slider fifth wheel hitch

Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it..

A slider cannot hurt anything. After all, you don't HAVE to slide it unless you just want to (or have to)!

I now have a long bed Silverado. The hitch plate is so far behind the cab wall that it has it's own zip code. I have a slider.

Why?? Because I'm cheap. I bought the Silverado slightly used and it had rails on the floor, but no hitch. The Reese 16K slider was in my old short bed Ram where it had been very needed. Rather than buy a new non-sliding hitch, I just pulled it out and dropped it onto the rails.

My son now has the Dodge and he doesn't have a fiver so he bought a Reese Goose adapter that mounts on the rails in order to pull the dump trailer. The boat and the utility trailer are bumper pulls so either of us can handle them.

dpsgsac wrote:
Have short bed truck wand slider fifth wheel mount.rockwood dealer said don't need it for rockwood. My question is can I use one anyway? He say's no,but if I tow any other trailer I need to slide.

Welcome to the forum where you get answers over the whole spectrum. Some makes cents/sense/some don't and most are well meaning. Great bunch....
If you plan on towing some one else's 5er like my old square corner flat profile 5th wheel trailer you will need a slider of some type or one with the ability to keep the trailer front corners from damaging the cab.

I have a small crease in the corner of my truck cab from a fifth wheel that didn't need a slider. Fortunately, the tight turn didnt crack the front cap of the trailer. I now have a personal rule that the truck doesnt go in reverse until I slide the hitch. It isnt that much trouble and it does let me see around the trailer a little better. I went back to the dealer and negotiated a no-charge upgrade and install. Good luck with your purchase

The dealer probably thinks you'll ask for a slider hitch as part of the deal. Since he doesn't want to have to give a dollar more in concessions than is necessary, he's trying to deter you from asking for a slider hitch.
We also have a slider hitch in our 2004 Silverado and have never had to use it with our older Cougar fiver. It does ease the mind that we have it if we need it but we've never needed it. I suppose you could tell the dealer that to make this sale you want to first start with a non-slider hitch installed and then hook up to your new fifth wheel and see how much you can jack-knife the fiver before making contact with the truck. If the clearance is too little, then the deal is the dealer put's in a slider. The hitch rails will accommodate either a fixed or slider(at least on the Reese and other's like it).

patnchris wrote:
I think the Rockwood/Flagstaff 5ers all come with the Reese Revolution. So a slider would not be needed. However, that doesn't mean you need to use it. I have never engaged mine. I have never had to slide my Reese 16K slider, I have installed in my 6.5 short bed.

This may well be the right answer, as I remember seeing the Rock wood with the revolution pin box. If that's the case you have no need for a slider hitch.

Would need to understand the salesman's logic as to why you CAN'T have a slider.:h
You may not NEED one if you are not going to make real sharp turns or jacknife the unit, but I see no reason you can't have one anyway.

I think the Rockwood/Flagstaff 5ers all come with the Reese Revolution. So a slider would not be needed. However, that doesn't mean you need to use it. I have never engaged mine. I have never had to slide my Reese 16K slider, I have installed in my 6.5 short bed.

Wonder why you can't use one. I have one in my truck. I have never had to slide it but is nice to have if I ever need it.

You may not need on with that 5th wheel but I don't understand why the salesman says you can't use one.

Check out the Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel connection. Good videos on youtube.