Short Beds w/out Sliding Hitch

sayoung wrote:
A buddy has one of those pinboxes that privets back at the attach point , not at the kingpin/hitch. Works great on his short bed 1/2t ford

I think those pin boxes are a great idea but I believe it is a little more challenging to hook up.

I had a long bed from '93 to 2005. Since '05 I have been using short bed trucks without sliding hitches and have no interest in ever going to a slider or a long bed. If I was going to put a sliding hitch in my truck it would be an automatic slider.

Michelle.S wrote:
Generally turning while on flat ground isn't a problem, what creates the problem is when you're backing into a spot that isn't level with the road, so when the TV twist one way, while the RV twist the other is when you run the greatest risk of contact.

^^This

Many a truck owner with a busted window and dented cab did the safety check in the parking lot thing. What you cannot account for is one of the tires being lifted by uneven ground and the cap of the trailer tilting into the back of the truck. I'm not throwing shade at the whole idea of going without a slider... just pointing out the limitations of a test. Basically, even if you think you're in the clear you still must pay attention.

Generally turning while on flat ground isn't a problem, what creates the problem is when you're backing into a spot that isn't level with the road, so when the TV twist one way, while the RV twist the other is when you run the greatest risk of contact.

What ever you decide I suggest this little test after you get the trailer and hitch.

Find a large open area where you can do a full 360. Have someone walk along side your rig while having steering at full lock and do at least a full 360 while your watchman watches the cab to trailer clearance.

If there is no problem then you know your are safe going into a crowded fuel station etc as long as you do not back up.

A lot also depends on the 5th wheel. The smaller or mid-profile 5th wheels are generally no problem with the newer trucks. Full-size ones could have problems although as time moves on the manufacturers are making the caps with short bed trucks in mind.

I have a mid-profile with a SB truck and have never needed to slide back during some pretty hairy camping. But I do need to slide back every time I come/go to my steep driveway to keep my 5th from hitting the back corners of my truck.

My main complaint with the slider is the weight.... both against payload and moving the thing in/out of the truck.

A buddy has one of those pinboxes that privets back at the attach point , not at the kingpin/hitch. Works great on his short bed 1/2t ford

My brother has a 2007 Dodge RAM 2500 diesel with 4 door short bed. We installed a gooseneck hitch and the Andersen 5th wheel set-up. He has an offset ball that the Andersen connects to and tows a Grand Design 303RLS I think it's called. Works great. Tows like a dream and backing up is also the best. No problems. I don't think he could do a full 90 degree, but then why would he need to? The Anersen set up is really nice, easy to use and keeps the bed ready for any other truck related need.

Depends on the truck brand. GM has the longest C/A (cab to axle) dimension than the Ram or Ford. My son had a '02 2500 chevy short bed....then a '15 2500 chevy short bed and now a '18 2500 chevy short bed with two different 5th wheel trailers and has no need for a sliding hitch.

And as others with short bed trucks said the newer 5ers may have the rounded/notched front corners eliminating the need for a sliding hitch.

Another player is hitch location. You get the max distance by placing the hitch with the pin zero over the trucks rear axle.

A lot depends on the front end of your fifth wheel: placement of the pin box, width of the fiver, shape/contour of the front cap, etc. We pulled our Reflection with a 6.5' bed CC Sierra using a non-sliding hitch for a littl over 10K miles full-timing without any issues - but the Reflection has a sculpted front cap that reduces the chance of cap-to-cab contact. Some fifth wheels - although they tend to be older ones - also have the pin box farther back than others. RVs like the Solitudes and DRVs are six inches wider than our Reflection, too, which would make a difference.

Rob