How to Increase Cab Clearance When Towing a 5th Wheel Trailer with a 2004 GMC Sierra 6-1/2 Bed

Question

Question:

Thanks John..my truck is a 2004 GMc 2500 he short bed extended cab

asked by: Cecil

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

In order to choose a replacement pin box for your '89 Featherlite Holiday Rambler you can either look for a pin box number on your current pin box (like 1621 or 0719 for example) but if you can't locate a number the next best thing to do is take measurements of your pin box. If you can measure the width, distance from the center of the king pin to the first set of installed bolts, and then the distance between bolt holes horizontally and vertically I can use the table from the linked helpful article to help you determine what the correct replacement is for you.

If you are having trouble with cab clearance when you are making tight turns then you may need a different 5th wheel hitch. Sliding 5th wheel hitches are useful when you have a truck bed that is shorter than 8' because they can provide you with enough clearance to make a 90 degree turn. If this is the case just let me know what size bed you have on your 2004 GMC Sierra (the vehicle you put in the "vehicle style") and what 5th wheel hitch you are using and I can let you know if you would benefit more from a sliding 5th wheel hitch!

expert reply by: Jon G

1

Cecil

9/14/2018

Thanks John..my truck is a 2004 GMc 2500 he short bed extended cab

Reply

Jon G.

9/14/2018

Although there are king pin extenders out there, if you have a 6-1/2' bed on your 2004 GMC Sierra you would benefit more from a sliding 5th wheel hitch as an extender won't give you enough clearance for a 90 degree turn. If you don't already have a sliding 5th wheel hitch then I highly recommend the A series 5th wheel hitches from Curt. We have the A16 # C16521 which has a weight capacity of 16,000 lbs, the A20 # C16541 which has a weight capacity of 20,000 lbs. These feature 12" of front to back travel for extra cab clearance, a 2-jaw system for 360 degree contact on your king pin, and a fully articulating torsion head for easy hookup and a comfortable ride. Either of these will install on your Sierra if you have base rails like part # C16418-204 installed. I also recommend installing a 7-Way connector like part # C56070 in the bed of your Sierra to help make coupling and uncoupling your trailer much quicker. We do have Sidewinder pin boxes that would replace your current pin box and allow you to use a stationary 5th wheel hitch. This kind of pin box rotates at the turret instead of on the king pin so you will gain an additional 22" of clearance. If you would rather go this route (which would keep you from having to get in and out of your cab during turns) just let me know your pin box number or the measurements I referenced above and I can see if we have a direct replacement for you along with what hitch is compatible. Attached are some review videos that you can reference as well.

Reply

Answer 1

For the brackets and hardware only from Curt 5th wheel installation kit #C16418-204 you will need to use #C16418. I have linked a video showing all of the included parts. I have also linked a video showing an example installation for you.

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Answer 2

Yes, the Curt fifth wheel rail kit part #C16418-204 that you referenced is a confirmed fit for your 2005 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, does also fit with your PullRite 2700 Superglide, and is the lowest price option for a rail kit for your truck so…

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Answer 3

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 4

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 5

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 6

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 7

Most fifth wheel rails are made to the same industry standard dimensions. They aren't all though. If you measure 22 inches on center between the two rails and they look like the rails of the #RP30035 that you referenced they would be the industry…

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Answer 8

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors which we…

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Answer 9

If you are going to install two of the MORryde X-Factor Crossmembers #MR33WR on your tandem axle trailer Alan you would want to install them on the front and rear hangers. You can install a third one if you want on the middle hanger as well for even…

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Answer 10

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 11

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

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Answer 12

There is a difference between a 7-way round and and 7-way rv blade connector. If you take a look at the accompanying photo, which is from our linked article on trailer wiring you can see that the connector on the left has blade-style pins while the…

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