I'm looking to buy a Ford F250/350 as a tow vehicle for my next 5r. I already have a Reese sliding 16K hitch from my previous 5r (Part No. 30051). I also see that Ford OEMs hitches. My question is, if I get the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck package on the truck, will the Reese slider that I already have fit in the slots Ford puts in the bed for this? The Reese installation manual seems pretty specific on the distance between front and rear mounting plates, etc. I don't want to go out of my way to get this option if the holes they put in the bed aren't usable for the Reese 16K sliding hitch.I know I can just get the truck without the package do an aftermarket install, but the cross-member they add, along with prewiring the pigtail seem worth it -- but only if everything lines up.

Your existing hitch will only fit in the OEM puck system (they're not slots) if it is designed for the Ford OEM puck system. I would also not recommend the Ford-branded hitch. I have - and really like - an OEM puck system equipped truck and really like it. I use a PullRite hitch designed for the Ford puck system.Rob

If you plan to keep the truck for a long time get the hitch package. You may someday decide to try a different hitch that would use the puck mounting system. Or even the Goosebox gooseneck adapter that is growing rapidly in popularity and use the ball mount.

BB_TX wrote:If you plan to keep the truck for a long time get the hitch package. You may someday decide to try a different hitch that would use the puck mounting system. Or even the Goosebox gooseneck adapter that is growing rapidly in popularity and use the ball mount.Thats what I got from Curt. I really like it.

Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window. The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.

Usefulness of Ford "5th-Wheel/Gooseneck" package

Second_Chance
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2023
Your existing hitch will only fit in the OEM puck system (they're not slots) if it is designed for the Ford OEM puck system. I would also not recommend the Ford-branded hitch. I have - and really like - an OEM puck system equipped truck and really like it. I use a PullRite hitch designed for the Ford puck system.

Rob
Travlingman
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2023
Reese Adapter
BB_TX
Nomad
Jun 08, 2023
If you plan to keep the truck for a long time get the hitch package. You may someday decide to try a different hitch that would use the puck mounting system. Or even the Goosebox gooseneck adapter that is growing rapidly in popularity and use the ball mount.
ksss
Explorer
Jun 08, 2023
BB_TX wrote:
If you plan to keep the truck for a long time get the hitch package. You may someday decide to try a different hitch that would use the puck mounting system. Or even the Goosebox gooseneck adapter that is growing rapidly in popularity and use the ball mount.

Thats what I got from Curt. I really like it.
schlep1967
Nomad
Jun 08, 2023
Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window.
The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jun 08, 2023
schlep1967 wrote:
Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window.
The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.

well I have had the Reese adapter in our 2016 Ram 3500 for going of six years, the truck bought used the end of 2018. Pre Covid, I only paid a couple dollars over $300 for ours, no difference than putting in rails, just removable for flat floor.
cummins2014
Explorer
Jun 08, 2023
rhagfo wrote:
schlep1967 wrote:
Get the puck system and a new hitch. Go with an auto-slider and you will never break out a window.
The Reese adapter linked above costs about $600. Seems like a waste of money and adds another failure point.

well I have had the Reese adapter in our 2016 Ram 3500 for going of six years, the truck bought used the end of 2018. Pre Covid, I only paid a couple dollars over $300 for ours, no difference than putting in rails, just removable for flat floor.

I have had the Reese adapter in my 2014 since March of 2014 ,not a lot of choices for the puck system back then . Plus the fact I wanted to use my existing hitch that fit the standard rails . Have since went to the steel Andersen which also fits on the adapter .

There are always failure points ,but that adapter , with the four lock down lugs is the least of my worries .
MFL
Nomad II
Jun 08, 2023
Don't think the OP understands how the puck system works. Yes you would need an adapter using the FW prep.

A new truck, I'd just do it right. Sell your current hitch on market place etc. Now get a quality hitch to drop direct into the pucks, with no need to buy a heavy/expensive adapter. You should not even need a sliding hitch. An adjustable ahead/back quality hitch, such as the B&W 3300 will give good clearance, when towing a newer rounded front FW, that is designed for a standard bed truck.

Using adapters can add several more inches of height to your hitch, which may mean towing some FWs more nose high.

Jerry
ReneeG
Explorer
Jun 08, 2023
We have a Hensely TrailerSaver FW hitch and used the adaptor for our F350 pickup.
ZagiFlyer
Explorer
Jun 08, 2023
MFL wrote:
Don't think the OP understands how the puck system works. . . .

Jerry

This is the crux of the post; when I last had a 5r there was no such thing. I don't understand how this system works (yet).

But it sounds like the answer to my original question is to get the 5th-Wheel/Gooseneck package on the truck. This gives me the option of getting the adapter and using my existing hitch or selling the hitch and using the new kind that uses the puck.