Question Was Asked By - ken f

5th Wheel Hitch Installation on a 2007 F-150 SuperCrew with 5-1/2 foot Bed

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Sidewinder with Rotating Turret for Short Bed Pickups

Question:

I have a 2007 f-150 supercrew w/5.5 box. Do you sell a 5th wheel hitch or hitch with extensions that will work for this application? My friends have Chevy crew cabs w/5.5 boxes and use stationary hitches. I cant believe the xxxxxxxx for $3000+ is my only option.

asked by: ken f

Expert Reply:

Due to the short length of the truck bed, I would recommend a standard (not sliding) Fifth Wheel Hitch used in conjunction with a Sidewinder with Rotating Turret. A slider hitch will cause issues at the tailgate, when moved rearward, with the Sidewinder attached, due to the shortness of your bed.

The Sidewinder would move the pivot point from where the kingpin attaches to the hitch, back to where the pin box attaches to the trailer. In many cases (not all) with 96 inch wide trailers, this will gain you enough clearance so that you can negotiate 90 degree turns without having the trailer loft contact the cab. If your trailer is 102 inches wide You will not be able to make 90 degree turns and may not like the maneuverability that you will have.

The Sidewinder is specific to your trailers pin box, so you will also need that part number to choose the correct model. Fifth Wheel hitches are rated by the weight of the trailer so you will have to select a hitch with a gross weight capacity greater than your trailers total weight loaded and ready to tow. I would use the Fifth-Wheel Trailer Hitch Custom Rail and Install Kit for 2004 and up Ford F-150, item # 30080, to install fifth-wheel rails in the bed of your pickup.

expert reply by: Bob G

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