How to Determine if a Ford F250 Has Rails or Hitch Prep Package for Fifth Wheel Towing

Updated 07/07/2025 | Published 01/22/2015

Question:

I have a ford f250 XLT short bed truck. How can I tell if it has a tow package that I can pull a fifth wheel

asked by: Paul D

Expert Reply:

If the truck bed of your Ford F250 has 4 pucks like what is in the picture I attached then your truck has the underbed hitch prep package and the Reese Elite Series Pre-Assembled 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider # RP30144 would be the correct hitch for your truck.

If you have what looks like two metal rails that go from left to right in the bed of your truck then you have industry standard fifth wheel hitch rails and would need a hitch designed to fit those rails like the Reese Titan 20k part # RP30083.

If there are no rails in the bed of your truck or hitch prep package you would first need to install a rail kit. To determine what rail kit you would need you will need to follow the link I attached that will take you to a page where you can enter your year/make/model so that you can pick out the correct hitch rail kit.

expert reply by: Jameson C

click to enlarge

Wayne

7/7/2025

Jameson, i just bought a 2022 f250 super duty with an 8 ft bed. vin 1FT7W2B6XNEE45351 looking at the picture you have here, i have 8 of those pucks you show. i will say mine are a lot further apart than yours. i just took the plastic bed protector out and need to bring it down back so i don't leave it in the driveway. my wife won't like that. so i'll do that in the morning sometime. what should i look for under the bed sheet metal so my pucks are 2 within a couple inches in the back, 2 within a couple inches of the cab and 2 somewhat close to the wheel well and 2 a bit further forward. back ones are slightly to the back of the wheel cente. ok about 26 front to rear and about 36" left to right i prefer to buy an oem type unit, prefer curt. i have had great success with the things i've gotten from you guys. thanx wayne

Jameson C.

7/7/2025

@Wayne That sounds like an aftermarket rail kit that is not the standard OEM dimensions. It doesn't seem familiar so you might get under the truck bed and look at the brackets and see if you can find a brand or part number there.