Recommendation For Fifth Wheel Hitch on 2000 Dodge Dakota V8 to Tow 20 foot Fifth Wheel Camper

Question:

I have a dodge Dakota 2000 V8 4.7 with 2 doors and a club cab. What hitch do I need to tow a 20+ foot fifth wheel camper? Thanks for your recommendations.

asked by: Steven

Expert Reply:

I would first recommend to make sure and verify that the towing capacity of your 2000 Dodge Dakota V8 Club Cab will be able to tow the weight of the 20 foot fifth wheel camper.

The Dakota has a 6-1/2 foot bed so you will need to use a slider hitch to be able to get the needed clearance between the truck cab and the fifth wheel when making sharp turns.

I would recommend the Reese 16K Fifth Wheel Hitch, part # RP30075. This is a round tube slider hitch that will have 12 inches of travel front to back to give you the needed clearance when towing with a short bed truck.

You will also need the Reese Universal Base Rails and Installation Kit, part # RP30035, which is the adapter brackets, base rails, and hardware to install the hitch to your truck bed. I am including a link to the installation instructions on the universal install kit.

If your Dakota has the factory tow package with a factory 7-Way connector and you are wanting to add an additional 7-Way to the truck bed, I recommend the Hopkins Endurance 5th Wheel/Gooseneck 90-Degree Wiring Harness with 7-Pole Plug # HM42137. This harness will use a T-connector and plug into your factory 7-Way wiring.

I am including a link to a FAQ page on fifth wheel towing information.