I have included a link to a video review of this hitch and a link to our help article on Sidewinders for you.

expert reply by: Michael H