What Is The Weight Capacity Of My 5th Wheel Hitch Rails?

Updated 12/20/2016 | Published 12/19/2016

Question:

I have a Reese 15K 5th wheel hitch in my 2006 GMC Duramax 2500HD. Have a Curt 16055 rail mounted gooseneck plate and ball on the way. Says the gooseneck plate and ball are rated at up to 25K. Except for the weight limits of my truck, what are the limits of my Reese bed rails? Even though the hitch is 15K, any chance the rails are the same as 18K or up to even 20K?

asked by: Tommy

Expert Reply:

We have had Cequent the maker of Reese 5th wheel rails, # RP30035, in to train us. They state that their rails are stong enough for the truck's capacity is a way of helping people stay within the limits of their vehicle. We have had trucks that have a 25,000 lb hitch capacity use the same rails, so I confirmed with my contact at Cequent that they are rated to surpass that 25,000 lbs. The rails are strong enough to handle the weight you are asking, your limitation on towing will be on your truck's capacity. According to the owners manual, that will be between 16,000 and 22,000 lbs based on your specific cab/bed/engine combination.

expert reply by: Jason S