Recommended Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch for 2015 Ram 2500 Short Bed with Factory Rail Kit

Question:

I have a 2015 ram 2500 with the 6’4” box and the pick system for mounting. I have been looking at the curt A16, but states it’s only for long bed. Looking for options for the short box with puck system that won’t require any holes to be drilled in the bed. Thanks

asked by: Josh

Expert Reply:

The reason the Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer HItch # C16520-16021 you referenced is only recommended for long bed trucks is simply because it is a fixed hitch. With short bed trucks like yours, you will need a sliding hitch in order to obtain the necessary cab clearance during sharp turns.

If you like the Curt A16 design, I instead recommend the Curt A16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ R16 Slider # C16521. This sliding hitch won't mount directly to the factory pucks in your truck bed like the above mentioned model, but all you need to add is the Adapter Rails # C16022 to accomplish this. The adapter rails will mount to the factory pucks without the need for any drilling or modification. This will provide you with industry-standard, above-bed rails that the Curt A16 # C16521 will then attach to. This is still a very simple installation that just requires two pieces instead of just the hitch. This is a really nice system that will give you 16,000 pounds of towing capacity.

For a sliding hitch that does mount directly to the factory pucks, I recommend taking a look at the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # BWRVK3670. B&W hitches are widely considered to be some of the best on the market, and this unit will drop right into the pucks of your truck bed to provide you with 20,000 pounds of towing capacity and 12 inches of slider travel. It also features premium 1 inch thick dual jaws for an excellent and secure connection with the trailer.

I have attached a few short video demonstrations on these products that you can also check out.