5th Wheel Trailer Hitch and/or Gooseneck Hitch for a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab Short Bed

Question:

I have a 2014 Ram 3500, crew cab, short bed truck. I do not have the fifth wheel prep holes in the bed of the truck. I would like a hide a way goose hitch ball using a side winder. If not what fifth wheel hitch is compatible with my truck and what parts do I need. Also, I have the Mopar Plastic Bed liner installed. Will that affect either system.

asked by: Robert S

Helpful Expert Reply:

Because a Sidewinder cannot be used with any sort of 5th wheel to gooseneck adapter, the best option is to go with a 5th wheel trailer hitch if you have to use a Sidewinder.

The bed liner will most likely have to be trimmed away in the foot print of the rails plus a little extra to account for the pins to secure the 5th wheel hitch. Slide-in bed liners need to be trimmed but spray-in bed liners do not.

For your 2014 Ram 3500 short bed you can use Curt installation kit # C16430-204. This is a custom installation kit that requires minimal drilling and installs faster than a universal install kit. Then, if you do use a Sidewinder, you will need a fixed 5th wheel trailer hitch such as the 16K Reese hitch # RP30047.

If you skip the Sidewinder you will need a slider 5th wheel hitch, such as # 16516 that you have referenced.

To add both a gooseneck trailer hitch and 5th wheel hitch you can install B and W hitch # BWGNRK1314-5W, which is the gooseneck, and then use the companion hitch, # BWRVK3400-5W, which is a slider 5th wheel hitch that attaches to the gooseneck ball cavity. You cannot use a Sidewinder with this set up.

If you do decide to go with a set up that includes a Sidewinder then in order to determine if there is one that will fit you will need the manufacturer and model number of the pin box. It should be located on a plate or sticker on the pin box. Then you can use the table at the bottom of the linked FAQ to determine if there is a Sidewinder that will fit.