Can a 2011 Dodge 1500 Crew Cab Short Bed Tow a Fifth Wheel

Question

Question:

i have a 2011 dodge 1500 crew cab im wondering how or if i can tow a fifth wheel with my very short box

asked by: Jeff L

0

Expert Reply:

Due to the short bed on your 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab, the only way you will be able to successfully tow a fifth wheel trailer without having the front of the trailer loft strike the rear of the cab during turns would be to use a Sidewinder extended pin box. The Sidewinder relocates the pivot point from the connection of the hitch and the king pin to the point where the pin box connects to the trailer, thus providing 22 inches of additional clearance between the rear of the cab and the trailer.

The Sidewinder is model specific to the pin box, in order to choose the correct Sidewinder for you, you will need the pin box manufacturer and model number. This information will typically be located on a sticker or stamping on the OEM pin box. I am including a link to a FAQ page that will have information on Sidewinders, and a table that list what sidewinder to use with what brand of pin box. Also, a link to a video of a Sidewinder installation.

To install a fifth wheel hitch in your 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab Short Bed you will need the CURT Semi-Custom Fifth Wheel Installation Kit, part # C16306-204. This kit includes base rails, semi-custom brackets and mounting hardware. I am including a link to the instructions on the installation kit.

The fifth wheel hitch you will need to use will need to be a standard fixed fifth wheel hitch and not a slider hitch. You can use the CURT E5 Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch , part # C16115. I am including a link to the instructions on the CURT hitch.

If you let me know the pin box information from your fifth wheel I can help you get the correct Sidewinder for your application.

expert reply by: Jeff D

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Answer 1

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 2

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 3

Great question, Jeff! When the Rota-Flex first came out it renovated what a pin box could do and be, but at this point in time that technology is a little more dated and the Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel Pin Box #325-GH-8040 is the "new…

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Answer 4

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 5

So for your set up, a 2021 Ram 2500 short bed with the RamBoxes, you will need to use a Sidewinder in order to have the clearance to tow a 5th wheel. The Goose Box doesn't move the pivot point and an offset ball just won't be enough for…

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Answer 6

I spoke with my contact at Trailair and from your serial number we were able to determine that your trailer came with a 1621 HD pin box which is a long pin box style. I was unable to obtain the exact part number for your Trailair pin box but from the…

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Answer 7

Gen-Y's calculation for pin weight is a safe guess, but isn't the most accurate so the only way you'll get the correct capacity Gen-Y 5th Wheel Pin Box is to fully load the trailer and go to a commercial scale to measure the pin weight.…

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Answer 8

Hi Jeff; thanks for the question and sturdy is definitely a good word for the etrailer tonneau that fits your 2022 Ram 1500 with a 5-1/2 foot bed, the etrailer Hard Tonneau Cover #e35DR. It's made of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic which is a…

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Answer 9

The Gen-Y Hitch 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box part #GY58GR is primarily designed for long bed trucks. It's no different than a standard fifth wheel pin box in regards to the size. If you were using a fixed hitch and standard pin box before with…

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Answer 10

If you take a look at the linked diagram you can see the minimum recommended clearance distances between truck and trailer for 5th wheel towing. It is recommended to have at least 5-inches from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the trailer…

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Answer 11

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 12

Having the puck system is a great feature. If you ever plan on loading the bed with mulch, sand or rock you'll quickly find that having rails permanently bolted to the bed floor is a real pain. Not only that, but the pucks look a lot better.…

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