Who has a 6 1/2 ft bed and doesn’t use a sliding hitch? I’ve had two RV dealers and the company that makes the 5th wheel we are interested in tell me I don’t need a sliding hitch with a standard 6 1/2 ft bed. But when I go to Curt’s website (the maker of the hitch) they tell me I do need a sliding hitch. (Plus I emailed them) Who do I believe? I’ve read some other posts where people say they have one but never use it. Thanks for the help.

You only need a sliding hitch, after you've hit the cab.:) I've never had a slider, been towing with a standard bed since 99, with no issue. If no common sense, or extreme condition, damage could happen. I think the dealer, and manufacturer are giving proper advice. You just need to be aware, especially until you get used to available clearance.Jerry

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.

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!

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.

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.

Sliding Hitch | Good Sam Community

31 Replies

Bionic_Man
Explorer
Mar 04, 2019
Look here
LaundroKing wrote:
I have a 2005 Ford short bed with the pin over the axle. The 5er is a 2008 Sundance with the long pin box that is designed for short beds and also has the corners of the nose cap radius in. I don't even get close to my back window, but yes you do have to pay attention. I can't get around to 90 degrees with the trailer, but i can get about 80 degrees.

I have never seen an automatic slider. So some are suggesting that when you start backing in, it "automatically" slides back? Or is it just actuated from inside the cab. Because if you have to get out of the truck, that is not very automatic.
LaundroKing
Explorer
Mar 04, 2019
I have a 2005 Ford short bed with the pin over the axle. The 5er is a 2008 Sundance with the long pin box that is designed for short beds and also has the corners of the nose cap radius in. I don't even get close to my back window, but yes you do have to pay attention. I can't get around to 90 degrees with the trailer, but i can get about 80 degrees.

I have never seen an automatic slider. So some are suggesting that when you start backing in, it "automatically" slides back? Or is it just actuated from inside the cab. Because if you have to get out of the truck, that is not very automatic.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Feb 28, 2019
somebody wrote:
You don't need a slider if you can remember to pay attention. But as already stated some of that depends on the variables.
ya - one of those variables is a blind spot. If you don't have one of those, you can pay a lot more attention to how close the rounded corner of your modern fifth wheel is coming to your cab.
cummins2014
Explorer
Feb 27, 2019
twodownzero wrote:
get an auto slider. Don't ask how I know.

Pretty sure I don't need to ask, its situational awareness , and there was no awareness.
cummins2014
Explorer
Feb 27, 2019
schlep1967 wrote:
No you don't "need" a slider. Just like you don't "need" a seatbelt when riding in a vehicle. Until you do.
I went through this same questioning when I moved to a 5th wheel. My issue was, I can buy an auto-slider and never have to worry again or I can by a manual slider and wonder every time if I should make the effort to get out and slide the hitch.
I don't regret the auto slider one bit.
Now, everyone is different. If you are skilled at backing a 5th wheel you will probably never have to jack it much past 45 degrees to get it where you want it. If you are not skilled..... you will be approaching 90 degrees often. This can be a very good determining factor as to what kind of hitch you want.

The amount of degrees you have to back into a spot, can't be determined by your skill , if there is room you can back in at 45 degrees , anything will eventually given the room will get to where you want at 20 degrees. Your statement does not make sense.

I have a manual slider , I don't use. I also have a Andersen hitch, that is no issue in backing. Yes sir it is a skill to back a fifth wheel , and if you need a auto slider then so be it. Many don't.

Its a situational awareness event, and if you don't have awareness of what you are doing then sliders are not of much use.
topjimmy
Explorer
Feb 27, 2019
No you do not need a slider in my experience with newer 5er's I have a 6 1/2 ft Crew Cab short bed GMC with a Reese 18K NON slider and never had any problems in this last year of owning it and yes I have made many tight turns backing up with room to spare to the back window and I knew I would not have a problem as My buddy has had a Ford Short bed for years with no slider and never had any problems the key here is NEWER 5er's with a curved cap like was said before
schlep1967
Nomad
Feb 27, 2019
No you don't "need" a slider. Just like you don't "need" a seatbelt when riding in a vehicle. Until you do.
I went through this same questioning when I moved to a 5th wheel. My issue was, I can buy an auto-slider and never have to worry again or I can by a manual slider and wonder every time if I should make the effort to get out and slide the hitch.
I don't regret the auto slider one bit.
Now, everyone is different. If you are skilled at backing a 5th wheel you will probably never have to jack it much past 45 degrees to get it where you want it. If you are not skilled..... you will be approaching 90 degrees often. This can be a very good determining factor as to what kind of hitch you want.
laknox
Nomad
Feb 27, 2019
Rwake901 wrote:
Who has a 6 1/2 ft bed and doesn’t use a sliding hitch? I’ve had two RV dealers and the company that makes the 5th wheel we are interested in tell me I don’t need a sliding hitch with a standard 6 1/2 ft bed. But when I go to Curt’s website (the maker of the hitch) they tell me I do need a sliding hitch. (Plus I emailed them) Who do I believe? I’ve read some other posts where people say they have one but never use it. Thanks for the help.

I have a B&W Companion, non-slider, in my 6.5' D'max. I =have= taken out my back window with my old, very square-front Komfort, while backing up; just got impatient and was turning one way while looking the other. I could =not= hit my cab, turning R or L at full lock, when going forward. ALL will hit when backing up; a slider just gives you more time before you =will= hit. With my new KZ, I have even more room, since it has cut-away front corners. So, with care and patience, you shouldn't need a slider. There are any number of posts from people who have sliders, never used them, then, when they decided they =did= need to use it, the thing was rusted so bad that they couldn't move it.

Lyle
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Feb 27, 2019
Rwake901 wrote:
Who has a 6 1/2 ft bed and doesn’t use a sliding hitch? I’ve had two RV dealers and the company that makes the 5th wheel we are interested in tell me I don’t need a sliding hitch with a standard 6 1/2 ft bed. But when I go to Curt’s website (the maker of the hitch) they tell me I do need a sliding hitch. (Plus I emailed them) Who do I believe? I’ve read some other posts where people say they have one but never use it. Thanks for the help.

Curts website doesn't know what your trailers front corner profile looks like and others that don't know will say get a sliding hitch.

Pay close attention to Dayle1 reply in his first paragraph where he says:
***
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.***

Many GM owners with the newer rounded/notched front corner profile don't need a sliding hitch at any angle mainly because of that longer C/A (back of the trucks cab to the trucks rear axle). Also installing the hitch with the pin zero over the rear axle helps also. The last 3 trucks I've owned were crew cab short beds and always have my pins zero over the axle.

The larger RV dealers who carry several hitch brands and installation can help you there.

Others like myself have a Dodge with a 6' 4" bed and pull a older '97 30' 5th wheel trailer with flat square front corners. Sure I need a sliding hitch but its seldom used.
I have found that backing with the hitch slid back all the way places the pin 10"-11" behind the trucks rear axle.....this causes the trailer to react quicker with less steering input while backing in a really tight/twisty situation.
spud1957
Explorer
Feb 27, 2019
They are more expensive but not needing to stop, drop landing gear, slide, put gear back up gets to be a pain.

No, you do not drop the landing gear. As stated and per the hitch user guide, you manually lock the brakes on the trailer.

If the nose of the trailer is close in a parking lot, all it takes is one side of the RV to be on unlevel ground at the campground backing and you may tap your cab or worse your window.

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Sliding Hitch

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