Anyone have experience towing a 5th wheeler with a short bed pickup, for example a Ford F350. I am just starting and hate to make a mistake, if the short bed wont do the job. I know a sliding hitch is required. The truck will be my everyday commute vehicle and a long bed dually seems to big for this. I plan to spend the winters in the southwest and do a lot of traveling with the truck. The fifth wheeler will be a toyhauler with a Harley.

I don't use a slider in my short bed. Andersen rail mount flipped to the rear and I can turn plenty tight, and my current fifth wheel has a old school square front. I think Rams have the shortest short beds too. You could also use a standard hitch with something like a sidewinder pin box, and you'd appreciate the lighter weight of a non-sliding hitch.

I have a short bed ford F250 do not use a sliding hitch and can turn tight enough for me. No problems.. Just be aware some times you need to wiggle it a little to make a very very tight turn when backing up. I have never had a problem.

A friend has a XLR Nitro 305VL5 with a pointed nose, and he pulls it with a short bed F350 SRW, he said he hasn't had any issues, but that's probably due to the pointed nose.

IdaD wrote:I don't use a slider in my short bed. Andersen rail mount flipped to the rear and I can turn plenty tight, and my current fifth wheel has a old school square front. I think Rams have the shortest short beds too. You could also use a standard hitch with something like a sidewinder pin box, and you'd appreciate the lighter weight of a non-sliding hitch.X2 with the Andersen hitch. Turning radius, though, depends as much on the design of your front cap and how far forward the pin box is as it does on the bed and hitch combo. We have no problems with a Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel and the Andersen hitch on a 6.5' bed.Rob

I helped a friend put a hitch in his new ford F350 and we used the reese base to attach to the factory puck system and used the B&W slider on top of that. He says his Carriage 16K GVWR RV pulls great with it.

fifth-wheel toyhaulers | Good Sam Community

nayther
Explorer
Aug 18, 2016
you can see in my sig. what mine is. I have a Reese manual slider and have used it twice, first time didn't need to. A lot depends on the position of the pin box on the trailer and the shape of the nose. Most new trailers are well tapered/rounded for this very reason.

Disadvantage of the slider is it is very heavy to get in/out.
dedmiston
Moderator
Aug 17, 2016
Strabo wrote:
With all due respect, how much towing experience do you have with a Hauler fifthwheel?

5vrs are sweet to tow, but ya gotta know how. Without proper experience you will case the front cap, regardless of what type of hitch. Towing a rig is a constant job, eye's on everything.

Don't let him scare you. These bigger trailers practically tow themselves. :B
Strabo
Explorer
Aug 17, 2016
With all due respect, how much towing experience do you have with a Hauler fifthwheel?

5vrs are sweet to tow, but ya gotta know how. Without proper experience you will case the front cap, regardless of what type of hitch. Towing a rig is a constant job, eye's on everything.
DuneJunkie
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
I have a 2005 Chevy crew cab short box truck and I am towing a 38' Fleetwood Gearbox. The only 5th wheel hitch I have used with this set up is a slider hitch from Superglide. I have not had any issues and am super happy with their product. I would highly recommend you check them out.
leggy
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
I have a short bed F350 crew cab with a Reese non slider hitch, turns as much as I have ever needed except for the short cord on my grand design 323bhs going to the bumper plug.
tinner12002
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
I helped a friend put a hitch in his new ford F350 and we used the reese base to attach to the factory puck system and used the B&W slider on top of that. He says his Carriage 16K GVWR RV pulls great with it.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Aug 15, 2016
IdaD wrote:
I don't use a slider in my short bed. Andersen rail mount flipped to the rear and I can turn plenty tight, and my current fifth wheel has a old school square front. I think Rams have the shortest short beds too.

You could also use a standard hitch with something like a sidewinder pin box, and you'd appreciate the lighter weight of a non-sliding hitch.

X2 with the Andersen hitch. Turning radius, though, depends as much on the design of your front cap and how far forward the pin box is as it does on the bed and hitch combo. We have no problems with a Grand Design Reflection fifth wheel and the Andersen hitch on a 6.5' bed.

Rob
JAC1982
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
A friend has a XLR Nitro 305VL5 with a pointed nose, and he pulls it with a short bed F350 SRW, he said he hasn't had any issues, but that's probably due to the pointed nose.
diazr2
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
I have a short bed ford F250 do not use a sliding hitch and can turn tight enough for me. No problems.. Just be aware some times you need to wiggle it a little to make a very very tight turn when backing up. I have never had a problem.
IdaD
Explorer
Aug 15, 2016
I don't use a slider in my short bed. Andersen rail mount flipped to the rear and I can turn plenty tight, and my current fifth wheel has a old school square front. I think Rams have the shortest short beds too.

You could also use a standard hitch with something like a sidewinder pin box, and you'd appreciate the lighter weight of a non-sliding hitch.

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