Newer 5ers, Slider Hitch Required For Short Beds?

Some front caps, even though they have rounded corners, will slope forward from the overhang. They will tow and turn fine with sufficient clearance. When backing sharp up an incline or rough terrain, the trailer will lean forward and take out the rear window from a high point on the cab. I've seen these exact results from a Montana High Country and an Andersen hitch.

BB_TX wrote:
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 did the same, only I had a slider at the time and thought I didn't need to use it . That was a lesson learned !!

I had a Superglide in my 6.5' Ram bed with a trailer with curved but not "notched" front cap. Obviously, with the SG, there was never a concern. But I paid the price as it was heavy and expensive.

My current truck has a 6.9' bed. With the slightly longer bed and the added 9" offset away from the cab provided by the Andersen Ultimate Hitch (configured in the rear position), I don't have any clearance issues at all - even on tight turns. And the trailer tows just fine in that position.

Like Cummins2014, I probably have had more challenges parking in my own driveway than I have experienced in any campground.

cpaulsen wrote:
We have a short bed F250 and we have Pullrite auto slide.......and we have never had a problem. Could maybe got away without the slide but piece of mind..prevailed!

The big reason I never had any worries going with the Andersen ,knowing when I did tow with my manual slider I "HAD" the option of being able to slide it back, but" NEVER" did , other then backing into my driveway, which is a tight fit.

MFL wrote:
Ron...Lots of variables with this issue! One person's experience may be good, and the other not so much. You know about the shape of front, but the length of pin box can vary, and one hitch will work better than another, due to adjustability, even though not a slider.

The truck itself makes a difference, due to axle center to back of cab distance. GM will work best, longest distance, then Ford, and of course your Ram, has the shortest distance.

Cummins2014, a forum member here, uses an Andersen hitch in a similar truck, with no issue, and likes the hitch. I know there are other Ram owners, using this hitch, also with good results.

Jerry

Lots of variables as you say. I am a good example . My previous fifth wheel was 2008 Montana , and one of the years when they started with the rounded front cap, although the 2008 were sculptured for a better word on the corners then rounded .

I towed that fifth wheel with two different trucks, a 1999 Superduty short bed 350 , and my present truck the 2014 Ram 3500 short bed Megacab . Two different hitches a Reese slider , and the Andersen . I used the Andersen with the adapter to the rear position , putting the fifth wheel further from the cab, slightly rear of axle center, it was too close to the cab when backing into my driveway if I had it in the forward position. With the Reese , I only used the slider when doing the same backing into my driveway.

With my present fifth wheel it has the more rounded corners, and I tow with the Andersen adapter in the forward position , putting it closer to the cab, actually its the same distance from the cab ,as the Reese slider in the tow position , both just slightly forward of axle center the more desirable position . Using both hitches , I can back into my driveway without a problem , not having to slide the Reese back, and having the Andersen in the forward position .

This is all a good example of two different fifth wheels . This present fifth wheel with the combination of the more rounded front cap, and possibly the pin box position, I am able to tow ,and back with it closer to the cab. The Montana had a Morryde pin box ,this one has the Lippert .

We have a short bed F250 and we have Pullrite auto slide.......and we have never had a problem. Could maybe got away without the slide but piece of mind..prevailed!

After loosing 2 yes 2 back windows, we went with a slider hitch.. have had NO problems. When in doubt we engage the slider. Good Luck and Happy Camping !!

Towed for 10 yrs all over the USA with short bed. Always had an auto slider so I never had to think about. Just the piece of mind was worth it.

I agree that terrain seems to be the biggest contributor for me. I have a shortbed Ram and have always been pretty careful when backing. I now have a dent on one corner of the cab from a sharp turn backing into a spot on very uneven terrain while boondocking.

Ron...Lots of variables with this issue! One person's experience may be good, and the other not so much. You know about the shape of front, but the length of pin box can vary, and one hitch will work better than another, due to adjustability, even though not a slider.

The truck itself makes a difference, due to axle center to back of cab distance. GM will work best, longest distance, then Ford, and of course your Ram, has the shortest distance.

Cummins2014, a forum member here, uses an Andersen hitch in a similar truck, with no issue, and likes the hitch. I know there are other Ram owners, using this hitch, also with good results.

Jerry