Slider Hitch Required?

Wow surprised to read the "if you are careful you won't need a slider" comments. A Superglide can be found used for the same price as a standard hitch new. The one time you need to turn tight you will be happy you have it... and you won't have to "be careful".

I have always towed using a short bed pickup. I use an extended pin box on the fifth wheel and make sure I am careful not to turn too sharply. It has always worked well. The Cougar has a significant forward rounded shape so that will reduce the turn available before hitting the cab.

laknox wrote:

bodacious wrote:
Thinking of trading the '03 GMC 3500 for a 2014 GMC 2500 standard bed (6 1/2 ft.) Will my 16K fixed hitch work with the '05 Cougar 309EFS or would this setup require a slider?

I can NOT hit my trailer, which is very square-fronted, with my '02 D'max and Companion hitch, going forward. It is 4wd, so I =ass=ume that it doesn't turn quite as sharp as a 2wd, but I'm good with my setup. ALL will hit in reverse, just some sooner than others. I =have= taken out my back glass trying to back into a site, so I know my limits and always use spotters when in a tight space.

Lyle

I followed this advice from someone else. I have the old style nose. Never have been
in a situation where I had to use the slider backing up. However I have a nice little crease from turning in our cul-de-sac. Somelse also said you couldn't hit going forward. Guess what? WRONG!!!!!
Get a slider, but use it if things get tight. Good luck, John

kmbelt wrote:
I have a 6.5ft bed. I have a slider. I have NEVER had to use it as of yet. If you are careful and pay attention, it is not necessary.

X2

My previous TV was an 08' GMC SB & I have not needed to use my manual slider with it or my current TV. My 5er does have the newer front with the better turn radius. I think your 05' has the straight front cap that does not have the better turn radius. You may very well need a slider of some type.

bodacious wrote:
Thinking of trading the '03 GMC 3500 for a 2014 GMC 2500 standard bed (6 1/2 ft.) Will my 16K fixed hitch work with the '05 Cougar 309EFS or would this setup require a slider?

I can NOT hit my trailer, which is very square-fronted, with my '02 D'max and Companion hitch, going forward. It is 4wd, so I =ass=ume that it doesn't turn quite as sharp as a 2wd, but I'm good with my setup. ALL will hit in reverse, just some sooner than others. I =have= taken out my back glass trying to back into a site, so I know my limits and always use spotters when in a tight space.

Lyle

In a perfect world you would not need a slider; the roads would be wide with no sharp turns and one could not get into tight situations that are difficult to backtrack from. I don't live in that world and at times have had to use a slider with my shortbed to get into parking spaces and out of tight spots.

That is the reason I now have a Superglide. I just don't want to worry about it or accidentaly touch the cab with the fiver by misjudging. YMMV. Gook luck.

6.5' bed with slider. I never have used it. Both 5ers I've owned had sculpted fronts and extended pinbox. I don't know how close to 90 deg I can get and won't find out until I have to. Been able to get into any campsite I've wanted to.

tsetsaf wrote:
It is simple math... your bed is 6' and the hitch is mounted in the middle leaving 3' from pivot to rear of cab. Your fiver is 8' wide. Meaning when you turn more than a certain angle that extra foot (4-3) will make for a bad day.

My understanding is that the hitch jaw should be located directly over the rear axle, not centered front to rear in the bed. You'll have to measure the distance from the rear of the cab to the axle centerline. That distance has to be greater than half the width of the FW nose in order to turn 90 degrees.

To allow some "wiggle room", such as backing into a sloping site, I've seen it written that you want to exceed half the trailer width by 2" or more.

This is a beat up topic, but I've voted with my checkbook for Pullrite. Extremely sharp turns should be avoided since huge stresses are placed on tires and wheels, especially on dry pavement.