5th wheel prep package

[SeanRN]

Does anyone know if the 5th wheel prep package, (holes in bed with under mount frame for goose neck or 5th wheel hitch), are standard across Ford, GM and Dodge platforms? I tried calling Campers Inn and they were no help.

[champ198]

Originally Posted by SeanRN

Does anyone know if the 5th wheel prep package, (holes in bed with under mount frame for goose neck or 5th wheel hitch), are standard across Ford, GM and Dodge platforms? I tried calling Campers Inn and they were no help.

I don't believe they are standard. You will need a custom bracket for whatever 5th wheel hitch you go with for the specific truck brand to fit the pucks. You can tell by going to a hitch manufacturers websites and looking at the adapters and you will find they all have different part numbers and designs, meaning they are not interchangeable with Ford, GM, or RAM.

Hope that helps.

[BipeFlier]

I believe champ is correct with the above reply.

For GM, the package on my 2016 was the trailer brake control and wiring to the back bumper with the plug, and the platform hitch.

Brackets had to be installed on the frame to support the 5th wheel hitch.

[SeanRN]

Factory 5th wheel prep package is different across Ford, GM and Dodge. Makes sense from a $$ perspective for the truck manufacturer. Probably a pain for the hitch manufacturers. Now they have to make three versions of the same hitch.

I decided to have the Ford dealer install the 5th wheel/goose neck package in my truck. I was going to go with rails. I've installed them before with the help of my neighbor who is a mechanic. It was a PIA without a lift or the right tools. The pucks are clean and look good. The cost installed at the dealer through Ford accessories is $753. A couple places told me the rails installation would be 3-4 hours. I'm guessing about $400 for the labor and I've seen generic rails for $131. So for about another $200 I'll have a flat truck bed.

As for the hitch, I"m going with the adapter so I can use any hitch I want. If I buy a hitch that will drop right into the puck holes it will be limited to Ford trucks between specific years.

Reese has a generic adapter for each manufacturer. Amazon $277 on Prime. Ford was $377.

[gossamar]

Okay....for your 2012 Ford, I would recommend the B & W Companion hitch. I just traded a 2011 F350 in which I had this hitch installed due to the lack of a "factory puck" option, which sounds like your present situation. As others have stated above, the factory puck option....is just that an option as it is not part of the "standard order guides" that the dealership orders there "lot trucks" from. I had originally specked my 2011 with the puck system, but there was a back-order on parts way back in 2010 and I could not wait the additional 3-months for the truck to be built. When I ordered the 2017, I included the puck option and again went with the B & W hitch for the Ford puck system rated at 20K.....the Rushmore comes in at 16.5K. Now way down the road if we upgrade to a heavier trailer, I will need to go with the Reece puck hitch that has a max load of I believe 27K.

[Donjamin]

I installed a Reese 15K slider hitch on my 2015 Ford 250 SD 4X4. I used the Reese rails for a Ford setup but still had to drill into the truck frame to properly connect the L brackets. Went through three drill bits due to the hardness of the truck body frame. The install directions from Reese were spot on where to install the rails in the bed. I'm very happy with the results.

D.

[superduty glampers]

Reelse makes a custom rail kit for that truck very easy installation with common hand tools. No drilling the frame only down through the floor of the bed. I got mine from E-trailer,less then $150. While your at it you can put your 7 pin plug in the bed and you know it's done right.

[SeanRN]

I chose to install the pucks because I don't have the skills or tools to install the rails. I also wanted a clean bed and for the extra few hundred bucks it was worth it to me. I'm going with an adapter so I am not locked into a hitch specific to my truck.