Best Fifth Wheel Hitch and Rail Kit Recommendation for a 2006 Ford F-250

Question:

I have a 2006 ford f250 super duty with short bed. The truck is in great shape. It has 108,000 miles on it. I am buying a 5th wheel camper that I believe weighs 14,000/15,000lbs. I am interested in the most simple, best hitch to install on the truck. What do you suggest? Also do you think my truck can handle towing the rv?

asked by: Nancy N

Expert Reply:

The Reese Hitch part # RP30081 is a great hitch, but since you have a short bed truck you will need the slider version of this hitch to allow you to make tight turns. For that you would need the part # RP30083. This is the same premium fifth wheel hitch that has a single-jaw setup that will provide excellent king pin to hitch contact and features a round tube slider (to give you the needed truck cab clearance) that will work much smoother than a square tube slider.

You will need a set of fifth wheel rails to allow the hitch to install in your truck bed. For that you would want a custom install set that will install in about half the time as a custom install set and will minimize drilling as well. For that you would want the part # RP50082-58.

To determine if you have the towing capacity for the trailer you are looking at will require you to check the owners manual of the truck. Since you didn't list the engine size or any other details it's pretty hard for me to say. If you have the diesel engine I will say that most likely you would be fine. But please verify that first.

expert reply by: Jameson C