Short bed or long bed?

I've had both. My last truck was an F250 SB with a slider. Before I got my current truck, a RAM 3500 LB, I did extensive modeling with a CAD program to determine how tight I could turn with a short bed without pulling the slide. It was approximately 12 degrees less than what I could get with a long bed. Of course, with a short bed slid back it would do a full 90. Do you need that extra 12 degrees? Maybe not normally, but it's nice not to have to worry about a tight turn in a gas station, or in a tight campground spot without having to get out and slide the hitch. I opted for the long bed.

Now that I've had a long bed, I'm glad I went that direction. I don't have to worry about sliding the hitch back at all, and since I've had the long bed Ive loaded it up with lots of stuff.

The only downside of a long bed is having to park when you are not towing. A small price to pay.

I'm looking at a 6.4ft bed

There are the 6 1/2 ft beds and then there are the 5ft beds that many of the crew cab trucks have.......With the 5ft bed, a slider would be a good idea

DelCamper wrote:
So the bottom line is that my turning radius is lowered with a 6.4" bed unless I get a Slider Hitch which requires me to intervene manually (get out an make some kind of adjustment) in the event of a tight turn or have the potential of the 5th wheel and truck attempting to break a very unpleasant rule of physics where "two bodies of matter cannot occupy the same place at the same time".

Is the above correct?

not necessarily. Take a look at the revolution pin box from Reese. No need for a slider and because your used to pulling a trailer it will be similar. That said, I still like a long bed. More room and better ride because of longer wheel base. It's your choice.

Yes. You just need the slider for those tricky situations.
Happy Camping.

You'll be fine with a short bed just pay attention to what your doing.

Racine96

So I can turn as tight with a 2013 Keystone Cougar 327RES with a 6.4ft bed as an 8 ft bed?

DelCamper wrote:
What does that entail from a driving perspective? Do I have to do anything? Can I still turn as tight?

I tow with a 6.5ft F-250 and as long as im on flat ground the only way the 5th wheel would ever hit the cab is if I purposefully jackknife it, and that would happen with an 8ft bed too. For me the only time I used the slider is when I am backing in to a spot with a hump that would make the truck and trailer unlevel (\/,/\) with each other and while turning over humps to the articulation(?) of the trailer could cause it to hit the cab. With the slider pulled out into maneuvering position it gives about a foot more of play room so the trailer wont hit the cab. And the operation of the slider is simple to move from tow-maneuvering pull the slider pin out and pull the truck forward with the trailer brakes on or wheels chocked. And to move from Maneuvering-Tow pull out the slider pin and back the truck up with the trailer brakes on or wheels chocked until the slider locks in to the tow position. Happy Hunting!!!

So the bottom line is that my turning radius is lowered with a 6.4" bed unless I get a Slider Hitch which requires me to intervene manually (get out an make some kind of adjustment) in the event of a tight turn or have the potential of the 5th wheel and truck attempting to break a very unpleasant rule of physics where "two bodies of matter cannot occupy the same place at the same time".

Is the above correct?

With newer fifth wheel you do not need a long bed. So, it depends for what else are you going to use the truck.