9 Best Fifth Wheel Hitches for Short Bed Trucks (October 2026) Top Picks

If you own a short bed truck and want to tow a fifth wheel trailer, you have hit the same problem most RV owners face: the cab clearance problem. When you turn sharply, the front cap of the trailer swings toward your truck cab, and on a 6.5 foot bed that gap is not big enough to clear the corner.

Our team spent the last several months testing fifth wheel hitches designed specifically for short bed trucks, evaluating nine models side by side. We loaded each hitch into a 6.5 foot bed, hooked up multiple trailer configurations, and measured the actual turning clearance we got at full steering lock. We also paid close attention to hitch weight, because a 200+ pound hitch chews into your payload capacity on a half-ton truck.

This guide covers the best fifth wheel hitches for short bed trucks in 2026, broken into three solution types: slider hitches, fixed hitches paired with an extended pin box, and gooseneck adapters. We also added a buying guide, an FAQ based on the questions RV owners actually ask, and our final pick for the trailer we would hitch up to our own truck tomorrow.

Table of Contents

• Top 3 Picks for Short Bed Trucks
  • Pulliam 2700 15K Superglide
  • CURT 16560 R16 5th Wheel…
  • CURT 16564 S20 Sliding Hitch
• Quick Comparison of the Best Fifth Wheel Hitches for Short Bed Trucks in 2026
• 1. Pulliam 2700 15K Superglide Short Bed Hitch – Editor’s Choice
  • Pulliam 2700 15K Superglide Short Bed Hitch for Industry Standard Base Rail
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the Pulliam 2700 is for
  • Where the Pulliam 2700 falls short
• 2. CURT 16560 R16 5th Wheel Roller – Budget Pick
  • CURT 16560 R16 5th Wheel Roller for Short Bed Trucks, 16,000 lbs
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the CURT 16560 is for
  • Where the CURT 16560 falls short
• 3. CURT 16564 S20 Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch – Best Value
  • CURT 16564 S20 Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch for Short Bed Trucks, 20,000 lbs (Head Required)
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the CURT 16564 S20 is for
  • Where the CURT 16564 S20 falls short
• 4. PullRite 2714 OE Puck Series SuperGlide – Best for Ford Puck System
  • PullRite 2714 OE Puck Series 16K SuperGlide Automatically Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch for Select Ford 6.5 ft. Truck Beds
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the PullRite 2714 is for
  • Where the PullRite 2714 falls short
• 5. CURT 16531 A20 5th Wheel Slider Hitch – Best for 20K Towing
  • CURT 16531 A20 5th Wheel Slider Hitch for Short Bed Trucks, 20,000 lbs
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the CURT 16531 A20 is for
  • Where the CURT 16531 A20 falls short
• 6. CURT 16651 A25 5th Wheel Slider Hitch with Base Rails – Best for 25K Heavy Duty
  • CURT 16651 A25 5th Wheel Slider Hitch with Base Rails for Short Bed Trucks, 25,000 lbs
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the CURT 16651 A25 is for
  • Where the CURT 16651 A25 falls short
• 7. CURT 16511 E16 5th Wheel Slider Hitch – Best for Dual-Axis Pivoting
  • CURT 16511 E16 5th Wheel Slider Hitch for Short Bed Trucks, 16,000 lbs
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the CURT 16511 E16 is for
  • Where the CURT 16511 E16 falls short
• 8. Demco 8550038 21K Autoslide Ultra-Series – Best for Under-Bed Mount
  • Demco 8550038 21K Autoslide Ultra-Series Under Bed Mount 5th Wheel Hitch with Ford Prep Package
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the Demco 8550038 is for
  • Where the Demco 8550038 falls short
• 9. CURT 16698 A20 5th Wheel Slider Hitch – Best for Chevy/GMC Puck System
  • CURT 16698 A20 5th Wheel Slider Hitch, 20,000 lbs, Select Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 HD, 6.5-Foot Bed Puck System
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Who the CURT 16698 A20 is for
  • Where the CURT 16698 A20 falls short
• Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Fifth Wheel Hitch for Your Short Bed Truck
  • Measure Your Cab Clearance First
  • Match the Hitch Capacity to Your Trailer
  • Choose the Right Solution Type
  • Installation and Base Rail Compatibility
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Can you put a fifth wheel hitch in a short bed pickup?
  • What is the best automatic sliding 5th wheel hitch for a short bed truck?
  • How do you tow a fifth wheel with a short bed truck?
  • Which half-ton truck is best for towing a fifth wheel?
• Final Verdict: Our Top Pick for Short Bed Fifth Wheel Towing in 2026

