Reese Fifth Wheel Hitch Mounting System Custom Bracket, Outboard RE56018ReeseOriginal price was $267.50. Current price is $251.64.In Stock
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Want to take the family on a cross-country adventure? Or perhaps you're planning a shorter trip to your favorite campground. Whatever your destination, it's important to have the right equipment, especially when towing a fifth wheel trailer. To ensure proper hookup and safety while towing, you'll need something to attach your fifth wheel hitch in the bed on your truck. Many pickups come equipped with factory-installed rails or puck systems, but if you don't have one of these already installed, don't worry. REESE has an extensive line of mounting rails and bracket kits, custom-made to the exact specifications needed based on your truck's year, make, and model. REESE also offers several Industry Standard designs, as well as fastener kits, spacer kits, and a Power Puck mounting kit, so you can be sure you're covered, no matter what pickup you're using to tow. So make it easy. Make it fun. Make it REESE, so you can make the journey as enjoyable as the destination.
| BRAND: | REESE |
| PART NUMBER: | 56018-53 |
| WARRANTY: | LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY |
| WEIGHT: | 73.7 LBS |
| UNIVERSAL OR SPECIFIC FIT: | SPECIFIC |
| WELDING REQUIRED: | NO |
| MOUNTING HARDWARE INCLUDED: | YES |
| RAILS INCLUDED: | YES |
| DRILLING REQUIRED: | YES |
| MATERIAL: | STEEL |
| BOLT GRADE: | Grade 8 |
| LOCKABLE: | NO |
| COLOR: | BLACK |
Reese has designed towing equipment since 1952 and remains a benchmark for heavy-duty towing. The line covers fifth wheel hitches such as the modular M5, gooseneck couplers including the Goose Box, air-ride and short-bed pin boxes, weight distribution systems with active sway control, and the accessories that connect them, all built to exceed published industry standards.
Reese has been pioneering towing performance since 1952, when Margaret Reese asked her husband TJ to stop travel trailers rocking every time somebody walked through them. His answer, the first pair of stabilising jacks, was simple and effective enough to change the RV industry. From that starting point Reese grew into a designer and manufacturer of complete towing systems, and today it anchors the heavy-duty end of the Horizon Global towing portfolio.
Fifth wheel towing is where the brand's engineering is most visible. The M5 fifth wheel hitch uses a modular design that breaks into manageable sections for assembly, with a wider stance, tighter tolerances and a shock absorption system aimed at the jolts that travel up through a truck bed. For owners who would rather tow from a gooseneck coupler and keep the bed clear, the Goose Box 20K replaces the trailer's king pin with a gooseneck connection carrying its own air-ride cushioning.
Pin boxes are a Reese speciality. The 5th Airborne uses air-ride technology to dampen road shock and reduce the chucking motion that makes fifth wheel towing tiring, while the Sidewinder was designed for short-bed pickups, pivoting the connection point so the trailer can turn sharply without the front cap meeting the cab.
For conventional towing, Reese weight distribution systems restore load to the tow vehicle's front axle and control sway. The Pro Round Bar distributes weight evenly while damping sway, and the Pro Dual Cam II uses active cam-based sway control that works harder the stronger the sway force becomes. Complete kits pair bars, head and shank to a rated tongue weight, and dedicated sway control kits can be added to existing setups. The products suit RV owners, horse and livestock haulers and anyone towing near the upper end of a vehicle's rating.
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The Reese 56018 is a mounting kit that installs the Reese 30153 fifth wheel rail onto a RAM 1500 truck bed. It provides the frame brackets and hardware needed to securely mount the rail for fifth wheel towing.
The Reese 56018 is designed for RAM 1500 trucks with either a 5'-7" or 6'-4" bed. The manual does not specify model years or other variants. Before purchasing, visit www.ReeseProducts.com to verify your specific vehicle application and ensure you have the most recent revision of the installation instructions.
No. The manual explicitly states: "Do not install this product on or attempt to tow with a truck with a 5-1/2' bed unless a sidewinder pin box coupler has been installed on the trailer." If your truck has a 5-1/2' bed, you must have a sidewinder coupler on the trailer to use this kit.
