Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch and Rails Only for a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 Short Bed

Question:

I have a 2012 Silverado 1500 extended cab with 6.5 ft box. Will this hitch work on this length box? Also do you sell the hitch and rail kit without the universal install kit?

asked by: Vince G

Expert Reply:

Generally speaking if you have a short bed truck, like your 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with 6-1/2 foot bed, then you would need to use a slider hitch and not a fixed hitch. That is unless the trailer is very narrow or it has a tapered front cap that was designed to be towed by a short bed truck. Otherwise the trailer could make contact with the truck cab when making tight turns.

If you already have frame brackets that you want to use then you would need to get the hitch and rails separate since there isn't a combination of the hitch and rails without the brackets. The slider version of the E16 is # 16516. The rails by themselves are # C16204. You would also need hardware to attach the rails to the frame brackets, # RP58504.

It would actually cost less to get the whole slider kit, # C16616, which includes the whole universal kit. That way you also get the hardware to attach the rails to the frame brackets along with the rails and the hitch.

expert reply by: Michael H