Outboard Or Inboard 5th Wheel Installation Kit 2014 Ram 2500

Question:

I just bought this truck as a replacement for the last truck I had. I kept the C16536 fifth wheel sliding hitch and RP30153 extended length rails. I ordered RP50054 custom install brackets and I don’t think they will work with the rails I took off my 2006 Lincoln Mark LT. What is the advantage to using the extended rails? What outboard brackets would I need if I choose to make the extended rails work? Is it worth returning the brackets I already ordered for the outboard brackets? Or should I just order the RP58058 universal rails to fit the new RP50054 brackets I just received in the mail? What would make for the best setup or easiest installation?

asked by: Josh R

Expert Reply:

An outboard 5th wheel installation kit will be much easier to install compared to an inboard 5th wheel installation kit. In most cases, the frame brackets used on an outboard kit will have mounting bolts that attach outside the frame rail. On inboard installation kits, the frame brackets have mounting bolts that will be on the inside of the frame rail. The longer base rails for the outboard kit are required because the mounting holes are outside the frame rail and not inside the frame rail like on the inboard kit.

For an outboard installation kit for your 2014 Ram 2500 you will want to use part # RP56009-53 and for an inboard installation kit for your truck you will want to use part # RP50054-58. The longer base rails used on the outboard kit cannot be used with the frame brackets in the inboard kit and vice versa. Either of these rail kits will work well with the Curt A20 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch part # C16541.

Since you already have the longer base rails, all you will need is the outboard frame brackets like part # RP56009. You can take a look at how both sets of rails are installed on the following attached videos. The inboard kit is on the white 2014 Ram 2500 and the outboard kit is on the black 2016 Ram 2500.

expert reply by: Conner L