Recommended 5th Wheel Hitch for Flatbed GMC Truck

Question

Question:

i have a gmc topkick with a 20 foot bed , there is no way for me to place the fifth wheel hitch over the wheels , the wheels are 9 feet 4 inches from the rear of truck . the truck is so big im not really worried about the front being light , its super heavy duty and like 18,000 lbs , so my question is the bed is 8 feet wide , i dont want to put the hitch in the wrong spot to find out theres not enough room and when i turn the back corner of the truck hits the camper , , im using a rails in the bed where i can switch from a fifth wheel hitch to a goose neck system , so should i measure from the corner to the center of kingpin ? i have a f250 flatbed and the goose neck ball is 4 foot 2 inches from the rear of the flatbed and you can hardly walk between the trailer and the truck and when you turn its awful close to the back corners of the truck . in the topkick the best i can do is 57 inches from rear of truck to center of kingpin . my question is with a 8foot wide bed how far from the rear of the truck should the center of kingpin be so when you turn it has proper clearance so the corner of truck doesnt hit or be to close to the trailer ? i hope i was clear in my description

asked by: Jack A

0

Expert Reply:

For your GMC Topkick flatbed, I recommend the Reese Low-Profile 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 30,000 lbs # RP30054. This 5th wheel hitch is designed for flat bed applications and will require welding a plate as well as bolting the hitch into place.

Another option is to use the Demco Hijacker SL part # DM6076SL-FLAT which is also designed for flat bed configurations. For rails you will need the # DM6012. The installation of these rails will have to be a custom install done by a qualified fabricator in your area. The rails will need to mount to the frame of your truck and not just to the bed and then the hitch will be able to be removed easily when not in use.

Without there being a confirmed fit for your truck, I can only give you the basic information for placement. The back of the rear rail is normally at 30 inches from the rear ledge which puts the king pin at about 42 inches on center from that rear rail. There are no instructions to go from except for the universal rail kit which this reflects.

expert reply by: Jason S

0

Answer 1

The highest rated Reese fifth-wheel hitch that we have for your truck at this time is the 30,000 lb Curt A30 5th Wheel Hitch #C66HR. To install this hitch in your 2005 F-350 you will need base rails, the Reese Quick-Install Custom Base Rails and…

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Answer 2

As long as your existing Reese fifth wheel uses industry standard above bed rails, the Curt Q24 Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch #C16245 will work great for you. The Curt Q24 will work with industry-standard rails from Curt, Draw-Tite, Hidden Hitch, Pro…

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Answer 3

The Curt Q24 5th wheel trailer hitch #C16245 fits in industry standard above the bed rails. Industry standard rails have mounting slots that measure 22 inches on center front to back (it is actually closer to 21-13/16 inches). Side to side there are…

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Answer 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

Hey Jay. It sounds like you are on the right track here because a sidewinder pin box will be your only option for pulling your 5th wheel since you have a short bed truck with the Rambox. That said, you are right that the Reese Sidewinder cannot be…

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Answer 9

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 10

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 11

The Patriot Slider part #BWRVK3270 might be a bit more noisy than the Companion slider part #BWRVK3400 due to the increased number of mounting points, 4 at the corners vs. 1 in the center. Probably not that noticeable and certainly not something…

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Answer 12

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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