Best Fifth Wheel Towing Setup for a 2015 Chevy Silverado Short Bed for Automatic Turning Clearance

Question:

Im buying the Grand Design, Solutude 300GK. It comes standard with a TrailAir Rota-flex pin box. I have a 2015 Silverado 3500 HD 4x4 Single rear axle. I want a AUTO SLIDING hitch set up and under bed rails. Im thinking the Demco Hijacker Auto Slide is the right hitch for me. Now for my problem/question:: I know that as far as towing and parking in RV spots and campgrounds, I will probably never have this issue, but when I park at home, the last manuver I will make when putting the trailer into its parking place is to Jacknife the truck/trailer to push the front of trailer over. Then stop and unhitch. This will leave my truck and trailer at an angle. The angle is as yet unknown, but I estimate 30 - 40 degrees off center line. I have read that the Demco wants me to unhitch at an angle of no more than 10-15 degrees. So, how am I gonna get my truck free of the trailer?? Will the pin lift straight up out of the hitch if I can pull the release lever to open the jaws? What is the deminsion of the open hitch ? If i open the plate locking rails enough, will the hitch head rotate to a more inline position that would allow me to drive away? What if I removed the locking rails entirely?? Then the hitch head would be free to rotate and I could drive away?? right?? Then If I cant line up the truck and trailer upon rehitching for hte next trip, I guess Id get as close to straight as possible and then loosen the locking plate rails again, rotate the head by hand and have a helper back up those last few inches, and then reset the locking rails and tighten back to specs. CAN THAT WORK?

asked by: Scott L

Helpful Expert Reply:

I may have a solution for you that you will like, but it will require replacing the Trailair pin box and not using the Demco Hijacker since you can't unhitch from it without it being at an angle.

Since you want a setup that will give you turning clearance without having to manually slide a fifth wheel hitch a Sidewinder will be your best option.

Sidewinders are pin box specific so you will first need to know what pin box you have now in order to pick out the correct one.

There should be a sticker or a stamping on the OEM pin box of the trailer that will list the pin box number that is on the trailer.

Once you figure out which pin box you have you can check the FAQ I attached that has a chart that shows the correct Sidewinder to get based on which pin box you have.

All around a Sidewinder is a better route than what you are looking to do. Not only will you get the ability to unhitch at an angle, but the truck will track better behind the vehicle, will back up easier, and will allow you to use a lighter fifth wheel hitch (stationary hitches weigh quite a bit less than sliders, they also have fewer moving parts which equals less movement).

So then for a fifth wheel hitch you would want a stationary hitch like our Reese 16k Part # RP30047 which is a great hitch at a great price. For fifth wheel rails you would then want to go with a custom install kit like the part # RP56001-53 that has been confirmed which will minimize drilling and install time.

If you need more hitch capacity the Reese M5 part # RP30928 has a 20k capacity and has a single jaw which will provide excellent king pin contact.

You asked if the king pin will lift straight out of the fifth wheel trailer and the answer to that is that it will not. It has to slide out of the front of the hitch.