Recommendation for 5th Wheel Rails on a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5-1/2 Foot Bed  

Question:

Helpful Expert Reply:

I can help you understand more about finding a set of rails for your 2012 Dodge Ram 1500.

The rail kit you need to install the Valley hitch on your 2012 Ram is # RP30035-386.

The Valley hitch part # 7054 is a now discontinued slider hitch that fits nearly all above-bed fifth wheel rails as it is designed to fit the industry standard rail design.

Sliding hitches aren't recommended to be used on trucks with 5-1/2 foot beds because they cause the pin box of the trailer to come in contact with the tailgate and they only provide about 12 inches of movement which isn't enough to clear the truck cab when making 90 degree turns. The bed is just too short. If you wanted still to use this Valley hitch and be able to make a 90 degree turn I recommend using it in the towing position only and add a Sidewinder pin box. A Sidewinder will move the pivot point of the trailer back and provide the additional turning clearance needed for a short bed truck.

The model of Sidewinder that you need depends on the manufacturer and model number of the OEM pin box on your 5th wheel. This information should be stamped on the pin box somewhere. I'll link you to an FAQ article that shows all the different Sidewinders available and which OEM pin boxes they'll replace.

Another option is to get the Demco 13K AutoSlide # DM8550040. This 5th wheel hitch was made with the 5-1/2 and 6 foot truck bed customer in mind. This hitch slides automatically as you drive to give you 22-1/2 inches of additional clearance for tight turns, which is similar to a Sidewinder. As you turn this hitch gives you an extended distance of 22-1/2 inches, which is crucial to most short bed truck owners when making sharp turns. So, to ensure this Demco 5th Wheel Hitch will work for your 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 and Trailer we want to measure. The rail kit you need to install the Demco # DM8550040 on your 2012 Ram is # RP30035-386.

In order to determine how much clearance you will have or need there is a simple formula (A+B)-C= Clearance. First, you will need to measure from the center of the hitch jaw to the back of the truck cab. On a 5-1/2 foot bed, the center of the hitch jaw will be approximately 1.5 inches forward of the rear axle center line. So then measure from that point to the back of the cab, call it measurement A.

Next, you need to add in the length of travel of a slider, this 13K AutoSlide is 22.5. Call this measurement B.

Next, measure the width of your trailer, then divide by 2 to get half. Call this measurement C. You then plug A, B, and C into the formula; (A + B) - C = Clearance.

For example: if the distance from the center of the hitch to the cab on your 2012 is 36 inches, 36 inches + 22.5 inches = 58.5 inches. If your fifth wheel trailer is 96 inches wide, take half (48 inches), then plug in: 58.5 inches - 48 inches = 10.5 inches of clearance. To safely make a 90 degree turn your calculation will need to have a positive of 4 inches.

I've linked all the 5th wheel hitches that are a fit for your 2012 Ram 1500 for your convenience.

expert reply by: Jackie C

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