I have a 94 26 foot carri-lite that I currently pull with a 96 F-350 diesel supercab dually with the fifth wheel mounted 2 inches ahead of the rear axle on an 8 foot flat bed. The trailer also has a pin extender that moves the pin location about a foot forward. So, the current set-up has tons of cab-to-trailer clearance in every direction. Although the truck is in nice shape and has never let me down, I get a little nervous about getting stranded a thousand miles from home in a 20 year old truck. I have been looking at half ton trucks with claims of trailer towing ability reaching 11,000 pounds. My trailer loaded gets close to 9,000. It seems that all these trucks with extended cabs have 5 1/2 or 6 1/2 foot beds. Even with 6 1/2 foot beds it seems it would be difficult to get the trailer pin over, or ahead of, the truck axle, much less the problems I imagine would be encountered with cab to trailer clearance.The fifth wheel on my flat bed is a slider that I have bolted in the forward position. Is it common to tow fivers with 6 1/2 foot beds? How do you do it?

Friend has a 35ft 5er pulled with a Chev short bed using a slider. Works real well and has not had any problems with contact.

We had contact with our old Vanguard, that one hurt the wallet. The current Prowler clears but not by much. Many newer trailers have the corners cut away to provide clearance. If you are unsure measure from the pin to the outermost corner of the trailer below cab level. Now stand in the box of your truck of choice and hold the end of the tape at a point in the center and 2" ahead of the axle center line. Swing the tape through an arc, if you get contact you want a sliding hitch or be very very careful when turning.The newer '1/2 tons' can tow that much but you need to be mindful of payload. You have around 2,000 lb on the pin plus a 200 lb hitch. Add the family and the dog you are pushing the limits of any F-150/2500.

Had an '05 F250, pulling a 33' KZ toyhauler. 16K slider hitch mounted perfectly above the axle center. Bed was the 6'9" version, on a crew cab 4-door chassis. The KZ had the extended pin, and it had rounded corners on the front, like many 5vers today. No problems with clearance, although on some sharp backups it made me get out and look. I used the sliding feature twice, but didn't really need it those times. So, it all depends where you mount that hitch, extended pin or not, and rounded front corners or not.

I tow a 30 foot FW (9200# fully loaded for a 2 month trip, CAT scale) with a truck with a 6 and a half foot bed, about 40K towing miles over 4 years. I have but don't use the slider. There are two bicycles mounted on the pin box. Tight turns have never been an issue. Whether this works depends largely on the shape of the trailer front cap.

When I had a short bed I used a Reese 16K slider. Didn't have to slide it back very often, but when I needed it, it was there.

towing fiver with 6 1/2 foot bed | Good Sam Community

Jack_Spratt
Explorer
Feb 17, 2016
No problem towing my Montana with a short bed.
I do have a slider but seldom need it.
MFL
Nomad II
Feb 17, 2016
I would not move to a 150 with that FW. Yes, it will pull it, but you will be dealing with payload issues. A 250 will work so much better, and cost about the same. Many get by with a 6' 9" bed. I do, and have for many years.

Jerry
Allworth
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2016
When I had a short bed I used a Reese 16K slider. Didn't have to slide it back very often, but when I needed it, it was there.
SailingOn
Explorer
Feb 17, 2016
I tow a 30 foot FW (9200# fully loaded for a 2 month trip, CAT scale) with a truck with a 6 and a half foot bed, about 40K towing miles over 4 years. I have but don't use the slider. There are two bicycles mounted on the pin box. Tight turns have never been an issue.
Whether this works depends largely on the shape of the trailer front cap.
OH48Lt
Explorer
Feb 17, 2016
Had an '05 F250, pulling a 33' KZ toyhauler. 16K slider hitch mounted perfectly above the axle center. Bed was the 6'9" version, on a crew cab 4-door chassis. The KZ had the extended pin, and it had rounded corners on the front, like many 5vers today. No problems with clearance, although on some sharp backups it made me get out and look. I used the sliding feature twice, but didn't really need it those times. So, it all depends where you mount that hitch, extended pin or not, and rounded front corners or not.
romore
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2016
We had contact with our old Vanguard, that one hurt the wallet. The current Prowler clears but not by much. Many newer trailers have the corners cut away to provide clearance. If you are unsure measure from the pin to the outermost corner of the trailer below cab level. Now stand in the box of your truck of choice and hold the end of the tape at a point in the center and 2" ahead of the axle center line. Swing the tape through an arc, if you get contact you want a sliding hitch or be very very careful when turning.
The newer '1/2 tons' can tow that much but you need to be mindful of payload. You have around 2,000 lb on the pin plus a 200 lb hitch. Add the family and the dog you are pushing the limits of any F-150/2500.
dalenoel
Explorer II
Feb 17, 2016
Friend has a 35ft 5er pulled with a Chev short bed using a slider. Works real well and has not had any problems with contact.

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towing fiver with 6 1/2 foot bed

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