Can Stationary 5th Wheel Hitch be Used for a 2018 Ram 2500 with Short Bed

Updated 04/16/2019 | Published 04/15/2019

Products Featured in This Question

B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider - Dual Jaw - 18,000 lbs

(716)

$899.00

5th Wheel/Gooseneck 90-Degree Wiring Harness w/ 7-Pole Plug - GM, Ford, Ram, Toyota - 9' Long

(692)

$107.94

B&W Custom Installation Kit w/ Base Rails for 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches

(162)

$260.00

Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Rails and Universal Installation Kit - Slide Bar Jaw - 16K

(607)

$512.83

UWS Truck Bed Toolbox - 5th Wheel Series Chest - 6 cu ft - Bright Aluminum

(8)

$623.95

Question:

Can i use it on a 2018 dodge 2500 with a 6 ft bed and a tool box and what size do i need for a 35 ft rv

asked by: Wayne

Expert Reply:

You could potentially use the Curt E16 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Rails and Universal Installation Kit # C16116 to tow your 35' RV with your 2018 Ram 2500 but I really don't recommend doing that for 3 reasons. The first is that this is a universal installation rail kit which means that you have to do some drilling into the frame of your brand new vehicle and the second is that the E16 is an entry level 5th wheel hitch that can get the job done but it doesn't secure the king pin very well, while the third reason is that you need a sliding 5th wheel hitch for cab clearance during turns. This means that with this kit you will be modifying your brand new vehicle and using a 5th wheel hitch that is very subject to causing chucking and jarring - not something you want to experience - as well as no cab clearance.

Since you were looking at a kit with rails I take it that you don't have the factory puck system from Ram. With this being the case I can make some recommendations for you. One of the best options that is still fairly cost-effective (in the realm of 5th wheel hitches) is the B&W Patriot # BWRVK3270. This installs on your Ram with the Custom Rail Kit # BWRVK2602 and gives you dual 3/4" thick locking jaws with a cam-action latching handle to help prevent binding. This is also made in the USA and has a variety of head settings for a completely custom set up.

The B&W base rails are about 6" wide so they will sit about 54-5/16" from the rear end of your truck bed (excluding the tailgate) towards the front of your cab. With this in mind you can take some measurements in your truck bed to see if a toolbox is compatible like the 18" wide UWS 5th Wheel Toolbox # UWS01042.

You may also be interested in a 7-Way that installs in the bed of your truck like the Bargman # 50-97-410. This makes connecting and disconnecting your trailer wiring much easier.

Attached are some review videos for you to check out as well as a photo showing where the base rails will install on your pickup.