Recommended Lightest Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch for the Ram Puck System

Updated 07/29/2024 | Published 07/23/2024

Question:

2024 Ram 2500 w/ puck system and 6.5’ bed-Is there a light reliable slider hitch or lighter than others, something I could take out my truck myself? I am all of five feet tall, need to replace my old Reese hitch, and would love to get my bed back when needed. If not, can you recommend a hitch as well as what I need to make it work in my new truck? Thank you.

asked by: Debbie

Expert Reply:

Hey Debbie, I have a solution for you but the sliders are all going to be heavy due to them having to support the additional movement. Since your Ram has the factory puck system, I recommend the Reese 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Square Tube Slider item # RP87MR. It has a 16,000 lbs capacity and will give you 10" of travel from front to back.

Assembled the Reese item # RP87MR weighs 140 lbs. Due to the overall weight of the hitch, Reese designed it so it could be taken out of a truck bed piece by piece. The assembly is fairly easy, but you will need a wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the crossmember to the slider legs.

The head weighs just over 50 lbs, the crossmember is slightly under 30 lbs, and the sliding base is 60 lbs.

expert reply by: Jerred H

Debbie

7/24/2024

Thanks for your reply, Jerred. Are slider hitches difficult to operate? Also, if I decided I don’t care about the hitch in the back of the truck, would you recommend the B and W Patriot slider? My fifth wheel has the cutouts in the front, so I don’t even know if I NEED a slider. Please help. Thank you.

Jerred H.

7/29/2024

@Debbie No, they're not difficult to operate. You just get out and pull a lever when you're wanting to back up or make a tight turn. As far as a B&W hitch goes you'll need to use the B&W Companion item # BWRVK3600 if you do not want to use a sliding hitch. Their Patriot item # BW89XR does not mount to the factory puck system.