Best 5th Wheel Towing Setup for a 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD

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Question:

I own a 2007 GMC Duramax 2500HD crew cab short bed. I recently purchased a heartland edge 397 Toy Hauler 5th wheel trailer axle trailer. Dry weight is 15,500 lbs.and gross is 20k. The trailer is 44 ft long end to end. What hitch would work best for this? Will I run into issues turning without a rolling hitch? Also would you recommend replacing leaf springs or adding airbags? I do not want to but another truck so what would be the best setup if this was your dilemma?

asked by: JOHN C

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

Since you have a short bed (6-1/2') on your 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD, you will need a rolling hitch or more commonly referred to as a sliding 5th wheel hitch for your 397 Heartland Edge Toy Hauler to make tight turns. The general rule of thumb is that if you're towing a 5th wheel trailer with a truck that has a bed shorter than 8' then you will need a sliding hitch to gain clearance between the trailer and the cab of your vehicle while turning to prevent them from contacting one another, causing damage to both your truck and trailer.

The best 5th wheel hitch option we have for you is the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider part # DM8550037. This hitch will not require you to exit and enter the vehicle while turning. The rotating hitch head turns up to 90 degrees with your trailer and has three height settings 15-1/2", 16-3/4", and 18-1/4". The height setting can provide additional clearance between the bed rail and trailer when needed. The recommended space between the trailer and bed rail is 6".

In order to use this 5th wheel hitch on your truck you will need an installation kit. I recommend an under-bed kit like the Underbed Rail and Installation Kit for Demco Hijacker UMS 5th Wheel and Gooseneck Trailer Hitches part # DM8551004. I recommend going with the under-bed kit because it allows for complete access to the truck bed when the hitch is removed.

If this was my dilemma, I recommend installing a set of rear suspension enhancements to combat the additional weight of the trailer using an airbag kit like the Firestone Ride-Rite Red Label Extreme Duty Air Helper Springs part # F2700. These airbags will maximize safe load-carrying capacity, increase stability and improve ride quality. They will also not interfere with the Demco 5th wheel mounting brackets. To operate these airbags from inside the vehicle, I also recommend using the Firestone Air Command I Compressor System with Analog Gauge and Heavy Duty Compressor part # F2097.

A few other items to consider if you do not already have is a 5th wheel 7-way wiring harness and brake controller. For this, I recommend using both the 5th Wheel/Gooseneck 90-Degree Wiring Harness w/ 7-Pole Plug part # 50-97-410 and the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller part # 90195.

I have attached a few review videos on these products for you.

expert reply by: Conner L

1

Answer 1

For the weight you are pulling with your 2007 Chevy Silverado 2500 short bed 4x4 Duramax, I recommend the Firestone Ride-Rite Red Label Extreme Duty Air Helper Springs - Rear Axle #F2700. These air springs are adjustable from 5 psi to 150 psi and…

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Answer 2

I have a great suspension solution for you. While towing a trailer that weighs 17,000-20,000 pounds and other heavy setups on your 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD, the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted #F2250 will technically…

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Answer 3

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two…

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Answer 4

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 5

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 6

It sounds like the purpose of getting the air helper spring would be to counteract the 1 inch compression you're getting in your rear suspension caused by the pin weight of your 5th wheel. If that's the case, I believe that the…

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Answer 7

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion…

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Answer 8

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors…

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Answer 9

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from…

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Answer 10

Installing the Union Tee #AL21838 with your #AL57575 will tie the pressure of the two air bags together. So yes, a shift in a very heavy load like a truck camper will potentially result in air being forced from one into the other. The reason I say…

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Answer 11

We have run into this quite a few times in the past, and the best option will be replacing the Lance 7-pin connector with a standard 7-way blade connector like the #PK12706. This will give you a standard 7-way connector to plug into the factory…

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Answer 12

I really like the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver #C14108 for your 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Short Bed because it has a hidden crosstube and is a Class IV rating so it's nice and sturdy for up to 10K trailers or 12K trailers if a weight…

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Best 5th Wheel Towing Setup for a 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD

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