Fifth Wheel Hitch and Install Bracket/Rail Kit for 1996 Ford F-350 Dually

Question:

Will the C16115 hitch work with RP30035 kit for a 1996 Ford F-350 dully

asked by: Alan B

Expert Reply:

The Reese Universal Install Kit, part # RP30035 is indeed compatible with your 1996 F350 Dually. The Pro Series # PS30093 hitch is compatible with the industry standard fifth wheel bed rails provided by the # RP30035 kit. The # PS30093 is a stationary hitch, which is recommended for long bed trucks, as it won't allow the necessary clearance between the nose of the fifth wheel and the rear of the truck bed to safely negotiate turns without crunching anything.

The Pro Series hitch is what I refer to as an entry level hitch. If you're on a super-tight budget and aren't terribly concerned with ride quality, by all means this is the hitch for you as you certainly can't beat the price. However, if you're planning on towing frequently and for long distances this might not be your best choice. The slide bar type jaw will keep the king pin in the hitch, but it will allow the king pin to move about a fair bit in the hitch. This leads to lots of rattling and banging during acceleration and braking.

A step up that would provide better ride quality for folks that will tow more often would be the Reese # RP30047 which features a double jaw that does a better job of holding the king pin. This hitch is also compatible with industry standard bed rails, and would work with the # RP30035.