I've been doing research for a truck to a tow a 5th wheel in my future. Probably a long time from now, but this is research phase. We will be looking at a crew cab. Does the length of bed have anything to do with its ability to tow the 5th wheel? Any reasons to have one over the other? How about the bed conversions I've seen, what is the reason for these??

Long bed.....no need for sliding hitch. More room forward of hitch for other items (tool box, auxiliary fuel tank, in bed mounted generator etc.)Short bed.......easier to park/put on garage. Might need slider but 5vr cap designs have improved so sliders not as necessary as beforeBed conversions......lots of extra storage, lower deckOptions.......it's all about different needsWhat is yours?

The length of the bed equates to length of the wheel base. It is longer over all so some say it does not fit in their garage. My personal preference is a long bed. I use my truck for more than just 5er towing. In reality it makes no difference. I pull a 32' 5er and I am about 49' bumper to bumper hooked up. I have no problems going where I want to go.

Nothing to do with "ability", but I feel that the longer wheelbase of the LB-CC trucks gives a better ride, particularly when NOT towing.

Old-Biscuit wrote:Long bed.....no need for sliding hitch. More room forward of hitch for other items (tool box, auxiliary fuel tank, in bed mounted generator etc.)Short bed.......easier to park/put on garage. Might need slider but 5vr cap designs have improved so sliders not as necessary as beforeBed conversions......lots of extra storage, lower deckOptions.......it's all about different needsWhat is yours?Thanks! Always wondered about the different hitches also, now I know more about the sliding hitch! Thanks it helps! I've been looking at the longer bed as something i'd like better. So far that's where I am, unless others have drawbacks i've not heard yet.

Some like short beds, some long. I have a Dodge CC short bed because I like the look and it's a little shorter for us to park. My older FW is 8 1/2 feet wide and flat on the front so I went with a sliding hitch.A long bed will make hitch shopping much cheaper. There are even cheaper used ones on Craigslist all the time. I have a metal enclosure for my Honda 3000 generator in front of my hitch and it just fit. If you can live with a long bed, get it.Another important thing to consider is 3/4 or 1 ton. Of course you all ready know what your van can do. If you get a 3/4 and want to stay within the trucks specs you will be shopping for a lighter weight FW. If you want to buy a truck and you dont know what type of FW you will buy, get a one ton. It gives you a lot more pin weight.My 2013 Silverado 1500 had a payload of 1,650My sons Dodge 2500CC long bed is 2,130------480 lb over a 1500My 2014 Dodge 3500 CC SB SRW is 3,840------- 1,710 lb over a 2500

Truck for 5th wheel | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Allworth
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2015
Nothing to do with "ability", but I feel that the longer wheelbase of the LB-CC trucks gives a better ride, particularly when NOT towing.
john_bet
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2015
The length of the bed equates to length of the wheel base. It is longer over all so some say it does not fit in their garage. My personal preference is a long bed. I use my truck for more than just 5er towing. In reality it makes no difference. I pull a 32' 5er and I am about 49' bumper to bumper hooked up. I have no problems going where I want to go.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jun 20, 2015
Long bed.....no need for sliding hitch. More room forward of hitch for other items (tool box, auxiliary fuel tank, in bed mounted generator etc.)

Short bed.......easier to park/put on garage. Might need slider but 5vr cap designs have improved so sliders not as necessary as before

Bed conversions......lots of extra storage, lower deck

Options.......it's all about different needs
What is yours?

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Truck for 5th wheel

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