We have a sliding hitch (husky 26k) in our Ford 250, short bed. We pull a 37 foot cedar creek with it. The problem we just noticed is that our rail that sits closest to the truck cab has bent up and has created a convex curve in the truck bed. Has anyone else experienced this. I am concerned if either the installation was done incorrectly, that might of caused this issue, or if maybe we are using the slider incorrectly. The hitch is new, but, the rails are from our last hitch which wasn't as big as this one. When they installed the new hitch they were fine with using the previous rails. We have been pulling a fifth wheel for quite a few years and never seen anything like this before. If anybody has any insight to this issue, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

My first guess would be the front rail is not bolted to the frame like it should be. Or the bolts to the frame came out. The bed shouldn't move if the rails are installed properly.

avvidclif1 wrote:My first guess would be the front rail is not bolted to the frame like it should be. Or the bolts to the frame came out. The bed shouldn't move if the rails are installed properly.X-2

avvidclif1 wrote:My first guess would be the front rail is not bolted to the frame like it should be. Or the bolts to the frame came out. The bed shouldn't move if the rails are installed properly.All guesses aside.....you need to start from ground zero, and check everything - *very* thoroughly.If you're not capable of that - take it to a competent hitch installer,which usually is *not* the RV dealer/s.~

Thank you all so much for your input. We did take it to the RV dealer to have it installed. I believe we are going to go to our Ford Dealer and have them look at the issue. What you have all said makes perfect sense to me. Heres to wishing me luck getting this fixed properly and not costing me an arm and a leg!!!Thanks again

Hitches are rated for different load factors. Your older hitch ( RAILS ) might not be rated to handle this extra pin weight.

Fifth wheel hitch - rail bending and pulling up truck bed

30 Replies

transamz9
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
RCMAN46 wrote:
sljkansas wrote:
That's why I like my B&W hitch with the turn over ball mount. no rails, solid as a rock, and enasy to remove so I have a flat floor. Rated 18k for my older unit, 20K for the newer ones.

This is a quote from another B&M owner.

"I had the dreaded pickup bed crushing from my Companion hitch. "

The B&W is not free from causing damage to your bed if you are using their companion hitch for the turn over ball mount.

If they had done it correct they would have had bolts that go to frame brackets at each corner of the hitch.

He probably had the old style hitch. I have a 3500 Companion and it will not crush the bed floor.;)
Bamaman11
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
I sprang for Curt custom under bed frame mounts vs. the standard OEM angle mounts.

There's a much less chance of bed bending with custom frame mounts.
RCMAN46
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
sljkansas wrote:
That's why I like my B&W hitch with the turn over ball mount. no rails, solid as a rock, and enasy to remove so I have a flat floor. Rated 18k for my older unit, 20K for the newer ones.

This is a quote from another B&M owner.

"I had the dreaded pickup bed crushing from my Companion hitch. "

The B&W is not free from causing damage to your bed if you are using their companion hitch for the turn over ball mount.

If they had done it correct they would have had bolts that go to frame brackets at each corner of the hitch.
sljkansas
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
The B&W has a under bed mounting plate that is mounted to the frame. there is a hole drilled in the bed floor that mates up with the locking mechanism. you pull a rod that is in the wheel then install the base for the Companion in the hole then release the locking rod.
Install the Companion on the base, and you are ready to go.

Go to Turnoverball.com to check it out. No rails, easy to remove and you have your flat floor back.

Once you have or used a B&W you'll wonder why it wasn't your first choice.
mrw8i
Explorer
Dec 05, 2014
The rails and brackets to bolt the rails to the frame are ordered separately. Most likely original installer never installed a 5th wheel hitch before and only had the rails and not the brackets that bolt to the frame. The brackets are custom by make/model/year of truck, or there is a set of generic brackets which require drilling into the frame. Scary no matter what.
allen8106
Explorer
Dec 05, 2014
We had a similar situation with our "RV" dealer. When we bought the rig they installed the bed rails but they only used one bolt per L bracket into the frame. The L brackets are designed to have two bolts per bracket that mount to the truck frame. I never noticed it until I went to take the rails off when I traded the truck in on my new 2013. Needless to say I was pretty ticked off at the RV dealer and called them up. they just made excuses.
RAS43
Explorer III
Dec 05, 2014
sljkansas wrote:
That's why I like my B&W hitch with the turn over ball mount. no rails, solid as a rock, and enasy to remove so I have a flat floor. Rated 18k for my older unit, 20K for the newer ones.

That is fine but the hitch still has to be attached to the frame somehow. This is the issue here, not what kind of hitch/rail the OP has.
kakampers
Explorer
Dec 05, 2014
Just had our new hitch installed by the Chevy dealer...they did an excellent job and the rails are mounted to the welded in frame brackets...not through just the bed.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Dec 05, 2014
Curious why a welder would be needed to fix/install it correctly. With the correct brackets, the rails are bolted to the truck frame.

I have no idea how the OP brackets are attached but most folks that tow for a living will have the frame mounting brackets welded instead of just bolted. Or if their bolted they will have them welded also.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Dec 05, 2014
sljkansas wrote:
That's why I like my B&W hitch with the turn over ball mount. no rails, solid as a rock, and enasy to remove so I have a flat floor. Rated 18k for my older unit, 20K for the newer ones.

That B&W Companion is an impressive piece of engineering technology! And it looks pretty good too!

They pop up on Craigslist around here for about $600 ish here lately. They have all been the older design. I'm not sure if people are stepping up to the 20k Companion and selling off the old one.

Few weeks ago I found a companion base for $200.00....it didn't have the head on it though. The owner moved the hitch head to a new OEM companion base.
I almost bought it until I priced a new hitch head. Lol

Thanks!

Jeremiah