Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch For Ford F-350 Short Bed

Updated 03/08/2023 | Published 03/07/2023

Question:

Would you please recommend a fifth wheel hitch for an F350 short bed? It does not have the goose ball prep kit,but it does have 4 existing bolts in the bed, which I suppose are for rails. Many thanks!

asked by: Sean N

Expert Reply:

The sliding hitch I highly recommend for your Ford F-350 is the B&W Patriot, which is the following part number:

- B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider # BWRVK3270

I really like the Patriot because there just isn't a better overall value for a 5th wheel hitch. B&W is highly regarded in the industry for their quality, and the Patriot is no exception. In fact, if you take a look at the customer reviews, it has a nearly 5-star rating. That quality, combined with a very good price point (relative to 5th wheel hitches, of course) is why the Patriot is such a good value.

The quality of the Patriot (which is rated for 18,000 lbs) is most noticeable due to its 3/4" thick jaws which are designed to be very tight and in full contact with the king pin. The hefty jaw system ensures the king pin is totally stable in the hitch, so you're getting much less back and forth movement of the king pin in the jaws than other hitches with meeker jaws. This means your ride is going to be much smoother and more stable with the Patriot than with other hitches.

expert reply by: Kyle S