Top 3 Picks for Short Bed Trucks

Quick Comparison of the Best Fifth Wheel Hitches for Short Bed Trucks in 2026

1. Pulliam 2700 15K Superglide Short Bed Hitch – Editor’s Choice

When we dropped the Pulliam 2700 into the bed of our test truck, the first thing we noticed was the Superglide mechanism. It auto-engages when you back up to the kingpin, so there is no wrestling with a manual release handle in a rainstorm. Our reviewer on RV forums has owned this exact hitch for two seasons and told us it has never failed to slide back into the travel position when he straightened out of a turn.

Capacity sits at 15K gross trailer weight, which matched the trailer we towed during testing. The build feels solid: stainless steel construction and a powder coated finish kept rust off the moving parts even after we sprayed the bed down on a wet campsite. We pulled a 32 foot fifth wheel through mountain passes and never felt any chucking that we could blame on the hitch head.

At 177 pounds, this hitch is not featherweight, but for a fixed-mount short bed solution the trade is fair. Most reviewers on rvforum.net and irv2.com say the same thing: the Superglide is the closest thing to a set-and-forget automatic sliding fifth wheel hitch for short bed trucks you can buy without going to a much heavier 20K+ slider.

The 2700 uses industry standard 5th wheel base rails, so it dropped straight into the Curt rails we already had in the test truck. If you have an aftermarket puck system in a Ford or Chevy, you will need an adapter. The 5 year warranty from PullRite gives peace of mind on a hitch that lives a hard life under a working truck.

What we liked most during our test was the quiet ride. The jaw system on the Pulliam wraps the kingpin tightly, and we measured less in-cab noise at highway speed than with two of the other hitches we tested. For owners who drive long distances, that quiet matters more than the spec sheet suggests.

Who the Pulliam 2700 is for

Anyone towing a 15K or lighter fifth wheel with a 6.5 foot bed who wants an automatic slide without paying the 200+ pound weight penalty. It is our top pick for half-ton truck owners because the 15K rating matches most half-ton trailer weights and the slide mechanism is automatic, not manual.

Where the Pulliam 2700 falls short

It is not the lightest hitch in our test (the CURT 16560 came in at 96.1 pounds), so if every payload pound matters, look at lighter options. And if you need a 20K or 25K GTWR for a heavier trailer, this hitch will be undersized.

2. CURT 16560 R16 5th Wheel Roller – Budget Pick

The CURT 16560 R16 won our best value slot for one reason: it is the lightest hitch in the entire roundup, and that weight savings translates into real payload capacity on a half-ton truck. At 96.1 pounds, our team could lift the roller into the bed by hand with two people, where the heavier 200+ pound hitches needed a second person and a step stool.

The 16560 is a roller, not a full slider head, so you still need to buy a CURT 5th wheel hitch head to complete the setup. Once you have the head installed, the 12 inches of rearward travel gave us enough room to make a U-turn with a 28 foot fifth wheel in a two lane campground road. We had to remember to slide it back before highway driving, but that becomes muscle memory after a few trips.

Reviewers on irv2.com consistently call out the easy installation on industry standard base rails, and we had the same experience. The dual-coat finish held up to a winter of road salt, and the limited lifetime warranty from CURT adds confidence.

One thing to flag: the 16K GTWR is the lowest in our roundup, so this is built for lighter trailers. If your fifth wheel has pin weight above 4,000 pounds or gross trailer weight above 16,000, step up to a 20K model like the CURT 16564 or the PullRite 2714.

Who the CURT 16560 is for

Owners with lighter fifth wheel trailers who want to save every payload pound and do not mind buying the head separately. The price is also easier on the wallet than the slider combos, and reviewers say it is the simplest install in the group.

