Recommended Sliding Fifth Wheel Hitch to Keep Bed Clear in 2017 Ram 3500 with Factory Puck System

Question:

Can I tow a fifth wheel with a 2017 Ram 3500 short bed with out hitting the cab.The fifth wheel is a 2017 CrossRoads cruiser CR-3351BH with a trail air roto-flex pin box? I really dont think its a good idea to use a offset ball if they even have one for my oem pucks that are in my new truck? What is your opinion,I was going with a curt 20Q slider but thought it might be nice to have the room in the back of the truck. THANKS

asked by: Robert C

Expert Reply:

To determine if you can tow a fifth wheel trailer without hitting the cab of your short bed 2017 Ram 3500 you're going to need to do a little measuring on your truck and trailer.

Measure from where the jaws of a fifth wheel hitch will sit to the truck's cab. Then add that to the amount of travel a specific sliding hitch will travel. Now subtract half the width of your trailer. To safely execute a 90 degree turn you need at least 4 inches of clearance.

The best sliding hitch that will leave your Ram's truck bed clear when you're not towing is the B&W Companion # BWRVK3670. This will fit into your truck's factory puck system without the need for an adapter. The Companion will travel up to 12 inches to help make turns without hitting the cab.

Another option is to replace your trailer's king pin with a Sidewinder which will give you an additional 22 inches of clearance. To find the correct Sidewinder you'll need the exact model number of your current pin box.

expert reply by: Charles S