5th Wheel Hitch Install Kit for 2014 Ram 1500 5 Foot 7 Inch Bed w/ Gas Engine

Question:

Ive purchased a 5th wheel trailer. I own a 2014 dodge ram 1500 4x4 350 hemi engine with towing package. the box is 5 foot 7 inch and i am told that there are no mounting brackets available for the hitch. The hitch that the place I bought the trailer from is providing is a Reese 5W slider i need to know the availability of the mounting brackets please.

asked by: Frank B

Expert Reply:

If your truck does not have the Rambox, and is NOT equipped with the optional air suspension and since the truck doesn't have the Eco Diesel engine, you can use the # RP30035-386 install kit. There is not a rail kit available for vehicles equipped with the air suspension.

Since your truck has the 5 foot 7 inch bed, the sliding hitch included with your 5th wheel won't provide enough clearance for making turns. As things stand now, the front corners of the trailer loft will probably strike the rear of the truck cab during turns. Which would be bad. And expensive.

The solution would be to replace the existing pin box on the fifth wheel with a Reese Sidewinder. The Sidewinder relocates the pivot point between the hitch and the fifth wheel from the spot where the king pin locks into the hitch jaws to a point 22 inches rearward. This allows additional clearance between the truck and fifth wheel, and would most likely allow you to make turns with no problem. You would need to leave your slider locked in the forward position.

In order to choose the correct Sidewinder product, we'll need to know the manufacturer and model number of the existing pin box, which is typically located on a sticker or plate fixed to the pin box.

The help article (see link) will explain more about the Sidewinder, and provides a formula to determine how much clearance you'll end up with. There's also a listing of Sidewinder models that shows which OEM pin boxes they replace.

If you do not yet have a 7-way connector installed in the truck bed, you can easily install one using part # 41157.