Is a Sliding Hitch Recommended for Short Bed 2018 Chevy Truck?

Updated 02/13/2018 | Published 02/12/2018

Question:

hello expert - I am planning on purchasing a 2018 chevy diesel LTZ 2500 6-6inch bed standard box. do you recommend a slider 5th wheel hitch or does the 6-6inch bed length provide enough room for a standard non sliding hitch . also do you have a recommendation for the type / model hitch I should look consider purchasing . thank you

asked by: Mark L

Expert Reply:

A sliding hitch will be needed for the 6-1/2 foot bed on your 2018 Chevy Silverado 2500 and I would recommend you get the factory fifth wheel prep kit in order to make the installation of any fifth wheel hitch that much easier. For a hitch I strongly recommend the B&W Companion # BWRVK3770. The Companion is considered by many to be the highest-quality fifth wheel hitch available. With more than 400 reviews from customers who have purchased it, the Companion has gotten a nearly unanimous 5-star rating.

It features dual jaws which are a full 1" thick to provide complete contact with your king pin so you can have faith that your connection is completely secure. The Companion is also going to give you a much quieter ride with less rattling than other fifth wheels due to that secure connection, along with the polyurethane bushings it has.

It also has a pivoting head to make hooking up easier, a cam-action latch to deter binding, and offers three different height settings to ensure you are level with your fifth wheel. The B&W will fit directly into the aforementioned puck system in the bed of your 2018 Silverado, has a built-in slider to accommodate the 6-1/2 foot bed and features a towing capacity of 20,000 lbs. I've added links to video reviews of the hitch for you to take a look at as well.

expert reply by: Kyle S