Will A 5th Wheel Slider Hitch Allow The Pin Box To Hit The Tailgate When In The Maneuvering Position

Updated 11/05/2025 | Published 12/31/2024

Products Featured in This Question

B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Chevy/GMC Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 25,000 lbs

(5032)

$1399.00

B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider for Chevy/GMC Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 20K

(5032)

$1699.00

Question:

I have a 2024 GMC short bed truck 6’-9” with the factory pick prep kit. The fifth wheel is a 2021 Montanna 3791RD. Considering the BandW Companion hitch. Do I need a fixed or slider hitch? Also, if a slider is recommended, will the pin box hit the tailgate when it slides to the rear 12 inches. How far back from the cab does the center of the kingpin sit in the tow position and when in the slider position? Thanks!

asked by: Mike K

Pin Box ID Tag
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Rota Flex Pin Box
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Expert Reply:

Hey Mike,

For any bed lengths under 8' it's always recommended to either use a sliding 5th wheel hitch or switch out the pin box to a rotating one to gain more clearance and prevent the nose of the trailer from coming into contact with the cab of the truck. At 6'9" a slider should be more than enough to get you to a 90 degree turning radius. For your Sierra you'll need the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch w/ Slider # BWRVK3775.

I can't tell you if the pin box will contact the tailgate since I don't know the height it's going to need to sit at inside your bed, but I can help you measure to find out. You'll first need to figure out that height so you'll want to level the trailer and then measure from the ground up to the king pin plate. Next you'll measure from the ground up to the bed and then subtract that number from the previous to get your hitch height. The # BWRVK3775 can range from 17" tall to 19" tall depending on how you install the pivot arms.

From there you can measure the difference between the hitch height and the top of the bedrails so see how much of the pin box sits inside the bed. The jaws of the # BWRVK3775 can sit either 2" or 4" behind the rear axle depending on the installation of the pivot arms so you can measure from the axle back 2" or 4" and then an additional 12" to see where it would sit when in the maneuvering position.

You can see how much of the pin box sits below the bedrails and then measure back from the king pin on the pin box to see how much length-wise is going to fall within this space. The pin box angles upward so the further back you measure the less there should be below the bedrail line. Once you know how much will sit below this line you can go back to where you measured the jaws to sit when in maneuvering mode to see if the pin box will contact the tailgate.

The much easier way of doing this would be to just leave the tailgate down and hook up then pull forward to see if you can close the tailgate while in the maneuvering position. If this sounds confusing just let me know and I can try to explain it in a bit more in detail.

expert reply by: Kevin C

Determining Hitch Height
(click to enlarge)

Kate F.

11/3/2025

Hey Mike, how did your measurements turn out with the B&W Companion slider for your Sierra? Were you able to check if the pin box clears the tailgate when in the maneuvering position? Your results could really help others setting up a similar short-bed truck and fifth wheel.

Mike K.

11/4/2025

Kate, I went with a Demco auto slider for this truck/fifth wheel combination and it works great. Adequate clearance all the way around to cab, tailgate and bed sides even at near 90 degrees. Only minor issue with the auto slider is when reconnecting to the fifth wheel the truck has to be oriented the way it was when you disconnected. This can be a little trying to realign if you disconnect at a considerable angle between the truck and trailer but it is manageable if you can’t avoid it.. The best solution is always to try to have the truck parallel to the trailer when disconnecting. It is much easier to back straight in to the trailer than trying to align the hitch and pin box at an angle. Hope this helps other. All in all I love the auto slider. I just didn’t find it practical to get out of the truck and activate a manual slider when in a tight maneuvering situation.

Kate F.

11/5/2025

@MikeK Thanks for sharing your experience Mike! That’s really helpful insight on the Demco auto slider. It’s great to hear it provides plenty of clearance even at tight angles, and your point about keeping the truck and trailer straight when disconnecting is a good reminder. Reconnecting at an angle can definitely be tricky, but your tip about planning ahead and lining up parallel will make things a lot smoother for others. I agree, the convenience of not having to get out and manually activate a slider is a big plus, especially in those tight maneuvering spots. Appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback!