harrelson001

Does anyone have any advise on 5th wheels on my truck. I have conflicting stories from the dealer and no one I know has this problem. Can i successfully install and pull a 5th wheel in the 6'4" bed of my Ram 2500 crew cab 4x4???

spider_1954

I have a 2013 Mega cab with the 6'4" bed and pull a 37' 5th wheel. The key is the hitch that you have installed.
They make a lot of hitches that they call sliders and most don't work worth a dam. They are cheap and I have tried a few. The only way to pull with the short bed is to use a Super Glide hitch. It slides automatically so you don't have to get out the truck and try to put a release lever. They work great but are expensive but worth every penny.

Albertaguy

I have a 2010 3500 crew cab and pull a 34 ft. Jayco and have a Reese 18K slider which works very well. The trick is to take your time and watch the position of your rig versus the back of your cab.

Busboy

With the Crew cab short box it's more about the trailer than the hitch, there are a number of 5vers on the market that have cut away corners that give almost 90 deg turning with a standard hitch, besides B&W just introduced a slider that fits the Goose turnover ball hitch that way if you don't want the regular companion you can now get a slider.

harrelson001

Thanks all. I have talked direct to Ram and they tell me that it is more of a chassis problem than a bed issue. It being a 2500 there would need to be some additional plates mounted underneath the bed to make it structurally strong enough to handle the 5th wheel. They say it is no problem for the 3500...

Busboy

Sorry I thought you were asking about clearances, the 2013 3500 has factory plates welded to the frame rails either side and a partial cross over to bolt the factory hitch to, B&W also now sells a goose hitch to bolt directly to the new configuration then use either their companion or slider hitch that just drops in. Being that I think the 2013 2500 is the same frame as the 2010/12 3500 I see no reason you couldn't use a B&W goose hitch for those years like my 2011. I might suggest talking with B&W directly, if that is the case then the install is very simple and something that the home mechanic can do.

firstdue

Originally Posted by harrelson001
Thanks all. I have talked direct to Ram and they tell me that it is more of a chassis problem than a bed issue. It being a 2500 there would need to be some additional plates mounted underneath the bed to make it structurally strong enough to handle the 5th wheel. They say it is no problem for the 3500...

The 5th wheel hitch rail mounting kit should include the additional plates for support. My 12 3500 has a slider with the short bed, as did my previous 2500 series ,and we haul a 35' toy hauler. As long as you get a quality slider hitch you should not have any issues. You also need to watch your pin weight of your 5th wheel, I kind of think thats why your RAM source claimed you could not use a 5th wheel hitch in your 3/4 ton truck.

Mosburg

I have a 2014 Dodge Ram 6.7 Shortbed, I pull a 37 Fuzion ToyHauler no problems, even when backing it up and making sharp turns. I also have a B&W Hideaway Hutch.

Jim W

Yes you can! What has happen between the 2500/3500 models in 2013 is the frame was changed to allow higher towing capacities on the 3500 model for that year. Ram made these same changes to the 2500 model in 2014 and up.

All of the older RAM's have the same style of frame between the 2500 and 3500 models so you will need to find a hitch that can be mounted to this style of truck. You will also be limited to the Gross vehicle weights and axle weights listed on the LH door column B pillar.

I have a 2008, 2500 Mega Cab, 6.7L, 4X4 with the 68RFE auto transmission; that is towing a 2010 318SAB Cougar with a Reese 15K slider hitch. The hitch is manual hitch but the only time I need to slide the hitch back is in campgrounds where the roads and sites are difficult to maneuver in. I also slide the hitch back when backing into my driveway to insure I do not hit the cab. At all other times the hitch is in the towed position and there is plenty of clearance for driving on the highways.

Jim W.

rbertalotto

Isn't anyone going to ask about pin weight and whether or not this will exceed the trucks GVW. These trucks can PULL just about anything as far as weight goes. But some of the pin weights of a 5th wheel greatly overload the weight carrying rating of the truck.

bishgeo

Party pooper. Nobody ever wants to hear that stuff been hearing from guys for years on the road. {it will pull it} but they have no clue what the rig weighs or what gvwr means. Your not pulling 38ft fivers leagle on a 2500. My 38 ft Montana puts 3000# pin weight on my 3500 drw and I'm only 400# shy of being over gross.

sledhead01

I have a 2014 mega cab 3500 6'4" bed. I have a Pullrite Superglide and absolutely love it. I have had the same hitch in four dodge trucks now. It works great, never need to worry about turn angles, hook up and go. The only problem I has was finding a truck with the factory installed fifth wheel prep package. For my application the truck NEEDED to have this option to use my hitch. The reason being that with the extra stuff Dodge now welds onto the frame my super rails would not work.

Ramified5.9

So I have a '15 with the hitch prep. Looking at getting the pull rite. Does the base have to be from pull rite to work? Or can it be the Mopar/Reese base frame? Seems like 5th wheel hitches are universal to how they mount on bed rail mounts.

Thanks

sledhead01

No, you do not have to get the base from Pullrite, in fact last June when I got my truck Pullrite did not even make a base that would work in dodge's that had the fifth wheel prep group. Both the Reese and Mopar bases will work, I went with the Reese as I was able to get it cheaper than the Mopar one.
Reese - Mounting Kit Adapter
But you also need to get the Pullrite Standard Rail Adapter #4409 if you are getting a SuperGlide hitch. The reason being that a SuperGlide sits on rectangular tubing. If it is not a SuperGlide you should not need the #4409.
http://www.pullrite.com/sites/pullri...%20Install.pdf

Everything went together very well for me and as I mentioned I love the SuperGlide.
In my situation, because the new truck has 20" tires and my old one had 17" and needing the Reese and Pullrite adapters my fifth wheel hitch height went up approx 3" higher. This was not a concern for me as my fifth wheel sits fairly high.

Ramified5.9

Thank you kind sir!! After searching I could not find the clear answer. You are awesome! This saves me a lot of researching time. Most mfg do not have their web sites updated yet.