5th Wheel Hitch & Base Rails For 1997 Chevy K3500 Long Bed For 10,000 lb 5th Wheel

Question:

Hi I have a 97 Chevy Silverado k 3500 and need a complete set up for it Im towing a 5th wheel 10000 lbs dry weight its a ideal 31rl can u tell me what to buy also 8 ft bed 7.4l engine

asked by: Jacob M

Expert Reply:

We can get your 1997 Chevy K300 set up to tow a light 5th wheel, and you'll just need a few things - the hitch, base rails/install kit, and wiring harness. Let's start quickly with the base rails, and you will need a universal kit from B&W for that:

- B&W Universal Base Rails and Installation Kit for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches # BWRVR3200

These base rails will install in your Chevy and allow you to mount any standard 5th wheel hitch; and for the hitch I recommend an option from Curt:

- Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # C16115

The E16 has a 16,000 lb capacity so it will be able to tow your trailer, and is a budget-friendly but effective 5th wheel hitch. It has an auto-locking jaw so you don't have to worry about the hitch being secure to the king pin, a pivoting head to make connecting to your trailer easier, and is easier than other hitches to remove from your bed. The reason for that is it has pins that you can remove to take the hitch apart in two pieces, while other hitches require you to lug the whole thing out of your truck at once.

The only other thing you will need is a 5th wheel wiring harness, and for that you will only need the 7-Way Pre-Wired Car Connector # 20023.

That's all you'll need, and the combination of the E16 Hitch # C16115, Base Rails # BWRVR3200, and Wiring Harness # 20023 will give you a simple, effective way to tow your Ideal 31RL 5th wheel trailer with your '97 Chevy.