Can a 2011 Dodge 1500 Crew Cab Short Bed Tow a Fifth Wheel  

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Expert Reply:

Due to the short bed on your 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab, the only way you will be able to successfully tow a fifth wheel trailer without having the front of the trailer loft strike the rear of the cab during turns would be to use a Sidewinder extended pin box. The Sidewinder relocates the pivot point from the connection of the hitch and the king pin to the point where the pin box connects to the trailer, thus providing 22 inches of additional clearance between the rear of the cab and the trailer.

The Sidewinder is model specific to the pin box, in order to choose the correct Sidewinder for you, you will need the pin box manufacturer and model number. This information will typically be located on a sticker or stamping on the OEM pin box. I am including a link to a FAQ page that will have information on Sidewinders, and a table that list what sidewinder to use with what brand of pin box. Also, a link to a video of a Sidewinder installation.

To install a fifth wheel hitch in your 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab Short Bed you will need the CURT Semi-Custom Fifth Wheel Installation Kit, part # C16306-204. This kit includes base rails, semi-custom brackets and mounting hardware. I am including a link to the instructions on the installation kit.

The fifth wheel hitch you will need to use will need to be a standard fixed fifth wheel hitch and not a slider hitch. You can use the CURT E5 Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch , part # C16115. I am including a link to the instructions on the CURT hitch.

If you let me know the pin box information from your fifth wheel I can help you get the correct Sidewinder for your application.

expert reply by: Jeff D

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