Parts Needed To Use an Old 5th Wheel Hitch and Base Rails on a New 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Question:

I ordered a 2018 Chevy Silverado 3500 HD High Country Dually that will be here next week. The truck comes with pre-drilled holes in the bed trailer provision package, do the pre-drilled holes line up with the bed rails for the Curt C16541 5th wheel? If so, I am going to assume the hardware used to mount the bed rails in my old truck can no longer be used to remount the bed rails in the new truck......do you have a part # for the replacement bolts/hardware kit? Thank You.

asked by: Matthew

Expert Reply:

The pre-drilled holes in the bed of your 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 will not line up with the holes needed to reinstall your Reese base rails. Unfortunately, the aftermarket base rail installation kits have been carried over from previous year trucks and do not line up with the manufacturers new pre-drilled mounting holes.

In order to install the Curt A20 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Slider part # C16541 in your truck with your existing base rails, you will need new custom fit frame brackets and new hardware. In order to choose the correct set of frame brackets you will want to measure your existing base rails.

If you existing base rails are 48" long then you will want to use the Reese Quick-Install Custom Outboard Brackets for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches part # RP56001. The hardware needed to install the frame brackets are included with the kit but you will also need the hardware to attach the base rails to the frame brackets and for this you will need the Replacement Hardware Kit part # RP58504.

If your existing base rails are 43" long then you will want to use the Reese Quick-Install Custom Bracket Kit for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches part # RP50066. The hardware needed to install the frame brackets are included with the kit but you will also need the hardware to attach the base rails to the frame brackets and for this you will need the Replacement Hardware Kit part # 58164.

Although you will need to drill into your bed in order to install the Reese base rails, neither of the above custom brackets will require you to drill into the frame rails on your truck for installation.