Can 2014 Ford F-150 5-1/2 ft Bed Tow Fifth Wheel Trailer

Published 01/30/2018

Question:

I have a 2014 F150 4X4 with 3.5 ecoboost engine and a 5 foot 6 inch shortbox. Would your 5th wheel autoslide work in my truck or is it designed for a 6 1/2 foot box only. My friend suggests a sidewinder hitch attachment as an added supplement for maximum slide length. Thanks.

asked by: Fred K

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is a Demco Hijacker Autoslide that will slide far enough to give a 5-1/2 foot bed enough clearance to make a tight turn. For that you'd need the part # DM8550040.

The other option is the Sidewinder route your friend mentioned. This is the preferred method in my opinion as it does not require using a slider hitch which are typically very heavy.

You will need to remove the pin box of the trailer and replace it with a Sidewinder pin box. 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.

With a Sidewinder you'd want to use a stationary hitch like the Reese # RP30047.

Either kit will require a rail kit. For that I would recommend a custom install kit like the part # RP50081-58 which is compatible with both hitches I mentioned.