Community Forums

Abndrillsgt · 02-20-2013, 07:00 PM

My dad is giving me his 5th trailer because he isn't using it anymore. I just bought a tow vehicle for it, but want to know if his current hitch will fit my truck. His hitch is a Reese and its coming out if his 2003 Dodge 2500. I just bought a 2005 F250 Fx4 with a 6.5 bed. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tim

86bigred · 02-20-2013, 08:00 PM

Yep, I have installed lots. Hate short beds though.

Fred1609 · 02-20-2013, 08:04 PM

We have a short bed in our F350 towing a 37' 5er and it does fine.

RoyM · 02-20-2013, 08:55 PM

You may need to fab different mounts or purchase a mount kit but otherwise you should be good to go. Depending on the trailer design be careful when backing or in sharp turns, it can get expensive. Don't ask how I know.

Rolfsted · 02-21-2013, 06:57 AM

Yeah be careful with the short bed. I just dented my cab 2 weeks ago.......I have a slider hitch but didn't think I was turning that tight.

mwells4654 · 02-21-2013, 11:56 AM

I believe you will need a different mounting kit for the Ford than the Dodge. I would look at the Reese web site and read about his hitch. Also, I thought you only needed a slider for beds under 6 ft. The bed on my 2006 GMC is under 6 ft. and I used the trailer anyway since the trailer had and extended pin. Later I purchased a slider for the added protection when making a sharp reversing maneuver.

Ray,IN · 02-21-2013, 09:18 PM

Each Reese mounting kit is vehicle specific, brackets are different, bolts different lengths, etc. The rails are generic though, spacing the same. The distance from the center line of the rear axle to CL of pin jaws is different for each vehicle brand, quite often for each model of same brand. I would follow Mel's advice and purchase a new, correct mounting kit from Reese for your truck.

Trent McCain · 02-22-2013, 03:35 PM

I went through the same deal with my father. He had a 16K Reese w the quik-slide. He ordered his new Ford F350 with the factory hitch prep pkg, so he couldn't use his old hitch. I would reccomend ordering custom brackets from Reese, they bolt through existing holes in the frame, drill through the box, mount the rails and you're fixed. Much simpler than drilling the frame and installing the universal brackets. I think the cost for the custom bracket kit would be recouped in labor time at installation. My father had the hitch in a OBS Ford F250 and 2 SuperDutys, I had it installed in a F150 SuperCrew and now a F350 SuperDuty.

SmokeyWren · 02-22-2013, 07:07 PM

The install kit for the Dodge won't fit your Ford. You may be able to reuse just the bed rails, but not the mounting brackets. Here's the install kit you need if you want the quick-install brackets:
Reese Quick-install kit for 2005 F-250

Unless you are a glutton for punishment, you definitely want to use those custom mounting brackets instead of the ordinary "ell" brackets that require you to drill big holes in the frame of the truck.

As for the requirement for a slider hitch, your truck with 6.5" bed probably cannot do a 90° jackknife without cab to trailer contact. Any time you put the rig in reverse gear, you can jackknife before you can blink. So I would not tow most 5ers with a shorty pickup without a slider hitch. With your Reese hitch, you an probably buy just the slider part and not have to buy the entire hitch. Here's one that might fit your hitch:
Reese Kwik Slide Square Tube Slider 30048

Abndrillsgt · 02-23-2013, 06:47 PM

Thanks so much for the valuable information. I will order the correct mounting kit for my truck and have the professionals install it for me. The hitch is a sliding version so I shouldn't have any problems with hitting the truck. Thanks again. First trip to Florida is planned for June.