No. Plastic bed liners must be cut out of the way to provide metal-to-metal contact between the mounting rails and the truck bed. However, spray-in bed liners are permitted; the mounting rails may be installed on spray-in liners. If you have a spray-in liner, consult your installer for recommended curing time before installation.
Required tools are: wrenches in 3/4", 11/16", and 8mm sizes; drill bits in 1/8", 9/16", and 13/16" sizes; a center punch; a measuring tape; a torque wrench; and a die grinder with a carbide tip. The fastener kit 56018F is also required.
The fastener kit 56018F is supplied separately. All bolts and nuts are Grade 8 unless otherwise specified. Specific fasteners include: 7/16" x 1-3/4" carriage bolts, 1/2" x 4-1/2" carriage bolts, 1/2" x 1-3/4" carriage bolts, 7/16" x 2" carriage bolts, 7/16" and 1/2" conical washers, 7/16-14 and 1/2-13 nuts, spacer blocks, tube spacers, U-shaped spacers, and cable ties. Do not substitute fasteners; use only the Grade 8 hardware supplied.
Yes. Step 1 of the installation requires you to lower and remove the spare tire as needed. If your truck is equipped with an inner plastic wheel well liner, you must also remove the wheel well liners to allow access to the frame with an 8mm socket.
Yes. Drilling is required. You must drill 1/8" pilot holes in the truck bed at marked positions, then enlarge them to 9/16" for the main fasteners. Row 2 holes must be enlarged to 13/16", and the slot in the bed crossmember must be opened from 5/8" to 13/16". These are permanent modifications to the truck bed.
First, drill 1/8" pilot holes at marked positions. Then enlarge all 1/8" holes in the bed to 9/16" for 1/2" bolts. For Row 2 holes in the truck bed only, enlarge them to 13/16". The slot in the end of the bed crossmember must also be opened from 5/8" to 13/16".
The manual recommends using a die grinder with a grinding stone or carbide bit from below to open the slots in the crossmember. It warns: "The drill will catch in the slot and possibly cause injury." Do not use a standard drill on the crossmember slot; use the die grinder from underneath to avoid the drill catching and causing harm.
Yes. After enlarging all holes and slots, you must paint all bare metal to prevent rust and corrosion.
Torque all 1/2" Grade 8 hardware to 110 ft-lbs. Torque all 7/16" hardware to 50 ft-lbs. First torque the bed mounting rails to the frame brackets, then torque the frame brackets to the truck frame. Use a torque wrench to ensure proper tightness.
The installation sequence is: (1) Remove spare tire and wheel well liners; (2) Position and mark the front mounting rail; (3) Drill pilot holes and install front frame brackets loosely; (4) Install fasteners in frame rectangular holes using fishwire; (5) Verify hole alignment and enlarge holes; (6) Install front rail attachment bolts; (7) Remove wire harness retainers; (8) Install rear frame brackets loosely using the same process; (9) Position rear mounting rail and mark holes; (10) Enlarge rear holes; (11) Install rear rail attachment bolts; (12) Torque all hardware in sequence; (13) Refasten wire harness and replace wheel well liners and spare tire.
The fishwire (7/16" diameter) is used to guide and hold fasteners (bolts 6 and 23) and spacer blocks (5 and 7) into the rectangular holes in the truck frame. Two fishwires are provided. You thread them through the frame bracket as you position the brackets over the frame mounting holes, keeping the fishwires on the bolts until the conical washer is installed. The fishwire prevents the bolts from dropping into the frame while you install the nuts.
During final tightening, the bolt lengths should extend beyond the nut by the same amount on both sides. If they do not, the spacer blocks in the frame are not flat against the frame. If this occurs, loosen the fasteners and reposition the blocks so they sit flat. Also verify that the 1/8" drilled holes align with the holes in the frame brackets before enlarging them. If holes do not align, restart the installation by adjusting the 1/8" holes in the truck bed.
