Location of 5th Wheel Hitch and Best Way to Gain Turning Clearance with a 2016 Chevy Z71 Short Bed

Question:

Truck is 2016 Chevrolet Z71 w/ 5foot 8inch bed. Center of rear axle is 30inch from the back of the cab of the truck. Trailer is 1987 28foot Jayco J series. Trailer is 8foot wide and King Pin is 20inch from front of trailer. I have two questions: 1. How far in front of the rear axle must my hitch be? 2. Is the Sidewinder the solution to being able to safely turn with this trailer and which model?

asked by: Mark L

Expert Reply:

Using the Reese Custom Install Kit # RP50064-58 on your 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 with the 5-1/2 foot bed the center of the fifth wheel trailer hitch sits 1-1/2 inches towards the front of the truck from the rear axle.

I definitely recommend going with a Sidewinder pin box to safely complete turns with your trailer. A Sidewidner provides an additional 22 inches of turning clearance. In order to determine which is the correct Sidewinder for your trailer we need the model number of the current pin box. If you can provide this for me I'd be happy to recommend the correct Sidewinder.

expert reply by: Charles S