Recommended 5th Wheel Hitch For Light Weight with 6-1/2 Foot Bed on 2016 Chevy 3500 SRW

Question:

Hi, I have a 2016 Chevy 3500 SRW, short bed and a 2017 Forest River Wildcat 29RKP 5th wheel. What would be your recommendation for a hitch setup? I was thinking about the Andersen AM3200 but really have no experience with 5th wheel hitches. Would this hitch work as well as a slider in my case? If you do recommend a slider, I would like a lighter weight one so what would you recommend in that case? Which rail system should I get. My truck does not have a factory mount. Thanks

asked by: Dean G

Helpful Expert Reply:

For your 2016 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW short bed, let's start with your 5th wheel rails. I recommend getting the Reese Quick-Install Custom Installation Kit w/ Base Rails for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches # RP50066-58 which has custom brackets so it won't require drilling into your frame. The brackets will attach to holes already present in your frame.

The Andersen Ultimate # AM3200 is a great option for your truck with its 9 inch offset and light weight design. It will be far easier to install with its 40 lb weight than a slider hitch and is rated to easily tow your 2017 Forest River Wildcat 29RKP which is well under the weight of its 20,000 lb capacity.

If you want the better turning clearance, then I then recommend using the Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Square Tube Slider - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs # RP30051 which will give you 10 inches of travel front to back. That extra inch where the trailer pivots does give better angles for increased turning, but it also requires you to get in and out of your truck to manually move the slider. This hitch can be installed with the head separate from the base. The head weighs 54 lbs leaving the remaining 89 lbs of the slider to be installed separately.

expert reply by: Jason S