Will Any 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Fit Above the Bed Rails in a 2002 Ford F-150

Question:

I purchased a Ford F-150 years ago and it had the railings for a 5th wheel but, was never used, we are interested in a 5th wheel and want to know if we can connect any 5th wheel to those brackets?

asked by: Candy

Expert Reply:

You have a lot of options for a 5th wheel hitch but not all hitches will fit the rails in your Ford F-150. You need a hitch that fits in above the bed industry standard rails. So for example you would be able to use a Reese hitch such as # RP30928 but the PS30119 or RP30871 would not.

The rails in your truck bed should look like the ones in the picture I have provided.

The 5th wheel hitch you choose also will depend on the bed length. For a long bed you would used a fixed hitch. For a short bed you would need a slider such as # C16521 to be able to make tight turns without hitting the trailer and truck together.

Then you have to consider the weight of the trailer to make sure you get a hitch that is rated high enough. But you will also want to check the truck owner's manual for its capacity so you don't tow a trailer that is too heavy for your truck. I have included a link to a help article on 5th wheel hitches for you.

expert reply by: Michael H