Is Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch Absolutely Necessary for 2022 Ram 2500 Short Bed Truck

Question:

I have a 2022 Ram 2500 short bed with the OEM pucks in the bed. Do I need a sliding 5th wheel hitch?

asked by: Mike S

Expert Reply:

We typically will recommend sliding 5th wheel hitches for trucks with a bed shorter than 8 feet, unless your 5th wheel has dished-in front corners an the 5th wheel manufacturer specifically states that a sliding hitch isn't needed I'd strongly urge you to use a sliding hitch. Not having the proper clearance between the cab and front of the 5th wheel can cause extensive and costly damage to both the truck and the 5th wheel, so in the long run going with the sliding hitch is definitely the way to go.

The B&W Companion sliding hitch you'd looked at, part # BWRVK3670 is what I typically recommend. This high-quality US made hitch features massive 1 inch thick jaws that hold the 5th wheel king pin very tightly which prevents the king pin from moving around in the hitch. The dampened hitch head helps isolate the truck from the road shock experienced by the 5th wheel which makes for much better ride quality.

If the idea of having to get out of the truck to release the sliding mechanism every time you need to do some low-speed maneuvering is what's turning you off on a sliding hitch, you might be interested in the Demco Hijacker Autoslide, part # DM8550034 for an 18K capacity or # DM8550035 for a 21K capacity. You'll also need the # DM6099 puck adapter. During turns, the hitch head of the Hijacker Autoslide will slide rearward then return to the forward position as the turn is completed.

I've linked to a description video for the Hijacker Autoslide works.