Newer 5ers, Slider Hitch Required For Short Beds?

Thanks for the info folks

Good friend busted his back window with his short bed, no slider, and older 5er with squared front corners. Traded that for a newer 5er with contoured front corners and no more problem. BUT. He was also more careful on tight back in turns.

I have a short bed with a slider. In 10 years I have only had to use the slider about 5 times. Doesn't sound much, but when you need it you need it, so my view is that for the few extra bucks go for a slider.

Answer is yes and no. I have towed different 5ver with a Dodge short bed and Ford short bed trucks without using a slider. I did damage the cab of the Dodge backing into my driveway. I did not slide the slider back because I had done it many times before without using the slider. This time when the truck went into the small dip at the beginning of my driveway, the trailer hit the cab of the truck. I now tow with a short Bed Ford and B&W hitch that is not a slider and have never had a problem, but I sure do pay attention. The unlevel terrain will cause more trouble than the sharp turns.

Been RVing with fifth wheels and short beds without sliders for 25 years with nary a problem.

And BTW, the rounded corners on fifth wheels is not a late developing concept, has been here a while.

I have never heard of 90 degree jacking a 5er and continuing on with the jack. That only takes place on the keyboard or down at spot whatever where the stories al start with one upon a time. :B

And if my day is coming it better hurry since I am pushing 80.

We just did research on this as we just purchased a second F350 with a shortbed (still have the DRW in my signature too). As my signature states, our rig is a 2020 Montana High Country, with a curved front. It would be nice to use this new truck for trips to places like South Dakota where we want to go park "in town" to do stuff and don't want to deal with the dually's size.

We determined that we could get by without a slider hitch in certain circumstances, but the last time we were in SD, the park we stayed at put us in a spot that was plenty long, but still required us to jacknife the truck to get the camper in (road narrowed and turned right there, with a post in the way). We would not have been able to park in a spot like that with a short bed and no slider.

So I think it comes down to where you want to camp, and the type of camping you do. If you tend to stay in nicer "big rig" friendly campgrounds with easy pull through spots, you're fine. But if you tend to camp in places with tigher spots, might want to look into the slider.

It depends on your truck and trailer. I had a short bed and did fine with my 5th wheel but had to be very careful when turning. I never had a problem but also didn’t turn a few times because I knew I’d have a problem.