Best Fifth Wheel Setup Recommendation for Towing 2019 Jayco 30.5CKTS with 2018 Ram 2500 Short Bed

Question:

Hi, I’m looking to purchase a fifth wheel hitch for the Ram 2500 / 6’ -4” short bed truck we just purchased. The truck has already been OEM prepped for a fifth wheel. Our fifth wheel is a 2019 Jayco 30.5CKTS pin box model LIPP1621. I’m looking at the BandW Companion OEM 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 20K / Item # BWRVK3670. Does this hitch work for my vehicle with this pin box? I see some hitches referring to a capture plate, do I need something like that, or will this hitch work with my pin box the way it is? Would you know what angle turn I can make before I would have to engage the hitch to make sharp turns? Thanks,

asked by: Michael H

Expert Reply:

For your 2018 Ram 2500 short bed with the factory rail kit the B and W Slider hitch part # BWRVK3670 will fit and work great. You won't need a capture plate either as that's for hitches that automatically slide back and this is a manual slider. It's hard to say exactly at what angle you'd need to have the slider slid back but most likely it will be any time you need to make tighter, parking lot type turns and when backing up.

I do have another towing setup I think you'd really like. It will allow you to never have to worry about messing with the slider mechanism and will also make your trailer easier to back up. For that you'd want to swap out the Lippert 1621 pin box you have with a Sidewinder part # RP34FR and then use the fixed version of the B and W Companion you mentioned, part # BWRVK3600. The Sidewinder moves the pivot point of the hitch back 22-1/2 inches so you don't have to use a slider. This also makes the trailer track better behind the truck as well as easier to reverse. Only other thing you'd want is the Companion wedge part # RP74FR which allows the hitch to easily connect to the Sidewinder.

expert reply by: Jameson C