5th Wheel Hitch and Wiring for 1975 Ford F-350 Crew Cab Dually Flatbed

Question:

I have a 1975 F350 full crew cab dual rear wheel dually FLATBED truck that I want to use for car hauling, with a three-car trailer. Please recommend a proper 5th wheel hitch and accessories for this application. Thank you for your attention.

asked by: Richard A

Helpful Expert Reply:

First I suggest you verify the towing capacity of your 1975 Ford F-350 dually flatbed since the weight of a 3-car hauler trailer plus 3 vehicles could be quite substantial. I was not able to confirm a tow rating for the truck with Ford but the owner's manual should give you some guidance. You could also check the VIN with a local dealership to confirm its capacity.

We do offer a low-profile 5th wheel hitch, part # RP30054 from Reese, that will work with a flatbed truck set-up. This hitch does not use base rails but rather it bolts directly to the truck's frame. This type of custom installation requires welding on 1/2-inch thick steel supports if the bed is too far above the truck frame. This process should be handled by a qualified professional welder/installer since the hitch's 30K GTW capacity will depend on it being installed properly. Hardware will need to be supplied by the installer to bolt the hitch to the frame or to the added brackets. I have linked the written instructions for your review.

I also included a diagram showing the recommended clearances for towing a 5th wheel. The rear corners of a flatbed may potentially come into contact with the nose of the trailer so you'll want to make sure you can maintain the minimum clearances when turning.

For a wiring harness you can use Draw-Tite Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring Kit # 20023. If you need an extension you can use 7-foot Connector # 20027.

expert reply by: Adam R