Recommended Fifth Wheel Slider Hitch and Wiring for 2014 Ford F-350 Short Bed

Question:

Hi, I am interested in purchasing a 20k fifth wheel slider hitch for my short bed 2014 F-350 single rear wheel 4wd truck. I do not have the factory fifth wheel mount prep package, and would prefer to have the under bed mount instead of the rails in the bed. I will also need to add a wiring harness that fits into the factory wiring, and i want to leave the wiring on the bumper. What are my options, and what kind of clearance will I have. I currently have an over the rail cross bed tool box that I would like to keep. Thanks!

asked by: Scott

Expert Reply:

Since you have a short bed 2014 Ford F-350 you will need a slider hitch to give you the necessary clearance to make a 90 degree turn. The first component you will need is a fifth wheel rail installation kit to install in the bed of your 2014 Ford F-350. For that I would recommend a custom install kit part # RP50026-58 since they install in about half the time as a universal kit and minimize drilling. At present there is no install kit available for below bed rails for your vehicle. I attached an install video for this kit for you to check out also.

The Reese Fifth Wheel Hitch and Slider part # RP30051 is an excellent choice for a hitch as it has a double jaw mechanism that surrounds the king pin to minimize movement and hitch noise and because it has a full floating head that allows for easier trailer hookups.

For wiring you will want Pollak Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring, # PK11893-11932. The Pollak harness is 7-1/2 feet long, and with a short bed truck it should be more than long enough at half the price. I have linked to a video showing a typical installation.

The best way to determine if a truck bed toolbox will fit with a fifth wheel hitch is to measure the space you have available in your truck bed and compare that to the width of the tool box. Another factor to consider is whether the toolbox sits taller than the walls of the truck bed. You will want to make sure the toolbox will not interfere with the underside of your trailer when you are making sharp turns.

I also attached an FAQ on fifth wheel hitches for you to check out.