I have a 3/4 crew cab Silverado classic with a standard box 6 1/2 foot box. I currently have a b&w turnover ball and thinking about getting the companion or companion slider. Either way do I really need a slider? Half the people I talk to say yes the other have say no. I have narrowed down my camper to a sabre silhouette 320fbqu it doesn't have the stickers on the front saying 88° but my salesman is saying it is and I'll be able to get 88 without sliding. I would only need slider for 2 extra degrees which I would be unhooking anyways. Id greatly appreciate anyone's input or thoughts!! Just sold the TT and very excited to move up to a 5er. Thanks guys!!!

You'll never need the slider until you hear the crunch. Then it's too late.Keith

cronek28 wrote:I have a 3/4 crew cab Silverado classic with a standard box 6 1/2 foot box. I currently have a b&w turnover ball and thinking about getting the companion or companion slider. Either way do I really need a slider? Half the people I talk to say yes the other have say no. I have narrowed down my camper to a sabre silhouette 320fbqu it doesn't have the stickers on the front saying 88° but my salesman is saying it is and I'll be able to get 88 without sliding. I would only need slider for 2 extra degrees which I would be unhooking anyways. Id greatly appreciate anyone's input or thoughts!! Just sold the TT and very excited to move up to a 5er. Thanks guys!!!I'm a firm believer in erring to the side of safety...."Better to have a slider and never use it, then to not have one and need it....I had a short bed Chevy 2500 extended cab some years back and because I opted once to not use the slider, I put a dent in the back of my cab toward the drivers side above the rear window....Some will say no....if you have an extended pin box...may be ok...IF your 5er has the indentations on the sides of the front cap, you may not need a slider...BUT, having paid for not using one ONCE when I should have, I would say get one if your 5er doesn't have what I just mentioned above..."Better safe than sorry"....

You probably just need to decide for yourself. Nobody here is going to be driving the rig except you.

I bought a slider in 2005 for my GMC and have never used in all these years.

I assume it depends on the front of the 5er.I have had a 2006, 2009 and now 2012 silverado with the short bed.I had an 37' 06 Sierra and now a 39' 2012 sierra. I have a slider and have never needed to use it. The Sierra's front cap is rounded and I can go 90 degrees and not hit. Very seldom do you actually go a full 90 degrees. I did it just to check. I have clearance. I have heard of people that need it. It also depends on the pinbox. most newer 5ers have a longer pinbox than they made back in the 80's and 90's.

is slider hitch really needed with standard box? (6'5")

w4hyi
Explorer
Mar 22, 2014
We have a 2006 chevy crew cab short bed with a 2014 sierra 355re .i do have a slider an did not need to use it to back in the driveway an it was just about at a 90 . But I would say it your call better safe then sorry
Rjdreyer
Explorer
Mar 22, 2014
Love my superglide... never have to think about it.
happycamper1942
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
My Ford has the 6'9" box. I do not need to use the slider very often, but when you should use it and don't you will do what I did, break the truck back window,dent the cab roof and dent the fiver. So my advice, get one.:)
RDS33
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
cronek28 wrote:
Thanks for all the advise guys!!! I know it comes down to my own call and I still have not made up my mind, guts leaning towards slider wallets saying no.

I'm thinking about starting another thread to show guys the way I got my b&w turnover ball out. I've owned my truck with the ball in it for three years not knowing I could pull the pin and flip the ball.....well three plus years of life in Wisconsin was telling me that ball was staying in there forever, but I want to get a companion so I had other thoughts. It was a fight but I got it out. Two broken portapowers, a plasma cutter, lots of pb blaster and some big hammers I'm done!!!

Turnover ball owners need to learn not to leave it in for long periods of time with out removing and cleaning. I just leave mine out until needed.
wandering1
Explorer
Mar 20, 2014
Allworth wrote:
You probably just need to decide for yourself. Nobody here is going to be driving the rig except you.

X2
cronek28
Explorer
Mar 20, 2014
Thanks for all the advise guys!!! I know it comes down to my own call and I still have not made up my mind, guts leaning towards slider wallets saying no.

I'm thinking about starting another thread to show guys the way I got my b&w turnover ball out. I've owned my truck with the ball in it for three years not knowing I could pull the pin and flip the ball.....well three plus years of life in Wisconsin was telling me that ball was staying in there forever, but I want to get a companion so I had other thoughts. It was a fight but I got it out. Two broken portapowers, a plasma cutter, lots of pb blaster and some big hammers I'm done!!!
Johnny_H
Explorer
Mar 19, 2014
Mine as well and it wasn't very much of an incline. I was pulling into a fuel station on my way home from picking up my new TH. I knew I would need an off-set since mine is a GN, but figured I could get it home without an issue close call though.
mileshuff
Explorer
Mar 19, 2014
We decided to get a Superglide when we bought our new 5'er last year. After spending quite a bit for the trailer a bit more to get an auto-sliding hitch made sense.
kzspree320
Explorer
Mar 19, 2014
Johnny_H wrote:
There is one point that I have not seen mentioned that really comes into play and that is the fact that 88 degrees means on flat level ground. If the front of the TV or the rear of the FW are at any elevation that number decreases.

This is true. It you are sharply backing up an incline, you have far less clearance.
AZ_T_T
Explorer
Mar 19, 2014
Johnny_H wrote:
There is one point that I have not seen mentioned that really comes into play and that is the fact that 88 degrees means on flat level ground. If the front of the TV or the rear of the FW are at any elevation that number decreases.

That is 100% correct. My only close call was on a slope