Will Reese Elite 5th Wheel Hitches Fit Universal Rails on 2009 Chevrolet Silverado

Question:

My brother in law has a reece elite 16k fifth wheel hitch with universal rails my truck i just bought has had rails in it before should this hitch bolt in my truck no problem no drilling?

asked by: Andy F

Expert Reply:

The Reese Elite series is designed for underbed kits and does not fit into industry standard rails. If your brother-in-laws hitch just drops into the puck system in his bed then the hitch does not work with rails. There is not a Reese Elite underbed kit available for the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado. If your brother-in-law has the Reese 16k with tabs that fit into industry standard rails then you can get industry standard rails part # RP50064-58 to install in the truck bed.

Since I am not sure which brand of rails you had in the truck before, I cannot be sure that the Reese rails use the existing drilled holes in the bed because the installation location of the brackets may be different. I have attached a picture that shows the positioning of the Reese rails in the bed for your reference. I also attached an installation video on a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado.

Please keep in mind if you are planning using your Brother-in-laws Reese 16k, if your truck has a short bed you do need a slider base for the hitch for clearance while towing.

expert reply by: Heather A