5th Wheel Hitch Recommended for 2019 Chevy Silverado 3500 Short Bed Without Factory Tow/Prep Package

Question

Question:

What hitch would you recommend for use in a 2019 Silverado 3500, SRW, 6.5 ft bed. no OEM prep, and a 18,000 Roto Flex pin box on Dutchmen ATLAS, 12,000 GVWR

asked by: Rob

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Expert Reply:

Because you have a short bed you'll want to use a sliding hitch to provide the proper clearance between the front of the 5th wheel and the rear of the truck cab.

For the cleanest installation that wouldn't leave exposed rails in your truck bed, I'd recommend the 20K capacity B&W Companion system, part # BWRVK3400-5W for the Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch and # BWGNRK1016-5W B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck Hitch which is used as the mounting point for the 5th wheel hitch. The setup is compatible with your RotaFlex pin box, will leave your bed unobstructed once the hitch is removed and will provide the flexibility to tow both gooseneck and 5th wheel trailers. The Companion 5th wheel hitch also easily breaks down into two pieces, making installation and removal much easier.

If having 5th wheel rails permanently mounted in your truck bed doesn't particularly bother you, and you'd prefer something that's a little more budget friendly, The Curt A Series 16K sliding 5th hitch, part # C16521 would be an excellent choice. The A series hitch offers a interlocking jaw system and a dampened hitch head that helps isolate road shock experienced by the 5th wheel from the tow vehicle. For an install rail/bracket kit, use # C16411-204.

If you'd like to install a 7-way trailer connector in the truck bed so you don't need to run the 5th wheel trailer connector cable up over the tailgate, you can easily install one using part # C56000.

expert reply by: Mike L

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Answer 1

For your 2019 Chevy Silverado 3500, the manufacturer puck system is not available in aftermarket but there is a very similar option to give you the 4 pucks. It is the Reese Under-Bed Rail and Installation Kit for Reese Elite Series 5th Wheel…

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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

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 6

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 7

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 8

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept a…

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Answer 9

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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Answer 10

If you take a look at the linked diagram you can see the minimum recommended clearance distances between truck and trailer for 5th wheel towing. It is recommended to have at least 5-inches from the top of the bed rails to the bottom of the trailer…

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Answer 11

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 12

Thank you for the photo of your 2016 Ram 3500's bed rail which sits 59-inches above ground. You are correct that the recommended minimum clearance between a bed rail and the underside of the trailer's overhang is 5 to 6-inches, as shown in…

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