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")

cronek28
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
thank you for all the advice guys I was totally under the assumption that I needed a slider and I was buying a slider but when the dealer said I didn't need one now I'm second guessing my thoughts and my wife thinks I don't need one because the dealer said. I know if my own decision I just wanted some valued options from seasoned vets :) thanks guys
Splashers3
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
I have a slider, but have not used it in 5 years of towing our 5ver because of its front cap design. The rig has been to 90 degrees, as I had the dealership show me it could be done without using the slider.

I still had them install one, just to be safer....someday, I may need it. I also have a blue ox bed saver, for the same reason, I hope I never need it, but its there just in case.
AZ_T_T
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
I don't have a slider and have been OK. If the the B&W Companion Slider would have been available I would have bought it, You never know when you might need a little extra turning degrees.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
routemaster wrote:
I bought a slider in 2005 for my GMC and have never used in all these years.

I had mine for years and used it quite often, but the ONE time I didn't, I paid for it...

As I also mentioned, If the 5er has an extended pin box, you may not need a slider hitch, just as I also mentioned if the front end cap has indentations on the sides or is curved sharply, you probably don't need one...seems like cheap insurance if there is a chance one could bust a rear window out of their truck or crack there front end cap, but I'm only speaking from actual experience.
korbe
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
I was told by the dealer a slider hitch would be necessary for my 6.5' box. Didn't question the advice. Never have checked to see if the 5er would hit the cab or not. When I know I will be maneuvering in and around some tight spaces, I will take the extra 30 seconds and slide the hitch first. The last thing I want to be doing while backing my 5er in a tight spot is checking my cab to see if it will be okay too.
srink
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
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.
routemaster
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
I bought a slider in 2005 for my GMC and have never used in all these years.
Allworth
Explorer II
Mar 18, 2014
You probably just need to decide for yourself. Nobody here is going to be driving the rig except you.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014
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"....
kedanie
Explorer II
Mar 18, 2014
You'll never need the slider until you hear the crunch. Then it's too late.

Keith

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

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