I am in the market for a used 3500 diesel truck to tow a FW. My search is almost entirely online, as these vehicles in my price range are hard to find locally, therefore I am willing to find one 1,000-miles away.I would like to know what I should be looking for regarding if the truck is 'prepped' for a fifth-wheel hitch. I have specifically found a few 2011-2013 Silverado 3500HD Diesels that I like...but by looking at pictures of the bed, they do not have any indication that they are prepped for a hitch mount.Of course, I really don't want to purchase a truck 1,000 miles away, only to find that major work needs to be done before bolting a fifth-wheel hitch to the bed.Help!?

You can buy a set of custom fifth wheel rails from etrailer for a couple hundred bucks that will bolt on in an afternoon, so any truck without a factory fifth wheel prep kit can be equipped to haul a fifth wheel pretty easily.

Best thing if you are committed to a used GM is the B&W TurnoverBall gooseneck hitch. Then you have a clean bed when hitch is removed. I would highly recommend the 20K companion for a rock solid hitch.The 13 and newer RAM trucks have the pucks as a factory option or they can easily be added.

Thank you for the quick responses!I am looking at SRW standard bed (6.5'), so would need a sliding hitch after researching.The FW we are looking to get has a GVRW of 15,500 and also has the corners 'cut' out of the front end for easier turns, etc...I assume the B&W turnover ball has to be factory installed?

Gm just recently came out with FW prep kit. Easiest tow vehicle to find with a factory installed FW prep kit is a FORD, years 2011 to current.Best hitch for it IMO, is a B&W 3300.Jerry

mekkerl wrote:Thank you for the quick responses!I am looking at SRW standard bed (6.5'), so would need a sliding hitch after researching.The FW we are looking to get has a GVRW of 15,500 and also has the corners 'cut' out of the front end for easier turns, etc...I assume the B&W turnover ball has to be factory installed?You can install a gooseneck ball yourself easily enough, or have a shop do it if you're nervous about cutting into the bed. Just be aware with the turnover ball style hitches that you could have bed deflection issues. I personally think the factory pucks or FW rails are a better setup because they enable all four corners of the hitch to mount directly to the frame.

Hitch Prep?? | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

MFL
Nomad II
Mar 29, 2016
Gm just recently came out with FW prep kit. Easiest tow vehicle to find with a factory installed FW prep kit is a FORD, years 2011 to current.

Best hitch for it IMO, is a B&W 3300.

Jerry
mekkerl
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Thank you for the quick responses!
I am looking at SRW standard bed (6.5'), so would need a sliding hitch after researching.
The FW we are looking to get has a GVRW of 15,500 and also has the corners 'cut' out of the front end for easier turns, etc...

I assume the B&W turnover ball has to be factory installed?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 29, 2016
Best thing if you are committed to a used GM is the B&W TurnoverBall gooseneck hitch. Then you have a clean bed when hitch is removed. I would highly recommend the 20K companion for a rock solid hitch.

The 13 and newer RAM trucks have the pucks as a factory option or they can easily be added.
IdaD
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
You can buy a set of custom fifth wheel rails from etrailer for a couple hundred bucks that will bolt on in an afternoon, so any truck without a factory fifth wheel prep kit can be equipped to haul a fifth wheel pretty easily.

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Hitch Prep??

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