Short Beds w/out Sliding Hitch

GaryUT wrote:
I have a short bed GMC with a patriot slider. The dealer who installed it set as far back as it would go. The pin box will hit the tailgate when the hitch is slid back:

Gary

Does your pin box clear the bed sides when you come close to a 90 degree turn?

GaryUT, I just did that yesterday with my new slider, now I thinking about going back to my regular Companion. Luckily I just scraped the rubber cap pretty bad.

GaryUT wrote:
I have a short bed GMC with a patriot slider. The dealer who installed it set as far back as it would go. The pin box will hit the tailgate when the hitch is slid back:

I have since adjusted the hitch forward 3 inches, it will just clear the tailgate on level ground. I will have to lower the tailgate to use the slider.

Gary

This is why they sell those 5th wheel tail gates.

I have a short bed GMC with a patriot slider. The dealer who installed it set as far back as it would go. The pin box will hit the tailgate when the hitch is slid back:



I have since adjusted the hitch forward 3 inches, it will just clear the tailgate on level ground. I will have to lower the tailgate to use the slider.

Gary

I just bought a B&W slider base for my Companion hitch after doing this to my old truck, and did not want to do the same to my new one.
The 5th wheel, long gone, was an older model Keystone Cougar with square front corners.

I have a dent in the cab that is a constant reminder to be more careful. Fortunately the window is intact. I have a manual slider but can't reach the pins when hooked up, my older trailer doesn't have the cutaway corners.

what cummins said about paying attention. I have run short boxes for decades and without a slider. Used the hitch mountings from etraler. nary a problem. :h Iffin my day is coming it better hurry up cus i am older than dirt. :W

IMO the only thing thats going to help some is the automatic sliding hitch. I have watched enough towing, and backing into RV spots to know there are many that are not capable of paying attention. Manual sliding hitches to those folks are worthless !!

After towing many thousands of miles I hit the back window with the 5vr. That made me gun shy so I went with an auto-slider! Tomorrow will be the first test towing with the new hitch and hope it works well!

mtofell1 wrote:

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.

Yep, what they said. This is exactly what happened to me.