Looks like we're going to switch to a 5th wheel so I need to buy a truck. Do I need a long (8') bed or will a short (6'4") bed be sufficient. Im not worried about other cargo and the short bed would be easier for the wife to drive around town. Thanks

You can make do with the short bed but, you'll have to have a slider hitch in order to back the 5th wheel up into a campsite/parking spot.

I pulled with a short bed for years and never had any problem..I did have a slider hitch but never had to use it. Sort of like insurance.

You will want/need a sliding hitch to avoid bumping the cab of the truck w/ the front corners of the 5th wheel if you go with a short bed. Lots of threads here about types of hitches.EDIT... wow you guys are fast...

A short bed is fine. Depending on the design of the front of the trailer you may or may not need a slider. The newer models are sculpted in the front. On mine I can go almost 90 deg without a slider.

I had a slider on my shortbed Chevy and never once had to use the slider. Most trailers have the front cap that's designed for shortbeds.

Is a long bed a requirement for pulling a 5th wheel?

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 24, 2015
up2nogood wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Lots of people are getting out of the MDT/HDT market since these new Dually's have become so capable.

Honestly I would have never guessed the towing experience in all weather and general conditions could be so good!

I have a hard time believing how your dually can tow any different, then your previous dually. New one has more power, possibly bigger brakes, still I would imagine about the same weight truck trying to handle I assume a much heavier fifth wheel. Please if you would share with us the difference in towing experience .

My comment was based on my experience with my 2011 HO Dually being a much more stable platform than I expected it to be..

The new one has a better exhaust brake. It has more power and does out pull the 11 even tho the new RV weighs 3,200+# more than the last.
cummins2014
Explorer
Aug 24, 2015
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Lots of people are getting out of the MDT/HDT market since these new Dually's have become so capable.

Honestly I would have never guessed the towing experience in all weather and general conditions could be so good!

I have a hard time believing how your dually can tow any different, then your previous dually. New one has more power, possibly bigger brakes, still I would imagine about the same weight truck trying to handle I assume a much heavier fifth wheel. Please if you would share with us the difference in towing experience .
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 24, 2015
Lots of people are getting out of the MDT/HDT market since these new Dually's have become so capable.

Honestly I would have never guessed the towing experience in all weather and general conditions could be so good!
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Aug 24, 2015
Cummins12V98 wrote:
shepstone wrote:
up2nogood wrote:
Learjet wrote:
I don't like the way a CC with a LB looks :R

X2 especially the Ram dually

X3 They look too much like beached whales for my liking.

Yea but put one in front of one of these and they look great!:B

.

.

If ya gotta have a dually - due to a heavy trailer, or believe you can't have too much truck....

A singled HDT would look MUCH better and tow/stop WAY better than the LGT (Little Girly Truck).;)

Kinda like this

~
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2015
Chicat wrote:
I would definitely recommend a long bed, it gives us extra storage space for equipment plus it allows for a large tool box/extra fuel tank behind the cab.
Do you mean the fuel tank in my bed won't fit because its a short bed? :B
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2015
"It's a good thing looks are a subjective measurement. Otherwise there wouldn't be much variety in life"

I completely agree!
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2015
RustyJC wrote:
I agree with Cummins12V98. So does Callie (the Sheltie peeking out of the driver's window who's about to U-turn the rig.) She wouldn't want to be seen in or drive anything else.

Cummins12V98, notice the difference in ride height of the MS. Our MS has the 2" riser on the MorRyde independent suspension, although it probably isn't really needed with our 4x2 dually.

Rusty

Rusty your combo is setup "just right", really looks nice! I am sure I will be adding the 2" riser since I have no upward kingpin adjustment or no downward adjustment with the B&W. On the lowest position I sit 2" higher than the Companion did in my last truck like yours.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2015
MFL wrote:
That is just the right truck, to tow that beautiful home on wheels! That complete rig, has to be one of the nicest I've seen pictured on the forum.

Glad you are enjoying it.

Jerry

Thank you!
RustyJC
Explorer
Aug 23, 2015
I agree with Cummins12V98. So does Callie (the Sheltie peeking out of the driver's window who's about to U-turn the rig.) She wouldn't want to be seen in or drive anything else.

Cummins12V98, notice the difference in ride height of the MS. Our MS has the 2" riser on the MorRyde independent suspension, although it probably isn't really needed with our 4x2 dually.

Rusty
Sport45
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2015
Cummins12V98 wrote:
shepstone wrote:
up2nogood wrote:
Learjet wrote:
I don't like the way a CC with a LB looks :R

X2 especially the Ram dually

X3 They look too much like beached whales for my liking.

Yea but put one in front of one of these and they look great!:B

So you're saying the trailer is so ugly it makes even a Dodge look good? ;)

It's a good thing looks are a subjective measurement. Otherwise there wouldn't be much variety in life.