Is The Placement OF GM's OEM Puck System Supposed To Sit Behind The Axle

Question

Question:

I just bought a 2024 Chevy 2500 HD and noticed the fifth wheel prep puck system is not directly over the rear axle but slightly behind. is this because the hitches set more forward or is the factory placement wrong? I have not purchased my hitch yet so not sure of the weight distribution. I pull a 41 ft Coulmbus fifth wheel.

asked by: Jerry C

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Expert Reply:

Hey Jerry,

GM moved the placement of their puck systems starting with 2020 models so you are correct that the pucks would have the hitch not sit directly over the axle. GM did the math and made sure that this placement wouldn't adversely affect your towing ability so it's totally fine as is. Moving the weight towards the front of the truck helps distribute the weight between the the front and rear axles, whereas being behind the rear axle and closer to the tailgate will place more weight on the rear axle.

For the trailer hitch I recommend going with a B&W Companion as they are the best when it comes to reliability and ride quality. We have a few different options based on weight and bed length. If you have a short bed you'll want a slider base to give yourself some adjustability to make tight turns without having the nose of the trailer hitch the truck cab.

6-3/4' Bed:
20,000lb Capacity # BWRVK3775

8' Bed:
20,000lb Capacity # BWRVK3710
25,000lb Capacity # BWRVK3715

expert reply by: Kevin C

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B&W Companion OEM Pivot Arm Placement
(click to enlarge)

Jerry

4/8/2024

Thats what im saying. My hitch placement is slightly behind the axle not in front of it

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Mike

9/28/2024

Kevin isn’t the standard box on a 2500hd gmc 82.25 inches. I am trying to decide if I need the slider. On my previous vehicle 2011 Denali the bed was 79.4 inches long and with the hitch centered over the axle I would hit the back of the truck. Needed about two more inches. So if gmc pick system a little back of center and the box length is 82.25 I would gain about 4 inches which would provide clearance. Am I missing something. Thanks

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Kevin C.

9/30/2024

@Mike You would also need to check how the specific hitch sits in the bed. Even if the pucks aren't center the hitch could be designed to have the jaws still sit over the center of the hitch. With an OEM Companion the jaws of the hitch would either sit 2" behind the axle or directly over the axle depending on how you install the pivot arms. I'm going to attach a picture above showing how the pivot arms can be installed. You can measure to see if you'll clear the cab when making a 90 degree turn though. You'll need to tape a plumb bob to the outermost corner of the nose of the trailer and then measure from the plumb bob to the center of the king pin on the pin box. You can then take the measurement and set your tape measure over the center of the axle. If the tape measure touches the cab while turning it then you know the trailer will as well. If you're off by 2" installing the pivot arms so that they're angled towards the tailgate can give you 2" of extra clearance.

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Mike M.

9/30/2024

@KevinC Do the instructions show how to install the pivot arm towards the tailgate and is that ok to do. I pickup my truck today

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Kevin C.

9/30/2024

@MikeM The OEM bases unfortunately only have the two sets of mounting holes instead of extra ones that the Turnoverball bases have to adjust the pivot arms out more. With a GM system you'd only be able to mount the pivot arms so that the jaws were either directly over the axle or 2" in behind of the axle (towards the tailgate). You'd want to copy the left side of the diagram to mount your pivot arms for more clearance. It's fine to this but you'd be leveraging more weight behind the axle and would likely see a bit more sag. If the sag becomes a problem then that's when you could look into some suspension enhancement like jounce springs or air bags to help level the tow vehicle back out and cushion your suspension.

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See All (7) Replies to Mike ∨

Answer 1

Hey Daniel, I actually would disagree with your sales guy on whether you need a sliding hitch or not. The short bed of your 2025 Chevy Silverado 3500 is actually one of the longest "short" beds made so that adds turning clearance. Your…

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Answer 2

I checked out your 2016 Solitude 321RL and since it has a tapered nose and an extended pin box you wouldn't need a slider hitch installed in the bed of your 2020 GMC Sierra 3500. You could use the B and W Companion Fixed Hitch for GM rail kit…

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Answer 3

Hello Joe, thanks for reaching out. If you were to install a B&W Tunoverball Gooseneck Hitch #BWGNRK1020 you would be able to easily transfer your #BWRVK3400 5th wheel hitch to your new truck. If your new 2025 GMC 2500 HD comes with the factory…

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Answer 4

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 5

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 6

Yes, the puck system used on the 2016-2019 Chevy/GMC trucks is different than the pucks used on the 2020 and newer trucks. So you would need a 5th wheel like the B&W Companion #BWRVK3710 for your 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 with an 8' Bed. If you…

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Answer 7

Hi Bob; is your Patriot the slider #BWRVK3270 you looked at or the fixed #BWRVK3255? I know you said fixed mount hitch but since you looked at the slider I want to be sure. If it is the fixed hitch you can use the Adapter Rails for Curt 5th Wheel…

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Answer 8

I reached out to my contact over at B&W and got some answers for you. They confirmed that the king pin will sit behind the rear axle just based on how Chevy set up the system in the bed. When using the fixed model part #BWRVK3710 it will be…

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Answer 9

Hey Fred, The Curt Q20 hitch configuration that fits your 2025 GMC Sierra 3500 with the OEM pucks and the leg kit part #CU53FR is the #C57FR and it has a height range of 13-17 inches. This will fit the pucks you have in your truck as the short bed…

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Answer 10

Hey Steven, you can't go wrong with the B and W Companion hitch part #BWRVK3710. It fits directly to the OEM pucks of your 2020 GMC Sierra 2500 and will give you what most consider to be the best hitch around due to how well it's made, how…

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Answer 11

Hey Doug, you did you homework and I have good news! Yes you can use the fixed hitch version of the B and W Companion part #BWRVK3710 with your 2024 Chevy Silverado 2500HD because your trailer has a tapered nose which was designed basically for short…

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Answer 12

The B&W Companion 20k #BWRVK3300 and 25k #BWRVK3305 base and head are going to differ in their components and construction, which results in the 25k hitch being about 10-lbs total heavier than the 20k hitch; so the 25k hitch head and base is a…

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Is The Placement OF GM's OEM Puck System Supposed To Sit Behind The Axle

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