Can I Move Universal 5th Wheel Rails From One Truck to Another?

Updated 05/20/2026 | Published 05/18/2026

Question:

Good morning I was just trying to see if anyone made a universal fifth wheel rail kit that can be removed from a truck let’s say a Ram to a Chevy or Ford to a Ram ? Does it have to be truck specific? Thank you

asked by: Nicholas H

Expert Reply:

Hello Nicholas,

Good morning! Universal 5th wheel rail kits like the Demco Premier Series Above-Bed Base Rails and Universal Install Kit # DM8552009-71 can technically be installed in different trucks, but there are a few important things to keep in mind before going that route.

The biggest thing is that universal rail kits are more labor-intensive to install compared to custom-fit kits. They require more measuring and drilling during installation, and because they mount through the truck bed, they will leave holes behind if the rails are removed later. That is true whether you move them from a Ram to a Chevy or from a Ford to another truck.

The rails themselves use the industry-standard spacing, so the hitch can usually transfer over, but the installation hardware should not be reused between trucks. Once the hardware has been torqued down and used, manufacturers recommend replacing it with new hardware for safety reasons. You would also need to make sure the brackets and mounting locations work properly with the new truck’s frame and bed design.

In most cases, customers find it easier and cleaner to use a custom-fit bracket kit for each truck since those kits reduce drilling and make installation much simpler. Universal kits will work, but they definitely take more time and effort to install correctly.

Why do you need to be able to switch the rails into the different trucks?

expert reply by: Kate F