Are Spacers in 5th Wheel Installation Kit RP50082-58 Required for Installation

Question:

just how critical are the spacers on the bed rail install ? done everything I can think of to get them in and just not having any luck ... other than crimping or warping the floor of the truck bed at the attachment points which seems to just be cosmetic and I couldnt care less just want to know if it would create a safety issue if I leave them out ...

asked by: Thomas B

Expert Reply:

For 5th wheel trailer hitch installation kit # RP50082-58 the spacer blocks that fit between the bed and bottoms of the rails can be more critical on some trucks depending on the corrugation configuration of the truck bed. Basically if where the bolts go on the rails there is the low part of the bed corrugation then a spacer will need to be used. It isn't just to prevent damage to the bed but to increase the amount of surface contact between the rail and the bed. The fewer gaps there are the less possible movement there will be.

If where the bolts go it is at the high point of a corrugation the spacer would not be needed. And if it is sort of in between a high and a low point what our installers have done is grind the spacer so one side at an angle to fit like a puzzle piece to maintain that gap closure.

If you are talking about the tube spacers the bolts go through then those will have to be used because without them there will be movement since the force of a 5th wheel trailer could easily move the rails around due to the gap.

expert reply by: Michael H