Sliding Hitch

Bionic Man wrote:
Dead horse here but it depends on the trailer.

On our first RV I never used it. When we changed to our current trailer with our old short bed truck I needed the slide every time I took it home.

And I agree with those that say if you need a sliding hitch to spend the extra $ and get an auto slider. They are more expensive but not needing to stop, drop landing gear, slide, put gear back up gets to be a pain.

Stop and drop the landing gear to slide the hitch? Why on earth would you do that?

I have a Ram short box with a B&W companion slider. To slide, I get out and unlock the hitch with the handle, apply full brakes to the fiver using the controller to lock them up, and pull ahead slowly. The hitch slides back and locks. I only drop the landing gear when I'm ready to unhook. Backing up with it slid back is actually easier. I can stick it in the same spot in my driveway every time.

I have a modern fifth wheel with the rounded corners and need it to back into my driveway and some camp sites.

So, mindful of the comments of you don't need one, I didn't slide it back the very first time I brought it home - I can tell you that the turning radius on my 2017 truck was more than enough to enable contact with the cab as evidenced by the sound of breaking glass.

Maybe the comments about the Ram having the hitch placement the closest of the three are correct, but decide for yourself.

Also, when considering an auto slider, make sure you can back into it at an angle. The ones I researched required the ability to back straight in.

So if I was only going to pull through spots or had a huge property, maybe I'd never need to slide it. I don't need to slide it when backing into my space at storage.

That's my experience - good luck with your decision.

That's what "D" is for in transmission..

camp-n-family wrote:
The only way to really know if you need a slider without a hitch installed is to back the truck under the fiver at a 90 degree angle leaving a few inches between the cab and cap. Will the pin be centred in the bed and over the axle? If so, you don’t need a slider.

Lots of people who have done this hit their cab due to the 5th wheels being on uneven ground and tilting the cap into the cab. The proposed test is presumably done on flat ground. Problem is the world isn't flat :)

get an auto slider. Don't ask how I know.

I'm not going to tell you what to buy. I have a RAM Mega cab with a short bed and had a slider for 5 years now. Never had to engage the slider and I have gotten into some tight spots. I will say, I believe it depends on the design of the front cap. The corners of the caps on both of our fifth wheels were a cutback design on the corners (Not sure if that is the correct). Get the slider, everything RV cost so go with it. Over time, you are going to waste more money on things you wanted for the RV and never use them.

Dead horse here but it depends on the trailer.

On our first RV I never used it. When we changed to our current trailer with our old short bed truck I needed the slide every time I took it home.

And I agree with those that say if you need a sliding hitch to spend the extra $ and get an auto slider. They are more expensive but not needing to stop, drop landing gear, slide, put gear back up gets to be a pain.

You don't need a slider if you can remember to pay attention. But as already stated some of that depends on the variables. Bed length is not an issue. Cab-to-axle (CA) distance is , GM is the longest, Ford just a little less and Ram is the shortest. Then fiver cap design is the other big factor.

Regardless of setup, you will not get into trouble making a 90 degree forward turn, the steerable wheels of the truck can only turn about 36-37 degrees max. So, a 90 degree turn at full steering cut will only result in a truck to trailer angle of around 45 degrees. You cannot make a 180 degree turn at maximum steering cut, but you can make a 180 degree turn at less than max. steering cut.

Where you will get into trouble is when jockeying back and forth to get into a camp site. That is if you try and get by with the least maneuvering. In 30+ yrs, I've never found a spot I couldn't get into if I was willing to take a little extra time maneuvering. Four SB trucks and 7 fifth wheels and never made contact between truck and fiver.

Get a slider. Matter of fact get an auto slide, it always works when it should. That way you cant forget to use it. Happy I got mine.

It depends on the model 5th wheel you're looking at. If it has a Revolution/sidewinder style pin box you won't need a slider. If it's a conventional 5th wheel some models have uniquely shaped noses sculpted for extra clearance around turns. It would be nice to have the slider in case you're in an awkward situation backing in. Better to have it even though you made rarely need it!

The need or not is dependent on the truck, trailer, and hitch. Most newer fivers have rounded cap corners which eliminate the need for a slider but they are all shaped differently. The only way to really know if you need a slider without a hitch installed is to back the truck under the fiver at a 90 degree angle leaving a few inches between the cab and cap. Will the pin be centred in the bed and over the axle? If so, you don’t need a slider.