Will the Curt E16 5th Wheel Hitch Fit and Work in a 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 Short Bed w/ Prep Package

Question:

Will this hitch work in a 2020 chev 2500hd with oem puck system and short box.

asked by: Peter F

Expert Reply:

The Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch for Chevy/GMC Towing Prep Package - Slide Bar Jaw - 16,000 lbs # C47FR will fit in the prep package of your 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. However, with it being a short bed you may or may not have enough clearance for slow turns. Which if that was the case you would either need to get a slider or a rotating pin box. To use this with a rotating pin box / sidewinder, you'll also need custom wedge # C16991.

If you end up determining that you need a slider or rotating pin box, you need to know your pin box number to pick out the correct rotating pin box or you can use the Curt Q24 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ R24 Slider # C16546 which would require the Adapter Rails for Curt 5th Wheel Hitch # C88KR for use in your prep package.

Since most current 5th wheels have a tapered nose, I have included some steps you can do to determine if you will have the proper clearance with a fixed 5th wheel hitch below.

Steps Needed to Determine the Turning Clearance You Have When Towing a 5th Wheel Trailer with a Tapered Nose:

1: Go to the far edge of your trailer nose, about 1 foot up to allow for the curvature of the nose you will place a piece of tape with a string hanging with some sort of weight (a lock would work). This will create a point you can use for measuring.
2: You then want to take your measuring tape and measure from the center of your king pin to the string.
3: Take the measuring tape to the bed of your truck with your 5th wheel hitch properly positioned in the bed.
4: You will want to position the end of the measuring tape in the center of where your king pin will sit in the jaws of your 5th wheel hitch.
5: You will then extend the tape towards the truck cab to the measurement you got from the center of your king pin to the string.
6: You will want to keep the the end of the measuring tape centered in the king pin jaws and use that as a pivot point.
7: You will then rotate the other end of the tape using that pivot point, if you can rotate the tape all the way through without making contact with your truck cab then you have enough turning clearance to use a fixed hitch. If you make contact at any point, then you would need a slider or rotating pin box.