Can 5th Wheel Hitch be Installed on 2018 Ram 2500 with Ram Box

Published 11/12/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Single Jaw - 20,000 lbs

(465)

$1033.24

Reese Quick-Install Custom Installation Kit w/ Base Rails for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches

(63)

$330.66

Question:

good morning chris. i am still a little fuzzy on why i have to buy a new pin box.is the new pin box designed that much different than the ones that come with the rvs? if i bought a new rv, would i have to go right out and buy a new pin box? it does not make sense that all of a sudden we have to go and change everything.sorry for the ranting. thank you.

asked by: Paul

Expert Reply:

You can indeed install a 5th wheel trailer hitch on your 2018 Ram 2500 without the factory puck system but the Ram Boxes will require that another component be added to your setup. Because the Ram Boxes limit the available turning clearance over the bed, a Reese Sidewinder or other similar pin box that moves the pivot point away from the king pin will need to be on the trailer. This is the only way to allow for proper turning clearance with the Ram Box models regardless of whether or not it is equipped with the puck system.

Starting with the hitch itself I recommend taking a look at the Reese M5 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30928. This is an excellent 20K hitch that features a forged single-piece jaw that will provide a secure connection to the trailer and a really smooth ride. For a base rail kit the Quick-Install Custom Installation Kit # RP50054-58 will work perfectly.

Then in order to select the correct Reese Sidewinder you will need to identify the existing pin box model number on the trailer. This information is usually stamped onto the pin box itself or listed on a sticker. I have attached a link that will take you to our selection of Sidewinder pin boxes that you can look through. You can select your pin box model on the left side of the page to see the available Sidewinders that are compatible.

expert reply by: Chris R

Paul

11/6/2018

thanks chris for answering my hitch question. i already have a pull rite superglyde in my present ram which i will transfer over to the 2018. what part would i need to make the pull rite work with the 2018 box? thanks

Chris R.

11/6/2018

The issue with using your existing PullRite SuperGlide 5th Wheel Hitch on your new 2018 Ram is that the Sidewinder pin box is required to give you the turn clearance you need, and the SuperGlide is not compatible with the Sidewinder. The reason for this is that the extended pivot point on the Sidewinder or other similar pin box combined with the automatic slider on the hitch simply create too much stress at the connection. With this in mind your only option will be to go with a new fixed hitch instead as mentioned above along with the Sidewinder on your new Ram.

Paul

11/12/2018

Chris R.

11/12/2018

A Reese Sidewinder pin box is a specialized unit that moves the trailer's pivot point 22 inches toward the rear of the truck. A standard pin box, regardless of its size, will have the pivot point where the trailer connects to the 5th wheel hitch. A Sidewinder on the other hand uses an included wedge to lock that pivot point out and rotates instead at the turret, higher up and more towards the tailgate. The added height to the pivot point that this provides is really what allows a 5th wheel trailer to be pulled by a Ram that is equipped with the Ram Boxes. The raised pivot point prevents the pin box from hitting the boxes as you make sharp turns. Keep in mind that the Reese Sidewinder is an aftermarket pin box. There are a couple other versions of this though with the same design, including the Reese Revolution and the Lippert Turning Point, that are used as OEM/factory pin boxes on certain trailers. If you plan on towing a 5th wheel trailer with your Ram, I recommend searching around for a trailer that is already equipped with one of these so you won't have to immediately replace the pin box before you're able to tow.