5th Wheel or Gooseneck Hitch Recommendation for a 2012 Toyota Tundra Short Bed  

Question:

Helpful Expert Reply:

You can install a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch in your 2012 Toyota Tundra, however, there are a few things that we will need to take into consideration before selecting the appropriate hitch for your truck. I assume by Maxcab, you are referring to the CrewMax cab. The CrewMax cab models have a 5-1/2 ft bed.

If your truck bed length is 5-1/2 ft, then, to tow a fifth wheel trailer, you will need a few different items such as the Reese Semi-Custom Install Kit, # RP30035-309, a fixed fifth wheel hitch and a sidewinder pin box to replace the OEM pin box on your fifth wheel trailer.

The Semi-Custom Install Kit will provide you with the frame brackets and base rails to attach a fifth wheel hitch in your truck bed. Next, you will want to choose a fifth wheel hitch that can support the weight capacity of your fifth wheel trailer. I have attached a link to all of the fifth wheel hitches and install kits that are recommended for the 5-1/2 ft bed models.

Finally, you will need to replace the OEM pin box on your fifth wheel trailer with a sidewinder pin box. It is typically not recommended to tow a fifth wheel trailer with a short bed truck because there will not be enough clearance between the cab and trailer to make turns, but a sidewinder pin box will move the pivot point of your fifth wheel trailer 22 inches further back to create more clearance.

Sidewinder pin boxes are not available for all OEM pin boxes, so you will want to make sure a sidewinder can be used on the fifth wheel trailer you are looking at to be sure you can tow the trailer safely. I have attached a link to sidewinder pin boxes that explains how they work and gives a list of their compatibility with OEM pin boxes.

If you are concerned about making 90 degree turns without hitting the cab of your truck with the corner of your trailer, then you can take a few measurements. First, locate the center of your axle in the truck bed and measure 3-1/2 inches toward the front of the truck. This will be the center of the king pin for a fifth wheel hitch. Next, measure from that mark to the back of the cab of your truck. Then, add 22 inches to that measurement for the length of the sidewinder.

After that, measure the width of the fifth wheel trailer you are interested in and divide that by 2. If your first measurement, plus the 22 inches for the sidewinder, is greater than half of the width of your fifth wheel trailer by 4 inches or more, then you will be able to make a 90 degree turn without hitting the cab of your truck.

For example - if the distance from the center of the hitch to the cab is 36", 36" + 22" = 58". If your fifth wheel trailer is 102" wide, take half (51"), then plug in: 58" - 51" = 7" of clearance. Please note, at least 4 inches of clearance is recommended to safely execute a 90 degree turn.

As far as a gooseneck hitch is concerned, most trailer hitch manufacturers do not recommend towing a gooseneck trailer with a short bed truck because there are no options to gain clearance between your truck cab and the trailer. You could install the Draw-Tite Hide-A-Goose Hitch, # 9465-36, but because gooseneck hitch manufacturers do not recommend installing a gooseneck hitch on a short bed truck, there are not specific instructions for a 5-1/2 ft bed model. The installation will be more of a custom job and the liability falls in the hands of the installer.

Also, you will not be able to tow all styles of gooseneck trailers because of the 5-1/2 ft bed. You will only be able to tow v-nose style gooseneck trailers because of the turning clearance.

expert reply by: John H

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