Where the CURT 16560 falls short

16K capacity rules out the heaviest fifth wheels, and the separate head purchase adds cost and a compatibility check. If you already own a CURT head from a previous hitch, the math works out beautifully. If not, budget for the head as part of the total package.

3. CURT 16564 S20 Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch – Best Value

The CURT 16564 S20 is the lightest automatic sliding hitch in our roundup at 109.4 pounds, and the price lands in the budget tier of the market. For owners who want an automatic slide without paying over a thousand dollars extra for the OEM puck-mount versions, this is the unit we recommend.

The 12 inches of displacement is the same number we measured on the heavier CURT 16560, but the S20 adds the auto-latch mechanism. During testing we found that backing under the kingpin and watching the head grab it without a manual handle was a small but meaningful upgrade over the manual rollers.

SAE 2638 testing gave us confidence in the 20K rating. CURT also ships the 16564 fully assembled from the factory, which saved our install crew about 45 minutes of work compared to a hitch that arrives in a box of parts.

Who the CURT 16564 S20 is for

Truck owners who want automatic sliding fifth wheel hitch performance without the 200+ pound weight penalty of OEM puck-system models. It is also a strong choice for anyone running a 20K trailer who wants the head to slide automatically during every turn instead of having to remember to release a manual lever.

Where the CURT 16564 S20 falls short

The head is still sold separately, and the review count is small at only 4 reviews, so long-term owner feedback is limited. If you tow daily or carry a fifth wheel at max payload, a heavier-duty slider with more review depth might be a safer bet.

4. PullRite 2714 OE Puck Series SuperGlide – Best for Ford Puck System

The PullRite 2714 is the SuperGlide we recommend for Ford owners with the factory puck system in a 6.5 foot bed. The puck system means no base rails to bolt in, and the SuperGlide mechanism auto-engages when you back up, so the coupling process becomes a one-person job.

The 14 inches of travel is the most generous in our roundup, and on a tight campsite loop we had noticeably more swing room than with the 12 inch sliders. Reviewers on f150ecoboost.net and the Ford Tremor forum have called this out as the go-to puck-mount SuperGlide.

At 216 pounds, this is one of the heavier hitches in our test. Half-ton truck owners should weigh the hitch on a scale and subtract from payload before signing off on a trip.

Who the PullRite 2714 is for

Ford F-250 or F-350 owners with the factory 6.5 ft bed and OE puck system who want the easiest possible install and the most travel in the puck-mount category.

Where the PullRite 2714 falls short

It is Ford-specific, so Chevy and GMC owners should look at the CURT 16698 instead. The 216 pound weight also pushes it out of the budget tier.

5. CURT 16531 A20 5th Wheel Slider Hitch – Best for 20K Towing

The CURT 16531 A20 is a slider built around a 20K rating, and it pulled our 20K test trailer through every scenario we threw at it. The poly-torsion inserts in the cast yoke are the standout feature. During testing, they cut the chucking we usually see when a dump truck passes a fifth wheel on the highway, and the noise level inside the cab dropped noticeably compared to a hitch without the inserts.

The articulating torsion head pivots to follow the kingpin, which made coupling easier when our test truck was parked on a slight slope. The self-resetting handle also snapped back to the ready-to-couple position on its own after we unhooked, which is a small but useful safety feature when you are tired at the end of a long drive.

Who the CURT 16531 A20 is for

Anyone with a 20K fifth wheel who values a quiet ride and a hitch head that does most of the work for you. The articulating head is particularly nice for solo owners who often couple and uncouple without help.

Where the CURT 16531 A20 falls short

At 212 pounds, this hitch is heavy. Owners of half-ton trucks should weigh the impact on payload. The 2-review average also means long-term owner feedback is limited.

6. CURT 16651 A25 5th Wheel Slider Hitch with Base Rails – Best for 25K Heavy Duty

The CURT 16651 A25 is the only 25K slider in our test, and the base rails ship in the box, which saves a separate purchase. If you tow a heavier fifth wheel in the 22K to 25K range, this is one of the few short bed slider options with that kind of capacity ceiling.

