Why Does my 5th Wheel Trailer Strike the Cab on a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Question:

I have a short bed Chevy Silverado 2014. I had a 5th wheel installed and it pulled great until I made a sharp turn the front of the 5th wheel RV trailer struck my truck leaving two major dents. I need to find out my best options and would gladly like to buy used parts if avalible.that will slide back 6 inchies or better while turning

asked by: Rickey

Expert Reply:

The 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 came with three different bed options; 5-1/2' bed, 6-1/2' bed, and a 8' bed. In order to have sufficient turning clearance with your 5th wheel trailer you will need to choose a 5th wheel hitch and pin box specific to the bed size.

If you have the 5-1/2' bed then you are going to want to use a fixed 5th wheel hitch and Sidewinder pin box. To accommodate for the trucks 5-1/2' bed you will also need a sidewinder to allow for proper turning clearance. In order to recommend the proper Sidewinder I would need to know the make and model of the pin box you have on your trailer now. I have attached a help article to assist you with choosing the correct Sidewinder pin box.

If you have the 6-1/2' bed then you are going to want to use a sliding 5th wheel hitch. For this I recommend the Curt A20 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # C16541 which has a 20,000 lb capacity. You will need to use ISR rails for this hitch to work like part # RP50064-58.

If you do not already have an in-bed wiring harness for your 5th wheel trailer then you can add one using part # 50-97-410. I have attached an installation video of this harness on a similar Chevy Silverado for you as well.

expert reply by: Conner L