Recommended Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch for 2021 Chevy Silverado 3500 Short Bed

Question

Question:

I am looking to add a 5th wheel hitch to my 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD single rear wheel standard bed 6 ¾. I do not have the 5th wheel prep. My question is, do you know if the puck system is still there and only missing the wiring harness and the holes in the bed? And what system will work best for my truck. I was looking at the 25k hitches. Thank you for your time.

asked by: Edwin A

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

The puck system is not something that is there unless you have the 5th wheel prep package on your 2021 Chevy Silverado 3500, so you will need to get a rail system as well as a 5th wheel wiring harness in order to use a 5th wheel hitch.

Since your Chevy 3500 is a short bed, you will need a sliding hitch, and while you mentioned you were looking at 25k hitches, there aren't any with that capacity for your short bed, but there is a 21,000 lb option that is one of the best hitches available, the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th wheel hitch. What you will need is one of the following hitch/rail combos.

- Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Slider - Above Bed # DM8550035
with
- Demco Hijacker Premier Series Above-Bed Base Rails and Custom Installation Kit # DM39FR

OR

- Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Slider - Under Bed # DM8550037
with
- Underbed Rail and Installation Kit for Demco Hijacker # DR37FR

Then for a 5th wheel wiring harness you will need the Hopkins Endurance 5th Wheel/Gooseneck 90-Degree Wiring Harness # HM54FR.

There are a number of reasons I really like the Hijacker, starting with the above-bed or underbed mounting options it gives you, with the underbed rails being as close to the puck system as you can get. Also, unlike other sliding fifth wheel hitches, the Hijacker does not require you to leave your truck's cab just to make a sharp turn, it will slide automatically as you make the turn. That unparalleled convenience alone makes the Hijacker a great option, but what truly separates the hitch from others is that it also has an elite jaw system and cushioned head, giving the most comfortable, quietest ride possible when traveling.

The Hijacker's jaw system is a single-piece jaw that wraps totally around the king pin and is reinforced via a 3/4" solid steel bar. The bar locks into place once the jaw is closed, which results in less rattling and slack in the jaws than other hitches. Your ride is going to be made even more comfortable because of the Hijacker's cushioned dampeners, which are sort of like sponges that soak up both noise and vibration.

I have added some links below to video reviews for you to check out as well if you'd like.

expert reply by: Kyle S

1

Answer 1

By far, the best 5th-wheel hitch for your 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 (6-1/2 ft. bed without factory prep package) is the Demco Hijacker #DM8550035 (21K) and the #DM8550034 (18K). These options are if you want to use above-bed adapters. If you wish to…

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Answer 2

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 3

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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Answer 4

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 5

Most fifth wheel rails are made to the same industry standard dimensions. They aren't all though. If you measure 22 inches on center between the two rails and they look like the rails of the #RP30035 that you referenced they would be the industry…

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Answer 6

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

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Answer 7

You do not have to use a sliding 5th wheel hitch in a short bed truck. In many cases, truck beds shorter than 8 ft do not have enough clearance between the trailer and truck to execute sharp turns. This is why sliding hitches were invented. Due to…

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Answer 8

Yes you are - all 5th wheel hitches are going to require some type of rails in order to be used. So you'd need #DM8552016-71 for your 2006 Dodge Ram.

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Answer 9

The Patriot Slider part #BWRVK3270 might be a bit more noisy than the Companion slider part #BWRVK3400 due to the increased number of mounting points, 4 at the corners vs. 1 in the center. Probably not that noticeable and certainly not something…

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Answer 10

The head alone for the B&W Companion hitch #BWRVK3500 weighs about 70 pounds. Everything else weighs about 130 pounds. So the total weight of the hitch is approximately 200 pounds.

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Answer 11

Hey Jay. It sounds like you are on the right track here because a sidewinder pin box will be your only option for pulling your 5th wheel since you have a short bed truck with the Rambox. That said, you are right that the Reese Sidewinder cannot be…

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Answer 12

The B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider for Chevy/GMC Towing Prep Package #BWRVK3775 you're looking at will work fine with your new Chevrolet Silverado. This hitch has 3 height adjustments so you'll be able to set the hitch height…

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