Recommended 5th Wheel Hitch for 2014 Ram 3500 Long-bed to Tow 15.5K Trailer

Expert Reply:

You are starting off well by using a long-bed 1-ton pickup to pull your 5th wheel. This is the ideal type of truck for 5th wheels since long beds naturally provide good turning clearance and have the muscle to pull heavy trailers.

But in terms of the hitch I do recommend using a higher-rated hitch that provides you with some safety margin. You could use a 16K hitch with a 15.5K trailer but you will certainly find you will get a longer working lifespan from a hitch rated for a higher weight.

If your 2014 Ram 3500 long-bed has the factory tow prep package you can use the specialized hitches made to drop right into the pucks in the bed, such as the 20K Curt # C16044 or the 20K Reese # RP30918. If you want one of the very best hitches on the market check out the B&W 25K-rated model # BWRVK3600 which has among the finest build quality and finish of any hitch out there. All hitch options for the factory prep kit are shown on a linked page.

If you do NOT have the factory pucks in the bed you have a choice of above-bed rails or an under-bed install kit. If you need a clear bed for cargo when not towing then an under-bed kit is ideal, such as the B&W # BWGNRK1314-5W. This allows drop-in installation of their 20K Companion hitch # BWRVK3500-5W.

If you prefer standard above-bed base rails the I suggest the Curt custom-fit installation kit # C16430-204 and their Q20 hitch # C16130.

For a wiring harness you can use part # C56000.