The bed crossmembers close to the axle are not bolted to the frame and can be lifted to provide more vertical room for bracket installation. Lift the bed crossmembers to help with rear bracket installation, but be careful not to cause any damage to the truck bed.
Bolt 14 must be centered in the existing slot of the bed crossmember. This is verified during step 5 when you check hole alignment. Figure 4 shows the Row 2 bolt location in the bed crossmember, with bolt 14 temporarily located from the bottom to check slot alignment only.
One wire harness retainer (tree style) is required on the driver's side. Up to three are required on the passenger side if the truck is equipped with air suspension. Remove these retainers with an appropriate tool from the frame to allow the mounting rail to fit properly.
In Row 2, place spacer blocks (12) on the mounting brackets and install tube spacers (13) in the Row 2 bolt locations. The tube spacers are 3/4" O.D. x 2.6" long. Additionally, up to four 9/16" washers (25) are provided to take up gaps between the bracket and spring tower due to frame variations.
According to Figure 2, the front rail should be positioned 50 1/4" from the rear edge of the truck bed. The rail must also be centered between the weld seams on the length of the truck box floor or wheel well. Use a measuring tape to verify this distance before marking and drilling holes.
Place the unassembled fifth wheel legs, slider, or goose into the already-installed front mounting rail. Position the rear rail by inserting the tabs into the mounting rail and pushing the mounting rail tight towards the front rail. Ensure the rear mounting rail is centered between the weld seams on the length of the truck box floor. This positions the rail correctly and ensures the fifth wheel has a snug fit. If using multiple hitch products with the rails, use both at the same time to align the second rail and prevent one product from compromising the fit of the other.
When drilling holes, be aware of potential risks to vehicle components above and below the truck bed. Take appropriate safeguards to protect them from damage. Additionally, when using a die grinder on the bed crossmember slots, use it from below and be aware that a standard drill will catch in the slot and possibly cause injury.
Before installing the kit, always measure your truck and trailer to ensure there is adequate clearance at the cab and at the bumper to allow for turns. Additionally, due to truck frame manufacturing variations, place the brackets in place and verify they fit flat to the frame before installing the kit.
Under no circumstances should you exceed the towing vehicle manufacturer's recommended vehicle towing capacity. The Reese 56018 is a mounting kit only; your truck's towing capacity is determined by the vehicle manufacturer, not the kit.
After installation, verify that all fasteners are properly torqued: 1/2" Grade 8 hardware to 110 ft-lbs and 7/16" hardware to 50 ft-lbs. Ensure the mounting rail is secure and does not move. Verify that the fifth wheel has a snug fit to the truck. Check that all wire harness retainers have been refastened with the cable ties provided.
Check the mounting system bolt tightness once per year. This regular maintenance helps ensure the system remains secure and safe for towing.
The Reese 56018 includes a Limited Lifetime Warranty from Horizon Global Americas. The warranty covers material defects in both material and workmanship, ordinary wear and tear excepted, provided installation and use are in accordance with product instructions. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, damage from abuse, misuse, accidents, misapplication, overloading, improper installation, improper maintenance, or product alterations by anyone other than the manufacturer. To make a warranty claim, contact Horizon Global Americas at 47912 Halyard Dr., Suite 100, Plymouth, MI 48170, or call 1-800-632-3290. You must provide the product and purchase receipt.
The Reese 56018 fits RAM 1500 trucks with a 5'-7" or 6'-4" bed. It does not fit 5-1/2' beds unless a sidewinder coupler is installed on the trailer. Visit www.ReeseProducts.com to verify your specific vehicle application.
Check mounting system bolt tightness once per year to ensure the system remains secure.
Do not exceed your vehicle manufacturer's recommended towing capacity. Do not install on a 5-1/2' bed without a sidewinder coupler on the trailer. Always measure your truck and trailer for cab and bumper clearance before installation.
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Ordered online. Shipment arrived on time and with all the correct parts. Great customer service and friendly staff. Also, pricing was great!
May 22, 2023