Recommended 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Short Bed

Question

Question:

Hi: Im looking into buying a 2002 Alpenlite Riviera 29RK as my FIRST 5th wheel. I have no experience towing such, but know I need a sliding hitch for my vehicle. Trailer GVWR is 13000, so a 16k hitch would work nicely. I also know I want an automatic system. Ive looked at both the Pullrite Superglide, as well as the B andW Companion. My question is what would be the best and most frustration-free hitch for a brand new 5er driver? Im currently using a tow behind, so how steep would the learning curve be? And the TV is the one referenced in the subject line. Many thanks !

asked by: Jeanine W

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Expert Reply:

If you are wanting an automatic sliding fifth wheel hitch, I highly recomend the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # DM8550022 along with the Underbed Rail and Installation Kit # DM8551005 for your 2005 Dodge Ram 2500. This hitch slides automatically as you drive to give you 14 inches of additional clearance for tight turns. It also features a premium wraparound jaw that will provide an extremely smooth ride and secure connection with the trailer. It has an 18,000 pound gross towing weight capacity along with multiple hitch height settings. The underbed rail kit will also allow for uninhibited use of your truck bed when the hitch is removed. This is a fantastic system and one I recommend for your application, as the automatic slider is going to eliminate a lot of the potential headaches from towing a fifth wheel trailer with a short bed truck.

I have attached a short video demonstration on this system so you can see exactly how it works.

The B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # BWRVK3400-5W along with the Underbed Kit # BWGNRK1313-5W that you referenced is also a great option, however it does not feature an automatic slider like what you are wanting. This sliding hitch will require you to leave the cab of your truck to operate the slider in order to make sharp turns.

I recommend adding the 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Wiring Harness # HM42137. This will provide you with a 7-Way connector in the bed of your truck for easier hookup with the trailer.

Once you obtain your new trailer and have everything installed on the truck, I recommend taking it out for a couple short trips and maybe to a few local parking lots. This will give you a good idea on how everything handles when compared to towing a standard travel trailer, as well as simply getting you comfortable with your setup. You might find, as a lot of people do, that a fifth wheel trailer is actually easier to handle and maneuver than a bumper pull alternative.

Lastly, I also recommend checking the owner's manual for your Dodge Ram just to ensure that your new trailer weight will fall below the capacities of the truck.

expert reply by: Chris R

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Answer 1

The B and W Companion fifth wheel hitch part #BWRVK3500 is the hitch I would recommend for your 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 long bed as it is widely considered to be the best fifth wheel hitch out there. It's very well-made, quiet, reliable, and…

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Answer 2

The one really big downside to gooseneck towing is that there isn't a great solution for short bed truck clearance unlike fifth wheel towing. With fifth wheel hitches you can use a slider hitch and have the clearance issue handled. With gooseneck…

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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 options.…

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Answer 4

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 OEM 5th…

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Answer 5

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 the…

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Answer 6

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

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Answer 7

Great question, Jeff! When the Rota-Flex first came out it renovated what a pin box could do and be, but at this point in time that technology is a little more dated and the Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel Pin Box #325-GH-8040 is the "new…

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Answer 8

Hey David, from previous customers of ours who have the same 2020 Keystone Raptor 424 we have determined that your pin box style is the Lippert 1621 which means for a Gen-Y gooseneck adapter you'd want the #GY58GR that you referenced.

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Answer 9

Most fifth wheel rails are made to the same industry standard dimensions. They aren't all though. If you measure 22 inches on center between the two rails and they look like the rails of the #RP30035 that you referenced they would be the industry…

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Answer 10

Yes you are - all 5th wheel hitches are going to require some type of rails in order to be used. So you'd need #DM8552016-71 for your 2006 Dodge Ram.

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Answer 11

The head alone for the B&W Companion hitch #BWRVK3500 weighs about 70 pounds. Everything else weighs about 130 pounds. So the total weight of the hitch is approximately 200 pounds.

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Answer 12

I spoke with my contact at Trailair and from your serial number we were able to determine that your trailer came with a 1621 HD pin box which is a long pin box style. I was unable to obtain the exact part number for your Trailair pin box but from the…

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