How to Check if Curt Fifth Wheel Hitch Will Clear Top of Bed Rails on 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty

Question

Question:

I need to get a fifth wheel hitch for my 2019 F-250 with the short bed and I really like the Curt options. My concern is that I've read that the bed sides are higher on the newer pickups and I want to make sure that the Curt will give enough clearance so that my trailer sits level but has the 5" - 6" clearance that you guys recommend. Any tips or tricks or recommendations?

asked by: Justin T

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Expert Reply:

I'd be more than happy to help you figure out how to make sure you have enough clearance for the bed rails on your 2019 Ford F-250!

You said that you have a short bed but you didn't specific whether you have the OEM puck system or not. That's not a huge deal though as the parts you need change just a little bit. Since you like the Curt options (which all have the same height adjustments) I recommend the Q24 # C16545-16020 if you have the puck system because it has the highest weight capacity, and then the Curt A20 # C16541 with the Base Rail Kit # BWRVK2402 if you don't have the puck system because the A series Curt hitches are the upgraded version of the Q series (better warranty and cushioning).

Both hitches have a height range of 17-1/2" to 21-1/2" but the A series will have an increase of about 1" to both numbers due to the base rail kit that is needed to install it on your pickup.

To determine whether you have enough height clearance for your bed rails or not will require some measurements on your end. Start off by measuring from the ground to the plate that the king pin connects to on your 5th wheel trailer pin box and then compare that to the measurement from the ground to the bed of your Super Duty. Factor in the height of the Curt 5th wheel hitch to see if you have enough height to tow the trailer level and have sufficient bed rail clearance. You might need to adjust your pin box a little higher to accommodate the higher bed rails on your pickup.

Attached are some review videos, pictures, and a link to a helpful article that you can check out.

expert reply by: Jon G

0

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Answer 1

The Lippert Ground Control 3.0 Electric 5th Wheel Leveling System #LC358590 that you referenced is designed to level your trailer and provide stability when parked. It is not really designed though to actually lift a portion of the trailer off the…

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Answer 2

The B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch #BWRVK3270 that you referenced weighs 220 lbs total. It comes apart in a few sections though to make install and removal a bit easier. I attached a review video for more info on the hitch as well.

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Answer 3

The B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider part #BWRVK3270 does not use pins to slide in and keep the handles from raising up. In this design they decided they were not needed as when the head is slid down onto the base the handles rotate…

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Answer 4

The B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch #BWRVK3700 is perfectly compatible with cushioned pin boxes like your MORryde RP072-1621HD, so the clunking you're experiencing isn't related to the two components being incompatible. With…

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Answer 5

Since your Ford F-250 is a 6-3/4-foot short bed and your Grand Design Reflection 29RS 5th wheel does not have a tapered nose for increased turning clearance you will need a slider hitch to be able to safely make tight turns, or you can install a…

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Answer 6

To install the B and W Fifth Wheel Rail kit part #BWRVK2402 and the Patriot Slider hitch part #BWRVK3270 you would need to remove a portion of the bed liner so that the rails can attach directly to the truck bed. You would not be able to have a…

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Answer 7

The actual position of the bed rails can vary according to which manufacturer's frame bracket you're using. Since most folks tend to order the brackets from the same manufacturer as the hitch, I'll assume unless told differently that…

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Answer 8

The body on your 2019 Ford F-250 is in fact aluminum the frame however is still made from steel. With that said a universal installation kit is okay to use on it but is not something that we recommend using in any application really unless there is…

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Answer 9

For your 2017 Ford F-250 short bed without the factory rail kit, I recommend taking a look at the Curt A20 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch #C16541 along with the Custom Installation and Base Rail Kit #BWRVK2402. This is an excellent sliding hitch that…

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Answer 10

For your 2020 Ram 2500 that's not equipped with the factory puck system I really like the Reese Select Plus 5th Wheel Hitch #RP30081 along with the Quick-Install Custom Installation Kit #RP50054-58. The Select Plus 5th Wheel Hitch features a…

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Answer 11

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 12

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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