Can a Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch Be Used With a Long Bed Truck

Question:

I have a draw tite 5th wheel slider hitch, is there any reason why I can install that in a 2015 Chevy 3500 long box

asked by: Ben L

Expert Reply:

You absolutely can put a slider 5th wheel hitch in your 2015 Chevrolet 3500 long bed; it's more than likely you won't need the sliding function to make turns so it could stay in the forward travel position. The only downside to it is there is more moving parts with slider hitches, which means there's going to be more noise when you're towing. Not to mention they are bigger and weigh more than stationary hitches so removing, and installing them is a little more difficult.

To put your existing fifth wheel in your truck you will need rails to mount it, I recommend the Curt Custom Fifth Wheel Installation Kit C16411-204. These have custom mounting brackets made for your Silverado so the install will go much smoother than universal rail kits.

If you are looking for a stationary hitch I recommend the Curt A20 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch C16140. It's rated for 20K GTW and 5K TW and has a 2 piece jaw system so it fully wraps around the king pin for a quiet smooth ride.

For in bed wiring I recommend Curt 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Custom Wiring Harness # C56070.

I linked the parts mentioned above and attached a few videos for you to check out.

expert reply by: Robert C

Ben L.

2/21/2020

I have the rails with the hitch, would the c16411 work for the draw tite hitch?

Chris R.

2/23/2020

The Curt Bracket Kit # C16411 does need to be used with Curt base rails ( # C16411-204 for the all-in-one kit) to ensure proper install. We've found that mixing brands between base rails and brackets can lead to fit issues. The Curt rails however WILL work with your existing Draw-Tite sliding hitch. Just let me know what brand rails you have if they aren't Curt and I can recommend the correct bracket kit for your Silverado.

Helpful Links

Accessories-and-Parts/Curt/C16411.html

Fifth-Wheel-Installation-Kit/Curt/C16411-204.html