Easy Way To Determine Distance from Fifth Wheel Hitch Jaw and 2016 Chevy Silverado Truck Cab

Question

Question:

I am buying a new fifth wheel and will be towing it with a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD with a short bed. I am of course concerned about the distance between the RV cap and the back of the truck - so that I dont crunch the C Pilliars. The 5th wheel is one of the more modern ones with radiused front corners that is supposed to help with short beds, but they wont reveal how close to 90 deg I can turn probably due to liability. For me to determine that, I am trying to find the recommended dimension aftermarket 5th wheel hitches from the rear of the bed to the center of the hitch jaws the part the 5th wheels kingpin fits into. Once I know that dimension, I can simply measure the distance from the kingpin on the 5th wheel to the front cap radius, and simple math will reveal the expected clearance. So would you have the typical recommended dimension from the rear of the 6.5ft bed to the hitch jaw on my truck?

asked by: Al C

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Expert Reply:

The precise location of where the center of the fifth wheel jaw will be will vary slightly on the rail kit you go with and then the hitch as well to a small extent. But most likely it's going to be right above the center of the rear axle. If you were to use the fifth wheel rail kit by Reese part # RP56001-53 which is custom fit for your truck the rail kit will center right over the rear axle according to the install instructions that I have attached.

So you can then measure from the center of your truck's rear wheel to the cab and you will know the clearance dimension you are looking for.

If you determine that you don't need a slider hitch the part # RP30047 is a popular option that would work well. Or if you need a slider the part # RP30051 would be great too.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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Answer 1

You will want the hitch to be set at the height that 1) allows the trailer to be level, and 2) allows you a minimum of 6 inches between the bottom of the trailer loft and the top of the bed rails. The fifth wheel hitches offer several inches of up…

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Answer 2

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 3

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 4

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 5

Most fifth wheel rails are made to the same industry standard dimensions. They aren't all though. If you measure 22 inches on center between the two rails and they look like the rails of the #RP30035 that you referenced they would be the industry…

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Answer 6

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 7

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

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Answer 8

The head alone for the B&W Companion hitch #BWRVK3500 weighs about 70 pounds. Everything else weighs about 130 pounds. So the total weight of the hitch is approximately 200 pounds.

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Answer 9

Increasing the tire and wheel size can increase the height of the trailer but it's usually quite minimal. Before you do anything else you should see if the pin box can be adjusted. Although you have to be careful here since This will lower the…

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Answer 10

As long as the RBW Lil' Rocker mounts to industry standard base rails you'll need the Curt Adapter Rails #C29BR that fit in the OEM puck system on your 2019 Ram 2500 and give you a standard base rail connection. I'm attaching a photo…

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Answer 11

Thank you for the photo of your 2016 Ram 3500's bed rail which sits 59-inches above ground. You are correct that the recommended minimum clearance between a bed rail and the underside of the trailer's overhang is 5 to 6-inches, as shown in…

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Answer 12

The Patriot Slider part #BWRVK3270 might be a bit more noisy than the Companion slider part #BWRVK3400 due to the increased number of mounting points, 4 at the corners vs. 1 in the center. Probably not that noticeable and certainly not something…

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