Reese 5th Wheel Hitch and Sidewinder Pin Box Recommendations for 2014 Dodge Ram Towing 36-Footer

Question

Question:

I am buying a 36 ft Grand Design 337RLS and I have a new 3500 Dodge Ram 6-6inch box with Ram Boxes. I am going to replace the factory pin box with a 5th Airborne Sidewinder to eliminate the need for a sliding hitch. My question is will the 20K Reese Elite be the best choice for the hitch. Or should I also look at the air ride hitch as well?

asked by: Tom F

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Expert Reply:

Officially Reese does not recommend any 5th wheel hitch installation in Dodge Ram pickups that have the Rambox system due to the reduced bed width. Still, we have heard reports of successful installations in the 2014 Rambox-equipped trucks using a Sidewinder replacement pin box. The Sidewinder moves the pivot point back 22-inches behind the king pin which keeps the body of the pin box stationary within the limited available width of the Rambox bed. This configuration remains untested by Reese.

I suggest you use the Curt Fifth Wheel Installation Kit # C16426-204 rather than the Reese rail kit # RP56010-53 since the shorter Curt rails will be a better fit at 43-3/8-inches than the 48-inch Reese rails. Both offer equal compatibility with industry-standard hitches.

With these rails you can use the Reese Select Plus 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30081 that you referenced. This 20K-rated unit offers an extra wide funnel and 4-way pivoting head for easier hitching on uneven ground. It offers plenty of capacity for the 337RLS's 13,995-lb GVWR and 2090-lb pin weight. The Elite Series hitch is excellent, but in your case with a Sidewinder in the system the Select Series will do fine.

I contacted Grand Design to find out what pin box they supply on the 337RLS and it is the popular Lippert 1621. The linked article includes a table showing the options for Sidewinder pin boxes to replace the 1621. The 5th Airborne Premium 5th Wheel Air Ride # RP61423 is recommended for the ultimate in ride quality. Given the size and weight of the trailer I suggest the Air Ride Sidewinder as it will minimize both vertical and horizontal road shock.

You will need to remove your truck tailgate and install a 5th wheel tailgate such as one of those shown on the link provided.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

Signs of wear are pretty obvious on a fifth wheel hitch. Basically, you will want to look for excessively loose components such as the jaws, springs or handle. If you have the Reese 16K fifth wheel hitch that you asked this question from, then…

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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…

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Answer 3

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 4

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 5

The old version of the #HBA-CAM used 4 wires, but the product was updated awhile back and now uses only two wires as shown in the photo on the product description page. The white wire from the HBA-CAM would tap into the white ground wire and the blue…

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Answer 6

The squeaking noise on your trailer is probably coming from the joints in the suspension creating metal to metal friction. So, unless your original Equa-Flex Cusioned Equalizers are damaged or corroded, what will make the biggest difference is to…

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Answer 7

The 40 amp fuse for your 2006 Chevrolet Silverado tow package is used for the 12 volt battery charge circuit. This fuse is located toward the front of the underhood fuse box closest to the front auxiliary positive post (see photo). There may be a…

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Answer 8

On a 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500, If you are facing the front of the truck looking at the power distribution box, there will be a post at the back left side and a fuse slot near it. It is that fuse slot that you will install a 30 amp fuse. I have…

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Answer 9

For your enclosed trailer application I have several suggestions for adding interior lighting that you can control directly via a switch. Since your current 4-pole trailer wiring does NOT include a 12V auxiliary power feed that could power inside…

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Answer 10

The only way you could power interior dome lights on a trailer without it being connected to a tow vehicle would be to power the lights with a battery like a breakaway battery. How you choose to wire up the batteries will in the end be up to you, but…

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Answer 11

The amount of bow that's put into trailer axles like the #7359765 is based on about how much a trailer is typically going to weigh that has a 3,500 lb capacity. So there's a bit of approximation and obviously it can't be totally perfect…

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Answer 12

While trailer axles do feature an upward bend like you are describing, there isn't a particular amount/measurement that is standard across the board. This bend in the axle is designed so that it will straighten under a trailer's loaded…

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Reese 5th Wheel Hitch and Sidewinder Pin Box Recommendations for 2014 Dodge Ram Towing 36-Footer

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