2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 5th Wheel Clearance

Updated 03/09/2021 | Published 03/05/2021

Question:

2021 Chevy Silverado 2500 with Z71 off-road pkg. Bed rail height above ground is 58 inches. Truck has 5th wheel package with 69 box. Will there be any clearance issues with a 5 th wheel trailer ?

asked by: David W

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is no specific height that you have to have in order to use a 5th wheel hitch, they are height adjustable by several inches and so is the pin box on most trailers. What you do need though is at least 5"-6" from the bed rails to the trailer, with the trailer setting level when connected.

The fifth-wheel hitch's height setting is taken by measuring from the ground to the underside of pin box. The flat plate where the king pin is affixed. Then from the ground to your truck bed and subtract the second measurement from the first for the proper height setting. There should be 5-6" of clearance between the back of your truck and your fifth wheel.

There can be issues on trucks with lift kits or too large of tire. There is a crossover point between a truck arranged for off road Vs. towing.

I have attached several articles from our help section and we have a handy fit guide on the etrailer.com site to assist with selecting the best fit. With a short bed you should consider a model with a slider, such as the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider # BWRVK3775. This is a confirmed fit for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with 6-3/4 Foot Bed and OEM Prep Pkg. Hitch height is17" - 19" with 12" of travel to front to back for use in short bed trucks. This is a 20K hitch that is made in USA.

Please review the attached articles. We will need to identify the specs of trailer you intend to tow, but we can arrange all the needed parts to ensure you can safely tow a 5th wheel trailer.

expert reply by: Michael R