5th Wheel Hitch for Clean Bed Once Removed on a 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 Short Bed

Question:

What do I need for my 2003 chevy 1500HD 6.0 crew cab short to tow a Grand Design 310GK. No 5th wheel setup on truck. Want to keep truck bed empty. Thanks

asked by: Nattiel E

Expert Reply:

If you are wanting to keep the bed of your 2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 clean then I highly recommend using the B&W Companion # BWRVK3400-5W because it mounts in the B&W Gooseneck Hitch # BWGNRK1059-5W. Instead of having bed rails in the bed of your truck you just have the gooseneck hitch ball receiver and safety chain loops as you can see in the attached photo.

The Companion is made right here in the USA, has a 20,000 lb weight capacity (which is more than your pickup), 17" - 19" of height adjustment, and features 1" thick dual jaws for one of the most secure connections out there! Aside from the clean bed and gooseneck towing option, another thing that sets this 5th wheel hitch apart from a lot of other options is the cam-action locking handle that allows you to release your trailer even if you are on uneven ground.

Attached are some review videos for you to check out.

If you don't already have a 7-Way installed in the bed of your Chevy then I also recommend installing the Bargman # 50-97-410 to make it easier to connect/disconnect your trailer wiring.

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expert reply by: Jon G

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Question:

Thanks for getting back with me. Would this setup work for my truck? Item # AM3200. Which brake controller will work best for my truck?

asked by: Nattiel E

Expert Reply:

The Anderson Ultimate # AM3200 could very well be used in your 2003 Silverado but you would have to use above bed base rails like part # RP50064-58 which would stay in your bed even with the hitch removed (meaning you wouldn't have a clean bed anymore).

For a brake controller I highly recommend going with the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195 because it has an LCD screen that makes it easy to use as there are no codes that you need to remember. It also has the ability to store various tow setups which makes it great if you tow a few different trailers.

If your Chevy has the factory trailer connector then all you need is the Adapter # 3015-P. If you don't have the factory trailer connector then you need the same adapter as well as the Pollak PK11898 or the Hopkins # 30955 depending on if you have a bundle of wires or a round plug with the cap respectively.

Attached is an installation video and a helpful article that you can reference.

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expert reply by: Jon G

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