Lighter 5th Wheel Hitch Replacement For A Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch  

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Expert Reply:

Since you're using a sliding hitch I'm assuming your 2017 Chevy Silverado 2500 is a 6-3/4' bed so the only option you'll have is replace the pin box of your 2017 Highland Ridge Open Range Roamer 337RLS with a rotating pin box and swapping the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th wheel hitch # DM8550034 with a standard fifth wheel hitch that will be a little lighter.

The Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Chevy/GMC Towing Prep Package - Single Jaw - 20,000lbs # RP30890 weighs approximately 150lbs (the Demco is 277lbs) and is designed to be compatible with the factory under-bed mounting system from GM. If you have an after market under-bed mounting system then you most likely have the Reese puck system which follows Ford's spacing pattern and would require you to use the # RP30921 instead.

To replace your trailer's current pin box you would need to know the bolt pattern. Typically if it is not posted on the pin box there will be a tag with serial/item numbers on it that we can look up to find the bolt pattern. If your pin box has no indicators on it then you can use the attached help article to determine the bolt pattern. For example if you had a 1621 bolt pattern you would need the Reese Sidewinder 5th Wheel King Pin with Rotating Turret - 20,000lbs # RP34FR. You would also want to use a custom fit wedge to prevent the king pin of your pin box from rotating in the jaws of the fifth wheel hitch. For the Reese M5 hitches I recommended above you would need the # RP44FR.

Switching to a standard hitch will clear up bed space for you to haul extra items and be quite a bit lighter making installation and removal easier.

expert reply by: Kevin C

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