I have just bought a 5th wheel trailer after have been pulling tow behind for years. I have a short bed F250 and the trailer dealer told me with the new models of 5th wheels and the newer model trucks having shorter short beds he said that I would need a slider hitch for backing and probably a pivot type king pin for being able to turn into places going forward, such as turning into gas stations, so forth. I'm wanting to know if this is actually true or a bunch of bologna. Could anyone help me out here. Going to go pick it up next week. Thank you in advance for all your help.

I would go into a big parking lot and do some testing to see how tight a turn you can make.I was camping last year when a camper took out his back window - it was not a newer model fifth wheel though. Messed up his weekend - drove 100 miles on Saturday to get the window replaced - - they were too busy to come to him and replace it.

I bought a super glide mostly for clearance when backing in tight spots. This is to avoid hitting the cab of truck and front crown of trailer. Since you have a short bed it would be advisable to consider the slider. I don't see how it would help going forward since the king pin stays front & center.I would wait and have them check it with & without the slider because, 1- its a lot heavier to move around if you remove it and 2- it does not react quite as good and fast backing up.I have a F450 utility body truck and had an awful time getting information on the right hitch from dealers and manufactures. Seems no one wants to commit to anything. I bought a slider and did not need it and could not return it.

Really depends on design of 5'vr front cap and truck bed lengthEasy way to tell.........Measure distance from center of king pin to side of trailerUsing that measurement from center of hitch to side of truck cab.......do they intersect?...YES then slider neededNO...how much clearance? Enough to allow for uneven movement?Short bed pickups and 5'vrs can easily mean busted rear truck window/cab damage and/or 5'vr damageWhat's cheaper....sliding hitch or damage/repairs/aggravation

Not sure what the dealer means by a pivot type kingpin... but if he's saying you would need that in addition to the slider, then I call BS on that.A slider should be all you need. I have a slider on my 6.5' bed, and have used it maybe 2-3 times in the last 3 years... and that's not because I actually needed it, but as a just in case type of thing while backing up sharply in uneven terrain. I can't think of a time I've ever come anywhere close to hitting while moving forward even in tight spaces, so his gas station/moving forward comment I would also call BS on.The actual length of your bed and the corners of your 5'er will help determine if you need a slider, but it's good insurance to have. The measuring recommended by Biscuit sounds like a clear way to determine if you need one.

caberto is right. A slider hitch is probably a good idea with a short bed truck. That's all you'll need. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

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Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Aug 01, 2013
Really depends on design of 5'vr front cap and truck bed length

Easy way to tell.........
Measure distance from center of king pin to side of trailer
Using that measurement from center of hitch to side of truck cab.......do they intersect?...
YES then slider needed
NO...how much clearance? Enough to allow for uneven movement?

Short bed pickups and 5'vrs can easily mean busted rear truck window/cab damage and/or 5'vr damage

What's cheaper....sliding hitch or damage/repairs/aggravation
Deraldjr
Explorer
Aug 01, 2013
I bought a super glide mostly for clearance when backing in tight spots. This is to avoid hitting the cab of truck and front crown of trailer. Since you have a short bed it would be advisable to consider the slider. I don't see how it would help going forward since the king pin stays front & center.
I would wait and have them check it with & without the slider because, 1- its a lot heavier to move around if you remove it and 2- it does not react quite as good and fast backing up.
I have a F450 utility body truck and had an awful time getting information on the right hitch from dealers and manufactures. Seems no one wants to commit to anything. I bought a slider and did not need it and could not return it.
Norskeman
Explorer
Aug 01, 2013
I would go into a big parking lot and do some testing to see how tight a turn you can make.

I was camping last year when a camper took out his back window - it was not a newer model fifth wheel though. Messed up his weekend - drove 100 miles on Saturday to get the window replaced - - they were too busy to come to him and replace it.

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