Best Fifth Wheel Hitch and Pin Box Recommendation for Short Bed Truck

Published 08/18/2017

Question:

Hi, Ive got a new Ford F350 short box and want to tow a Columbus fifth wheel with a 13,000 dry weight and 16,000 max weight. What is the best pin box and hitch combination for that fifth wheel? They would let me upgrade from their stock pin box to a Trail Air Rota Flex but I think I would rather save that money and put it towards a really good combination set up that works well with my short bed F350. Thank you!

asked by: Tyler

Helpful Expert Reply:

The best pin box hitch setup for a short bed truck is a Sidewinder pin box and a stationary hitch. This gives you the clearance you need to make tight turns without requiring you to get out of the truck and operate a slider when you get to a parking lot. It also allows the trailer to track better behind the truck and makes the trailer easier to back up.

Sidewinders are pin box specific so you will first need to know what pin box you have now in order to pick out the correct one.

There should be a sticker or a stamping on the OEM pin box of the trailer that will list the pin box number that is on the trailer.

Once you figure out which pin box you have you can check the FAQ I attached that has a chart that shows the correct Sidewinder to get based on which pin box you have.

If I had the year/make/model of your truck I could recommend you a custom rail kit but for a hitch the Reese # RP30047 would work great with the Sidewinder and your 16k hitch as it has a 20k capacity.

expert reply by: Jameson C