Is a Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch Necessary for a 2015 Ram 2500 with Short Bed

Question:

I have a 2015 2500 Ram short bed truck and planning on moving up to a 5th wheel camper. With the short bed is it necessary to have a slider style hitch. I do not have any in bed hitch prep at this time so I am not limited on the mounting system. I can go with rails or the companion ball system.

asked by: James C

Expert Reply:

Great question! Technically you don't "need" a sliding 5th wheel hitch for your 2015 Ram 2500 but if you ever get into a tight turning situation you it is very likely that your 5th wheel trailer is going to make contact with the cab of your Ram. We have heard of customers that have been able to avoid those turning situations but we always recommend going with a sliding hitch or using a Sidewinder pin box that moves pivot point of your 5th wheel trailer back 22" (which is required if you have the Rambox on your pickup).

I'm really glad that you mentioned the B&W Companion because pairing the B&W Gooseneck Hitch # BWGNRK1384 with the Companion # BWRVK3400 is one of the best solutions (if not THE best solution) out there. Not only do you get an amazing 5th wheel hitch that has received high-praise by users, but it also doubles as a gooseneck hitch if you ever need to tow a gooseneck trailer. With this system you also retain a completely open bed where bed rails would normally sit in the way.

The only time I would say that you have an advantage of going with a base rail kit like the Demco # DM8552025-71 is if you wanted to use the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch # DM8550034. This is another excellent option and the autosliding feature is what really stands out about this hitch. The feature means that you can stay in the comfort of your cab when making tight turns. This not only saves you time (getting in and out of the pickup) but it also means you don't have to brave the elements if it is ever raining or really hot/cold while you're traveling. You do have to work around the base rail kit when not towing with this solution though.

I also recommend installing a 7-Way socket like the Hopkins # 41157 in the bed of your Ram to help make connecting/disconnecting your trailer wiring much easier.

Attached are some review and installation videos of these products for you to check out.