We are looking at going to a 5th wheel from a TT. I keep hearing people talking about being able to turn 90 degrees. I really want to do with the standard B&W hitch in my F-350 with the 6'11" bed. I realize if I turn too sharp I can damage the truck and camper, but I figure if I can turn a 5ver to 80degrees, that is alot sharper than the probably 45 degrees I can turn my TT. My current TT is 33', and the 5ver we are looking at is 35', so actual towing length will be shorter. Am I missing something?

14 years towing the 5er and never once came close to 90 degrees. Even in some tight campgrounds.

MFL wrote:IMO, twisting to 90 degrees is just foolish, adds unnecessary stress to tires/wheels/suspension. As to the need...being a TT owner now, do you turn or back to 90 degrees? Of course you don't, you would hit truck/trailer.I have no issue turning/backing with my Ford standard bed, using a B&W non-sliding hitch. I'm more concerned about height clearance, with a FW, than hitting my cab.Nope, you're not missing anything, except that your overthinking the angle needed when towing a FW. Just like the TT, just a bit of pull forward to straighten, before continuing to back, is just common sense when backing any trailer.JerryThanks Jerry, that’s what I was thinking that I was only at probably 45 degrees with my TT, so even 75 would be plenty.

I have a short bed GMC and a B&W manual slider. I normally don't use the slider. But when I need it I need it.We boondock in out of the way places, we may be miles down a dirt road. If I have to go through a large dip it's nice to slide the hitch back so the tailgate wont hit the bottom of the trailer when the front of the truck drops down. It's also great if we have to hitch up at an angle,The trailer is also much more maneuverable with the hitch slid back, comes in handy when getting into tight spots.

You don't need to get to 90 degrees, until you do. My experience has been that auto sliding hitches for short bed trucks are important.

I towed my fiver for nearly 20 years with short box trucks and a nonsliding hitch. It’s not hard to do. I recently purchased a B&W sliding hitch and use the slider much more than I thought I would. It’s nice for hooking up …. especially at an angle. It allows ample room to walk behind the truck with the tailgate down. I can access my front basement compartment without unhooking. Now that I slide the hitch back for tight maneuvering I run the hitch a little closer to the cab while towing. I think it might tow a little nicer adjusted this way.

How important is 90 degree turning? | Good Sam Community

laknox
Nomad
Oct 23, 2023
wowens79 wrote:
We are looking at going to a 5th wheel from a TT. I keep hearing people talking about being able to turn 90 degrees. I really want to do with the standard B&W hitch in my F-350 with the 6'11" bed.
I realize if I turn too sharp I can damage the truck and camper, but I figure if I can turn a 5ver to 80degrees, that is alot sharper than the probably 45 degrees I can turn my TT. My current TT is 33', and the 5ver we are looking at is 35', so actual towing length will be shorter. Am I missing something?

My '02 2500HD D'max, short bed, 4x4, crew cab, would NOT hit my '04 Komfort 25FSG, a very square front FW. My current '17 KZ had even more room due to the cutaway corners on teh front. I =did= hit my truck with the Komfort when backing up; looking one way and turning the other, and just lost situational awareness. Took out the back glass. I ran a B&W Companion with my Turnover Ball with the Companion set as far forward as it would go. Now, I have a '22 3500HD Denali, SRW, CC, 4x4, and I have my Companion set to the rear as my KZ is only 10.5k GVW, so I have no worries about weight. Again, I can not hit my truck with my FW at full lock, R or L. Because I have a tool box that sticks up about 3" above the bed rail at the front, I do have to watch that if I'm turning sharp on uneven ground. On level ground, the corners of the FW clear the tool box with a couple inches to spare.

To me, if you're in a situation where you need to turn that sharp, you've done something "out of the ordinary" and, usually, you can "back out" of it and take another stab at making the turn. If you simply can't, then try and make sure you've got at least 3 observers, one behind and one on either side. If you don't have them, then you need to move, GOAL (get out and look), make corrections, move a little more, GOAL, repeat as necessary. Any more, I'm not too proud to do this; 40 years ago, I'd've just rammed it through. :-)

Lyle
Nv_Guy
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2023
What will "get you" is if you are turning while the truck is going up a slight grade while the trailer is facing down.
Think of pulling out of a steep driveway while turning to enter a lane of travel.
Same thing if you are cutting it sharp while backing into your RV space next to your house- up a 8% grade.
MFL
Nomad II
Oct 24, 2023

OP...here is a pic of my rig, with B&W no-slide, hooked up. It has pin centered over R/A, which is 41"s behind the cab. It allows plenty of turn/backing clearance with my FW, which has rounded corners (EZ-turn), designed to not need a long bed truck. I could be 38"s behind cab, and still be confident.

Jerry
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Nov 28, 2023
like stated already, you don't need 90* turning until you do !
the long beds not only give you ability for full turns, larger fuel tank, better ride ( from longer wheel base). it also gives you more storage.. I will NEVER go back to a Short Bed when towing
schlep1967
Nomad
Dec 07, 2023
Just remember going backwards is not your only worry. Eventually you will get yourself into a tight fueling situation where turning sharp is the only way out. I would rather have the hitch slide back automatically than have to stop in a crowded high stress situation, get out and unlatch the hitch, then get back in and pull forward to move the hitch. And after maneuvering out of the tight spot, find a safe location to stop and slide the hitch back again.
shadows4
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2024
You will be fine with your B&W hitch. With the trimmed corners on our fifth wheel, I haven't come close to hitting the cab. Can't say the same for my old truck and trailer. I dented both sides of the cab. (slow learner) LOL
C_Schomer
Explorer
Oct 23, 2023
I only buy LB P/Us but I still don’t ever come close to 90 degrees..You can also mount the hitch a little behind center.. That should work fine with a 6’11” bed..
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 23, 2023
spoon059 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Long bed, no compromise. :B

And you usually get a much bigger fuel tank with the long bed, another huge upgrade!

Let's keep the list going......

Better Ride
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Oct 24, 2023
op wrote:
I really want to do with the standard B&W hitch in my F-350 with the 6'11" bed.

OP has the truck and trailer so no need to hijack his question with more mindless "gotta' have a long bed truck non sense".

OP you have the combo so make some 90 degree street corners and watch how it goes. You'll find the cab/trailer gets closer faster while making backing maneuvers.
That size bed and the newer trailers with the rounded/notched front corners won't need any help unless the pin is located too far forward of the trucks rear axle.

Then make a decision if a sliding hitch or Andersen or PullRite type GN ball hitch or one of the rotating pin box brands that can be used with your B&W conventional hitch.
valhalla360
Navigator
Oct 24, 2023
phillyg wrote:
You don't need to get to 90 degrees, until you do. My experience has been that auto sliding hitches for short bed trucks are important.

Never did 90deg turn. We had a slider hitch but never used the sliding feature.

That said, do get up around 50-70deg occasionally. With a TT, you are capped around 45deg.

The difference is a TT starts turning almost immediately while a 5er takes a while before it starts turning.

That said, a long bed just avoids the issue all together.