Autosliding 5th Wheel Hitch and Suspension Enhancement for a 2017 Ram 3500 with Factory Prep Package

Question

Question:

We were sold the wrong truck by a dealership last week, we were told it would tow our new fifthwheel with the Mopar 25k fifthwheel hitch no problem. They even sold us the Mopar 25K fifthwheel hitch in our loan telling us it was a slider, that was not true either, so now that hitch just cost us $2500.00 and we cant even use it. Our truck already has the fifthwheel prep package, we are now trying to figure out what our options are to go with the best auto slideing hitch available to match our new truck and fifthwheel? We are working with Chrysler because of the dishonesty of the dealership, we were also told it had the auto level air suspension also, but it does not, we were taken advantage of in every direction we turned and now as retirees and thinking these major purchases would probably outlast us, we are trying to figure out how to now tow our fulltime rv with out the right truck or hitch to do so. We traded in our 2009 Ram 2500 short bed which towed our new home just fine, except we were overweight. We feel like the dealership took advantage of us being seniors even though we went in with a list of everything we wanted and needed on our new truck, they told us repeatedly that everything we were requesting was indeed on our new truck, we were so excited we felt like we hit the lotto, until we got back to our hotel and read the manual, and found out all about what our new truck didnt have. Sorry for so much information but we are trying to make sure we get the right hitch for what we have now. Please help guide us if you can. Any help is much appreciated, Thank You??

asked by: Gary &

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

We have the perfect solution for you to tow your new 2017 Solitude 384GK with your 2017 Ram 3500 with a 6 foot bed.

I looked up your 5th wheel trailer online and found that it has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 16,000 lbs. The Mopar 25K would definitely be able to handle that weight, but you are exactly right. With a 6 foot bed you will need a sliding 5th wheel hitch to avoid damaging your 3500 when making those tight turns.

The Demco 5th wheel hitches with the Autosliding feature are my favorite to recommend because not only do they allow you to remain in the cab of your truck for tight turns but they also have great hitch heads as well. It features a single wrap-around jaw for full 360 degree contact with the king pin to help reduce the chucking and jarring you experience when taking off and coming to a stop. There is also a 3/4" thick locking steel bar that adds some extra security and peace of mind to your towing setup. The double pivoting head allows for easy hookup and is also another measure taken to combat chucking.

We have 2 Demco Autosliders that you can choose from, one is rated for 18K # DM8550034 and the other for 21K # DM8550035. Since your GVWR is 16,000 lbs the 18K version will have no problem towing your trailer. These hitches do install on standard base rails which means you will need an adapter so that they are compatible with the factory puck system on your Ram. You can find this adapter listed as part # DM6099 on our site.

If your Ram 3500 doesn't already have a 7-Way installed in the bed then I also recommend installing the Curt 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Wiring Harness 7-Pole # C56000 as well to help making connecting and disconnecting the wiring on your trailer much easier.

If you are looking into adding some suspension enhancement on your Ram then we also carry that as well. I recommend the Firestone Heavy Duty Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs # F2615 for the rear and the Firestone Coil-Rite Air Helper Springs # F4193 for the front. Both of these have been confirmed to fit a 2017 Ram 3500 with the factory hitch installed. When adding the Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs I always recommend installing a compressor system as well so that you don't have to hunt down a compressor when you need to add air. The best system that we have for this setup is the Air Command F3 Compressor System # F2097 to fill your bags.

I have attached some installation videos for these products that you can check out as well for an idea of how they install.