Fifth Wheel Hitch Recommendation for 2018 Ford F-150 with 5-1/2 Foot Bed

Question:

I have a 2018 Ford F150 4x2, 5.5foot bed with 3.6L Ecoboost and 10 speed automatic transmission, 6750# GVWR package . Rated towing capacit is 11300 ibs. If I go with a 5th wheel rv, what options do I have for a hitch. What might you recommend? Thanks

asked by: Greg

Expert Reply:

For a 2018 Ford F-150 with a 5-1/2 foot bed you will need a fixed fifth wheel hitch and a Sidewinder, which is required for truck beds under 6 feet. The reason for this is there not going to be enough clearance for your trailer with a 5-1/2 foot bed when making sharp turns and the trailer may impact your truck's cab.

The fifth wheel hitch I recommend for your '18 F-150 is the Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30047 because it has a very secure 2-jaw locking system that is going to provide excellent contact with your Sidewinder king pin, meaning you won't get the amount of rattle that is often associated with pulling a fifth wheel trailer.

The Reese fifth wheel hitch also has a pivoting head which is important because it will make the process of hooking up your trailer to the hitch a simpler process. Since a Sidewinder is required to tow a fifth wheel with your truck you also need to use a wedge with this hitch and the correct one is Custom Wedge for Select Series Fifth Wheels # SWW-03. This hitch has a 16,000 lb capacity and comes with a lifetime warranty. I have added a photo of this hitch installed on a F-150 for you to take a look at.

To mount the hitch you are going to need to install base rails in your F-150 and for that the best option is the Reese Quick-Install Custom Outboard Installation Kit w/ Base Rails # RP56034-53 because they do not require drilling into your truck's frame to install which is not only good for your truck but also cuts the installation time down significantly. I have added a link to a video of this kit being installed on a F-150 for you to check out.

In regards to a Sidewinder, if your fifth wheel trailer does not come with one (there are also OEM Sidewinders called Reese Revolutions) you will need to know 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. If you let me know the manufacturer and model number of your pin box I can find the correct Sidewinder for you.

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.