Towing 5th Wheel Trailer Using Short Bed Truck w/ Gooseneck Hitch

Updated 04/27/2016 | Published 04/23/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Above-Bed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch for Fifth Wheel Rails - 3" Offset - 25,000 lbs

(520)

$207.55

B&W Custom Installation Kit w/ Base Rails for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches

(59)

$272.98

B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 16,000 lbs

(816)

$799.00

B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider - Dual Jaw - 18,000 lbs

(816)

$1099.00

B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider - Dual Jaw - 20,000 lbs

(5708)

$1799.00

Question:

I am considering a Reese Sidewinder, for my 2015 Open Range Roamer, 337RLS, 12,700GVW. I currently have a 2006 GMC 2500HD with BandW turnover ball GN. I currently use the Anderson Ultimate 5th wheel hitch, but it does not provide cab clearance for the truck. I just wrote Reese and asked them about this as well. I have been told that the Sidewinder will not work with any BandW product, yet Reese makes and sells an adapter plate for the Sidewinder, that is specifically FOR the BandW hitches. Will it or will it not work with a BandW hitch? If not, then I would be looking for a 5th wheel hitch that DOES NOT have movement when stopping or starting. I do NOT want the clunk...clunk that accompanies most 5th wheel hitches I have seen. What 5th wheel hitch would you recommend? Why?

asked by: Scott L

Expert Reply:

The Reese Sidewinder WILL work with B&W hitches that are compatible with industry standard rails, like the B&W Patriot, part # BWRVK3270 would work great for you. However, the Sidewinder would NOT be compatible with a B&W Companion, part # BWRVK3400-5W. The Companion would mount into a B&W Turnover ball gooseneck hitch but since the Companion has only a single mounting point to the vehicle, the concern is that the one attachment point couldn't handle the twisting force that the Sidewinder would apply to it.

A sliding fifth wheel hitch would provide up to 12 inches of additional clearance, but a Sidewinder would provide 22 inches, enough clearance for a 90 degree turn without needing to exit the vehicle to actuate the slide. This would mean that your best bet would be to remove the existing turnover ball and install a fifth wheel hitch that uses industry standard rails. If you wanted to go with a sliding hitch, the # BWRVK3270 B&W Patriot with the # BWRVK2500 install rails would work great.

If you wanted to use the Sidewinder for better clearance, you'd use the same bracket kit, part # BWRVK2500 and the stationary hitch, # BWRVK3200 along with a Sidewinder. You'd need to choose the Sidewinder model that's the proper replacement for the pin box on your fifth wheel. Find the manufacturer and model number of your pin box, and match it up with the list in the FAQ article I've linked, which shows the various OEM pin boxes and which Sidewinder models they're compatible with.

Once you have the industry standard fifth wheel rails installed in the truck bed, you can always use a Gooseneck plate, part # 16055 that would pin directly to the 5th wheel rails.

B&W offer a quality American manufactured hitch that uses a strongly locking dual jaw system to reduce the chucking you've experienced in the past. If an air-ride Sidewinder is available to replace your existing pin box, it would further reduce chucking and improve your ride quality.