Fit and Compatibility of 5th Wheel Tailgate on a 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

Question:

I use a slider hitch for my short bed truck. Is there a chance the pin box would hit the tailgate when it is extended and the gate is up?

asked by: Mike L

Helpful Expert Reply:

With 6-1/2 foot bed there could be the potential contact between the tailgate and the trailer pin box, but most pin boxes angle up at the rear so they would be higher up than the top of the tailgate.

To determine if the trailer would cause contact with the tailgate in the bed of your truck you would need to measure from the center of the 5th wheel in the bed to the tailgate. Then measure from the center of the king pin to the farthest back part of the pin box that is low enough to contact the tailgate. Subtract the king pin measurement from the truck bed measurement and you will know if you will need to remove the tailgate or not.

If you find that a the tailgate needs to be removed, a fifth-wheel tailgate normally will work in this situation. The custom fit tailgate you need for your 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup is # VGD-02-4000.

expert reply by: Jackie C