Is a Sidewinder Pin Box or a Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch Better for a 2018 Ford F-250 with a 6-3/4 Bed

Question:

Thanks for the reply Jon. One more quick question. The 2018 F-250 4x4 sits up pretty high already. Would that be the reason you recommended the Reese Elite over the B&W hitch? The Reese seems to lower about 2” more than the B&W. Thanks again.

asked by: Tristan

Helpful Expert Reply:

You can use either a Sidewinder pin box or a sliding 5th wheel hitch to achieve a 90 degree turn with the 6-3/4' bed on your 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty.

The most hassle-free setup would be to install a Sidewinder on your Jayco and then use a stationary 5th wheel hitch in your F-250. By using a Sidewinder you won't have to get in and out of the truck to unlock and lock the sliding feature on a 5th wheel hitch. We do have autosliding 5th wheel hitches but they are significantly heavier than a stationary hitch.

If you let me know what the pin box number is on your Jayco I can verify which Sidewinder you need to use as they are pin box specific. For example, the Sidewinder part # RP34FR is a replacement for the common 1621 and 0719 pin box numbers.

The 5th wheel hitch that I recommend using for this application is the Reese Series 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30921 which fits directly in the puck system you have and is rated for 20,000 lbs. It features a 4-Way pivoting head and a single jaw system that makes connecting and disconnecting your trailer much easier. This hitch has an adjustable height of 14" - 18".

The M5 Series hitch weighs about 154lbs but the head alone weighs just around 50 lbs. If you remove the head then you only have the legs left which will weigh around 100lbs making this a great lightweight option. When used with the Sidewinder pin box you want to use the custom wedge part # RP44FR for a snug fit.

Let me know if you would rather go with a sliding 5th wheel hitch and I can make a recommendation for you.

expert reply by: Jon G

Tristan

3/15/2018

Jon G.

3/15/2018

Actually the reason I recommended the M5 Series is because last I had heard B&W said that you couldn't use the Companion with a Sidewinder. I was looking through our updates to see why they had said that and it looks like their stance changed as long as you have the puck system. If you would rather go with the B&W Companion # BWRVK3300, which has a similar weight to the M5 Series, then you need the wedge part # RP74FR to use with the Sidewinder.