Transferring ProSeries 5th Wheel Hitch to 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Extended Cab with 6-Ft Bed

Question:

I am purchasing a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 extended cab tuck with a six foot bed. This truck currently has a goose-neck hitch in it but has at one time had a fifth wheel hitch in it. The current owner has the rails, the brackets and the C-bolts and thats it. Ive had him take a picture of the kit he has and looking at your rail kits it appears to be a Curt rail kit. I currently have a 98 Ram 1500 with a Pro Series 15000 fifth wheel mounted in it. I checked the base to make sure it would fit the rails on this new truck and they fit fine. Three questions. 1 Would I be able to use this hitch with the 2004 Ram or do I need a slide hitch? 2 If I can use this hitch would someone be able to Email me so that I may be able to send them this picture to verify that it is a Curt rail kit? 3 If this is a Curt rail kit would you sell a bolt kit for it, along with an instruction manual? I understand that I would have to remove the goose-neck hitch to be able to install my fifth wheel rails.

asked by: Mark D

Expert Reply:

There are several possible ways to go in your application.

First, a ProSeries 5th wheel hitch will fit into any industry-standard 5th wheel base rails, whether they are from ProSeries, Reese, Valley or Curt.

Short bed trucks like yours do pose a clearance challenge for making turns with a 5th wheel trailer. One remedy is to use a sliding hitch. Another is to replace the 5th wheel's pin box with a Sidewinder pin box that moves the pivot point back by 22-inches (giving you better turning clearance). But in your case, and this is the best part, since your new truck has a goose neck hitch installed already you may be able to replace your pin box not with a Sidewinder but rather a Goose Box from Reese.

The linked article explains the various types of adapters available to allow towing a 5th wheel with a goose neck hitch, including the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter # CAB-C5GX1216 that you referenced. If your existing pin box has an available Goose Box replacement you can avoid having to remove the goose neck hitch and get the safest and best possible towing performance by installing a new pin box on your trailer that will work directly with the goose neck hitch.

I have included a link to our page for Reese Goose Box 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Air Ride Coupler Adapters. If your existing pin box is compatible with one of these then you can avoid the entire process of having to change out hitches. For example, Reese # RP85FR is a direct replacement for a Lippert 0719, 1621, 1621HD pin boxes.

expert reply by: Adam R