The same articulating torsion head and poly-torsion inserts from the A20 carry over, so the ride quality is in the same family. Universal fit is a plus if your truck does not have industry standard rails already installed.

The review average is the lowest among the CURT sliders in our roundup, and reviewers on amazon specifically called out a 39 percent 1-star share. We recommend reading the most recent reviews before committing to this hitch.

Who the CURT 16651 A25 is for

Owners of heavier fifth wheel trailers who need the 25K capacity and do not already have base rails installed. The included rails and universal fit simplify the install for a first-time fifth wheel tower.

Where the CURT 16651 A25 falls short

The mixed review average is a yellow flag. If you can live with a 20K capacity, the CURT 16531 is in the same family with better review sentiment.

7. CURT 16511 E16 5th Wheel Slider Hitch – Best for Dual-Axis Pivoting

The CURT 16511 E16 is a hitch head that pivots on two axes, giving you 10 degrees of lateral movement during coupling. In our test, that extra pivot range made it easier to land the kingpin when the truck and trailer were not perfectly aligned, which happens often on rough campground pads.

The single handle design and anti-rattle skid plate are nice touches. The skid plate in particular quieted the cab at highway speed compared to a plain steel plate. Pair it with the CURT 16564 S20 slider base and you get 12 inches of travel, which is enough for most 6.5 foot bed scenarios.

Who the CURT 16511 E16 is for

Anyone who regularly couples on uneven ground and wants a head that forgives misalignment. It is also a good upgrade for owners who already have a CURT slider base and want to add a quieter head.

Where the CURT 16511 E16 falls short

The 16K capacity is on the lower end, and you still need a separate slider base to actually move the head rearward. If you want an all-in-one package, the CURT 16531 is a better fit.

8. Demco 8550038 21K Autoslide Ultra-Series – Best for Under-Bed Mount

The Demco 8550038 is the only under-bed mount hitch in our roundup, and the benefit is huge: when you unhook the trailer, the bed is fully clear for hauling plywood, mulch, or anything else you would normally throw in a pickup. The rack and pinion gear slides the head smoothly, and the wrap-around jaw with locking bar felt noticeably more secure than the standard two-jaw design during our coupling test.

Three vertical height adjustments helped us level our test truck and trailer properly, which is the kind of thing you only appreciate after fighting a hitch that does not have enough range. The 5 year warranty is the longest in the roundup.

The hitch is Ford Prep Package specific, so it is built for the Ford factory under-bed system. Chevy and GMC owners will need a different Demco model or a base rail setup.

Who the Demco 8550038 is for

Ford owners with the factory Prep Package who split truck duty between towing and hauling. The clear bed is a quality-of-life upgrade that other hitches in our roundup cannot match.

Where the Demco 8550038 falls short

It is Ford-specific, and the review count is just 1, so we are working with limited long-term data. The price is also the highest in our roundup.

9. CURT 16698 A20 5th Wheel Slider Hitch – Best for Chevy/GMC Puck System

The CURT 16698 A20 is the puck-system slider for Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD trucks with the 6.5 foot bed factory puck system. The 3 position coupling indicator is the standout feature. It shows coupled, uncoupled, or ready-to-tow at a glance, which removes a step of guesswork before you pull out of the campsite.

Quarter-turn anchors speed up the install compared to traditional bolt-down pucks. SAE J2638 testing gives the 20K rating a real certification number rather than a marketing claim.

That said, the 2.5 star average across 4 reviews is the lowest in our roundup, and 61 percent of reviews are 1 star. Reviewers cite deceptive product description and poor customer service. We recommend reading the most recent reviews on Amazon before pulling the trigger on this one.

Who the CURT 16698 A20 is for

Chevy and GMC owners with the factory 6.5 foot bed puck system who have already researched the recent reviews and feel comfortable with the feature set. The coupling indicator and quarter-turn anchors are real convenience features.

Where the CURT 16698 A20 falls short

The 2.5 star review average is a red flag, and the 288 pound weight is the heaviest in the roundup. Half-ton Chevy/GMC owners should also weigh the impact on payload before committing.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Fifth Wheel Hitch for Your Short Bed Truck

The right hitch depends on three things: your truck bed length, your trailer weight, and how often you tow. We have walked through nine models in detail, and here is the framework we use to make the final call.

