How to Tell if 2018 Ford F-250 Has Puck System to use Demco Hijacker Autoslide

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Question:

The companion does not install in the bolts. In one of the photos, you should see the bottom of the hitch going thru the bed of the truck. A hole was cut in the middle of the truck bed and a rectangle chunk of steel attaches to the hitch, thru the bed and held in place by a rod accessed from above the left back wheel. Hope that makes sense. The bolts in the photos looks like light grey round tops, two on each side of the hitch. Thanks.

asked by: Roop

0

Expert Reply:

While the best and most certain way to tell if your 2018 Ford F-250 has the puck system is to call your local Ford dealer with your VIN, it should be pretty easy to tell otherwise. If your bed looks like the accompanying photo - with four accessible holes (pucks) and a gooseneck in the middle - you have the puck system.

You can also tell based on how your B&W Companion mounts. If you insert it into the pucks you have the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Slider for Ford Towing Prep Package # BWRVK3370. Otherwise, you would connect it to the Custom Underbed Installation Kit for B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches # BWGNRK1116-5W you do not have the puck system.

If you do have the pucks then you can absolutely use the Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch w Slider - Ford Super Duty Prep Package # DM8550024 (18,000 lbs) or # DM8550038 (21,000 lbs).

I have added a link to a video review for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Kyle S

0

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Roop

2/20/2020

The companion does not install in the bolts. In one of the photos, you should see the bottom of the hitch going thru the bed of the truck. A hole was cut in the middle of the truck bed and a rectangle chunk of steel attaches to the hitch, thru the bed and held in place by a rod accessed from above the left back wheel. Hope that makes sense. The bolts in the photos looks like light grey round tops, two on each side of the hitch. Thanks.

Reply

Kyle S.

2/20/2020

Thanks so much for the photo, and your explanation definitely made perfect sense. Based on that and the photo you do not have the factory prep package because you have the Companion that attaches to its own underbed rail/gooseneck. The bolts you referred to are simply what helps keeps your truck bed attached to the frame. So to use the Demco Hijacker hitch you would need to remove that and install rails for the Hijacker, and you have your choice of below-bed or above-bed rails. Here are the rails that fit your 2018 Ford F-250 and the Hijackers that will fit those rails. Below-Bed Base Rails and Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch: - Underbed Rail and Installation Kit for Demco Hijacker UMS 5th Wheel and Gooseneck Trailer Hitches # DM8551009 - Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Slider - Underbed # DM8550022 (18,000 lbs) or # DM8550037 (21,000 lbs) Above-Bed Base Rails and Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch: - Demco Hijacker Premier Series Above-Bed Base Rails and Custom Installation Kit for 5th Wheel Hitches # DM8552031-71 - Demco Hijacker Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Slider - Above Bed # DM8550034 (18,000 lbs) or # DM8550035 (21,000 lbs)

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Answer 1

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion…

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Answer 2

The Ram OEM 5th wheel puck system, shown in the linked photo and article, was launched in 2013 so what you have in your truck is likely to be an aftermarket installation of some kind. These newer Ram trucks with the factory prep can directly accept…

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Answer 3

Hey Lamar, The Demco Autoslide 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider #DM69GV has side plates with attachment points that will drop right into your Ram's puck system an without the need of any other kind of adapters or rails. The only thing you might…

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Answer 4

The main differences between the Curt A25 5th Wheel Hitch #C16036 and Q24 #C16545-16017 for the OEM prep package in your 2022 Ford F-350 is that the A25 is compatible with a rotating pin box by using a wedge #C16992, where the Q25 cannot be used…

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Answer 5

The Curt A25 #C16046 and Q25 #C16049 are both excellent 5th wheel hitches however there are a few upgrades on the newer Curt A25 #C16049 that make it the superior hitch and my personal recommendation. The primary difference between the two models…

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Answer 6

You do not have to use a sliding 5th wheel hitch in a short bed truck. In many cases, truck beds shorter than 8 ft do not have enough clearance between the trailer and truck to execute sharp turns. This is why sliding hitches were invented. Due to…

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Answer 7

Great questions! Reese actually makes the OEM puck system for Ford so if the 2022 F-250 is cheaper by a lot then I recommend going that route and installing the Under-Bed Rail and Installation Kit #RP87FR. The only thing you'll really be…

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Answer 8

The airbags that I recommend for your 2018 Ford F-250 are the Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Air Helper Springs part #AL57399. These airbags will not interfere with the B&W Turnoverball Underbed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch part #BWGNRK1116 as you can…

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Answer 9

The factory rail kit is also known as the factory prep package on your 2017 Ford F-250. The difference is that the prep package includes the 4 holes plus the gooseneck hitch ball hole in the center. You can see an example of this in the attached…

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Answer 10

It looks like you have either the Curt Double Lock, Flip and Store Underbed Gooseneck Hitch part #C60720 or the Curt EZr Double Lock Underbed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch part #C60683 installed on your 2016 Ford F-250. If that is the case then I have…

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Answer 11

1/2 inch thick bedliner is pretty thick so it would need to be trimmed back to allow the B and W Companion Hitch #BWRVK3305 to fit into the pucks of your 2022 Ford F-250.

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Answer 12

The OEM puck system is optional for Ford pickups so the only way to tell if your 2017 Ford F-250 has the puck system or not is to physically look in the bed for the pucks like what you see in the attached photo. If you do have the puck system then…

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How to Tell if 2018 Ford F-250 Has Puck System to use Demco Hijacker Autoslide

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