Sidewinder with Rotating Turret for Short Bed Pickups

Sidewinder Summary:

Now you can tow a fifth wheel trailer with a short bed pickup WITHOUT a slider hitch. AND it is now possible for pickup trucks with beds shorter than 6 feet (such as Ford Super Crews) to tow a fifth wheel trailer. You can use the clearance formula at the bottom of this page to see if a Sidewinder will work for you.

When towing with a standard king pin, the fifth wheel trailer turns or pivots where the king pin is connected to the hitch. With the sidewinder, the truck and trailer are prevented from pivoting at the hitch, instead the pivot point is located up to 22" closer to the tailgate, creating much more space in between the truck cab and trailer on sharp turns. This extra space also becomes available for more cargo such as toolboxes which couldn't fit before. And the new pivot point makes the trailer track better behind the truck for even easier towing.

The Sidewinder is available in 3 different versions - the Standard 16K with 22" length, the heavy duty 19K with 22" length, and the Fifth Airborne Sidewinder with Air-Ride 19.5K with 22" length. The Fifth Airborne Sidewinder allows you to get the beneifits of both the Sidewinder and Fifth Airborne Air-Ride king pin.

How the Sidewinder Works

1. Sidewinder Pivot Point - 22" behind the king pin (depending on the sidewinder arm)
2. Rotating Turret - king pin specific, it attaches to the pin box on the trailer
3. Universal King Pin Locking Wedge (not pictured) - prevents pivot at fifth wheel hitch
4. Fifth Wheel King Pin - attaches to the hitch in the truck bed for towing
5. Sidewinder Arm - is universal and available in 3 styles (16K, 19K and 19.5K w/air-ride)

What We Need to Know When Choosing a Sidewinder:

1. Trailer King Pin type - The Sidewinder couplers are custom designed to replace the standard king pins on trailers, so we'll need to find out the part number of the pin box (king pin) on the trailer.
   • Most king pins will have the pinbox number listed on a sticker or it will be stamped on the king pin itself. If it's not there or worn out, the customer will have to call the trailer manufactuer with their vin or serial number to have them provide the coupler type.
   • Because the turrets are custom designed, they simply bolt in place of the existing king pin - no drilling required
     • Existing hardware can be used when installing, but new grade 8 bolts are recommended
2. Fifth Wheel Hitch Type - A universal wedge is included with the Sidewinder that will work on nearly all fifth wheel hitches. The exceptions are Holland and PullRite brand hitches but custom wedges are available for these models (sold separately)
   • Custom wedges are available for most fifth wheel hitch brands, but are not necessary
   • Note:It is not recommended to use a Sidewinder with the Curt Q5 or B&W Companion
     • Curt Q5 - because of the extra movement from the cushioning in the Curt Q5 fifth wheel hitch, the Sidewinder will not function properly
     • B&W Companion - the fifth wheel that mounts in the gooseneck hole - the hitch itself will rotate when using the Sidewinder creating 2 pivot points and therefore a loss of trailer control. To fix you can add (2) 1/2", grade 5 bolts to the rear support to keep the hitch from rotating but this may void the B&W warranty.

Clearance Formula for Sidewider:

Use the formula below to ensure there will be enough space between your truck cab and trailer when executing a 90-degree turn.

(A + B) - C = Clearance
A = Distance from center of fifth wheel hitch jaw to truck cab
B = Length of Sidewinder arm (16K = 22", 19K = 22", 19.5K = 22")
C = Width of trailer divided by 2 (to get half)

For example: With the 16K arm, if the distance from the center of the hitch to the cab is 36", 36" + 22" = 58". If your fifth wheel trailer is 102" wide, take half (51"), then plug in: 58" - 51" = 7" of clearance.

Needed Accessories:

1. Air compressor (only on Fifth Airborne Sidewinder w/Air-Ride) - the air bag in the king is adjustable and will need to be filled from time to time
   • Standard schrader valves are used and they are easily accessible on the Fifth Airborne Sidewinder Air-Ride coupler.