Will Reese Goose Box Offer Additional Clearance for Short Bed 2016 Ram 2500?

Question:

I pull my 2017 KZ Durango 2500 fifth wheel with a Ram 2500 6 foot 4 inch bed and a pullrite super slider hitch mounted in the OEM puck system. The hitch works great for maintaining trailer cap to truck cab clearance. However it does not allow for hooking or unhooking at an angle. Not to mention is very heavy. My question is With the modern fifth wheel clearance caps, does goose box give enough clearance between the truck cab and trailer cap to make sharp turns without crashing into one another?

asked by: Don

Expert Reply:

A Reese Goose Box is not going to offer you more clearance than your standard pin box. For that I highly recommend using a Sidewinder and fixed fifth wheel that is compatible with a Sidewinder such as the Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Slide Bar Jaw - 16,000 lbs # C16515-16021 with Wedge # C16991.

To find a Sidewinder that will replace the pin box on your KZ Durango 2500 fifth wheel, what you will need to know is the manufacturer and model number of the pin box on your fifth wheel and match that with the correct replacement. For example, Sidewinder # RP34FR will replace Fabex 663 and 665, Lippert 0719, 1621 and 1621HD, as well as M&M 663 and 665 pin boxes.

There is also a formula you can use to determine if a Sidewinder will allow you to perform a 90 degree turn. You first need to measure the distance from the center of your fifth wheel hitch jaw to your Ram 2500's cab. You will also need to know the width of your 2017 KZ Durango. You can then use this formula to find out if you can do a 90 degree turn:

(A + B) - C = Clearance

A = Distance from center of 5th-wheel hitch jaw to truck cab in inches
B = Length of Sidewinder arm in inches
C = Width of trailer in inches divided by 2

I have added a link to our entire selection of Sidewinders for you to take a look at as well as a help article on Sidewinders you may find useful.