Best 5th Wheel Hitch Setup For Full Bed Access On A 2011 Ford F350

Question:

Hi, I have a f350 2011 gaser 6 3/4 bed. I am about to buy a fifth wheel 2020 cougar 32bsh. Can you please tell me what is my best option to haul this? I am trying to not break the bank or lose my bed cause I use my truck bed a lot.

asked by: Jonathan L

Expert Reply:

Hello Jonathan, thanks for reaching out. The best way to keep full bed access on your 2011 F350 will be to go with a B&W Tunoverball/Companion hitch setup. For your truck you can use # BWGNRK1111-5W for the installation kit and the # BWRVK3400-5W Companion 5th Wheel Hitch.

There are a few big advantages to going with this setup. First, the installation kit is actually a B&W gooseneck hitch. So, with the hitch removed from the bed, you will still have the full bed at your disposal with no above bed rails to deal with. Also, you will be equipped to tow a gooseneck trailer if that need ever arises.

The Companion 5th wheel hitch mounts directly into the gooseneck ball receptacle. This makes installing the hitch itself very easy. The only downside is the weight of the companion hitch, about 275 lbs. Aside from that, B&W makes an extremely solid hitch. Not only are they durable, but they provide smooth turning and superior ride quality over other hitches. Made here is the USA too.

This will definitely be the best option for keeping your bed. I know they are a bit more on the higher side of the price spectrum, but any other 5th wheel hitch will require above-bed rails. The hitch I mentioned is a slider, which is recommended to help gain clearance on tight turns for short bed trucks. You may also want the Curt Wiring Harness # C56070 which will relocate the 7-way plug to the bed of the truck.

expert reply by: Jesse M

Jonathan L.

6/24/2024

So I am going to get the turnoverball adapter for sure. What is your opinion on the gen y gooseneck king pin replacement?

Jesse M.

6/24/2024

@JonathanL Honestly, I am a big fan of the Gen-Y products in general, and their Goosebox adapters are fantastic. They will provide much better ride quality than a standard pin box. The torsion rubber makes for a much smoother ride, with zero maintenance over time. In order to select the correct goosebox, we will need to determine the pin box size/ number currently on the camper. A lot of times there is a sticker on the pin box which we can use to determine the size, or you can use the measuring guide I linked below. For example, the Gen-Y Hitch 5th Wheel to Gooseneck Pin Box - Auto Latch - Lippert 1621/1621 HD - 21K - 3.5K TW # GY58GR is the appropriately rated model for your 2020 cougar 32bsh. This is made specifically to replace the Lippert 1621 pin box. If you can tell me your pin box size, I can make sure you get the right one. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Helpful Links

faq-measuring-a-fifth-wheel-pin-box.aspx

Jonathan L.

6/25/2024

@JesseM It’s a lippert 1621