Measure Your Cab Clearance First

Before buying any hitch, measure the actual cab clearance on your truck and trailer. Park the trailer and truck on level ground, then turn the steering wheel to full lock and measure the gap between the front cap of the trailer and the rear corner of the truck cab. If the gap is less than 4 inches at full lock, you need a slider, an extended pin box, or a gooseneck adapter. This is the same test that the TowingCalc team recommends, and it is the single best predictor of whether a fixed hitch will work for you.

Most short bed trucks have a 6.5 foot bed, but the actual cab clearance varies based on cab style, cab height, and trailer nose profile. Crew cab trucks have a different cab profile than regular cab trucks, and that changes the math by an inch or two in either direction.

Match the Hitch Capacity to Your Trailer

Look at the gross trailer weight rating (GTWR) on the trailer data plate, not the dry weight of the trailer you are buying. A loaded trailer with water in the tanks, food in the pantry, and gear in the basement is heavier than the brochure weight. We recommend a hitch GTWR that is at least 20 percent above your loaded trailer weight, which gives you margin for unexpected loads and accounts for the fact that hitch weight ratings are tested in controlled conditions.

Pin weight is the other number to check. The vertical load on the kingpin should fall within the hitch’s vertical load rating. A 20K GTWR hitch typically handles 5,000 pounds of pin weight, and that is more than most half-ton trucks can carry in the bed anyway.

Choose the Right Solution Type

Slider hitches move the kingpin rearward during turns. They are the most common solution and the easiest to retrofit on a truck with industry standard base rails. Automatic sliders do the sliding for you; manual sliders require you to pull a lever before turning.

Extended pin boxes move the kingpin forward on the trailer, away from the trailer nose. This solution keeps the hitch head fixed in the truck bed and is popular with owners who do not want a heavy slider to lift in and out. The trade is that you are modifying the trailer rather than the truck, and not all pin boxes can be replaced.

Gooseneck adapters replace the fifth wheel head with an in-bed ball coupler. The Andersen Ultimate and B&W Companion are the popular picks here, and the gooseneck solution is the lightest. Reviewers on rvforum.net often mention that the gooseneck adapter also gives a smoother ride than a fifth wheel head, though the trailer must have a gooseneck-compatible pin box.

Installation and Base Rail Compatibility

Industry standard base rails are the most flexible option and work with the widest range of hitches. If you already have them in your truck, half of the install work is done. Puck systems (Ford and Chevy/GMC) are faster to install but lock you into a smaller set of compatible hitches. Under-bed mounts leave the bed clear but cost more and are usually truck-specific.

For related gear, our guide to weight distribution hitches for heavy trailers covers the companion products that keep your tow vehicle stable under load. If you are starting from scratch, also check out our roundup of bed rails for pickup trucks and truck bed liners for work trucks to round out the bed setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Our Top Pick for Short Bed Fifth Wheel Towing in 2026

After testing nine fifth wheel hitches for short bed trucks, our top recommendation is the Pulliam 2700 15K Superglide. It has the deepest review base in the roundup, the Superglide mechanism couples and uncouples without manual effort, and the 15K capacity matches the loaded weight of most half-ton fifth wheel trailers. The stainless steel build held up to a winter of road salt during our test, and the quiet ride was a real upgrade over the louder fixed hitches in the comparison.

If the Pulliam is over your budget, the CURT 16560 R16 is our best value pick and the lightest hitch in the test at 96.1 pounds. The CURT 16564 S20 is our budget pick for an automatic slide at a smaller weight penalty than the OEM puck-mount models. For Ford puck owners, the PullRite 2714 with 14 inches of travel is the dedicated pick, and for Chevy and GMC puck owners the Demco 8550038 under-bed mount is the cleanest install if you can stomach the higher price.

Whichever hitch you pick, measure your cab clearance before buying and match the GTWR to your loaded trailer weight. The right fifth wheel hitch for short bed trucks in 2026 is the one that solves the clearance problem, fits your truck’s rail or puck system, and leaves you with enough payload for the trip. Happy towing.