I am a full blown newbie... But I am a hands on motor head who (feels like) I can drive anything (and just about have)..So now I have my TV, a 3500 Dodge DRW Mega cab (6.5' bed)... Just ordered the rail kit, looking at hitches. In doing my due diligence on everything so far, I must have read a half dozen times, guys with the slider never use them....So, is it necessary? I tend to err to the side of caution, especially on things I have no experience with. When my bud parked the trailer in my yard at home, the way he parked it with his long bed, I doubt I could have done it without a slider on a short bed....It's not a matter of being cheap, I don't mind spending the extra $300ish, but it's more stuff to have issue with and I would hate to have it and never use it. So who has and used? Who has and never uses one?

Have a slider on my short bed. Used it 3 times in 7 years but glad to have it. Think of it as added insurance when getting into tight spots, one good bump and it has paid for itself 10x.

slider not really needed on a 6.5 ft bed but it depends on trailer front cap if it is curved or flat you can also use sidewinder king pin box (reese revolution)

With 5th wheels today there's a lot of things to think about. Is the pin box extended like my Moryde, does the 5er have the side cut outs in the front, mine doesn't and what's your pocket book like. It used to be the only really auto slider was Superglide. That's what I have. Now there are others with the automatic slide. Had I given more thought about the extended pin box when I bought I may not have gone for that. However after 7 years I'm still using the same 16,000lb Superglide even though I have a long bed truck. I don't need it anymore but it's so reliable and sure locking I keep it. Do some shopping your sure going to get a lot of mixed reviews and opinions on this site. JMHO

My fifth wheel came with an extended pin box. Front cap corners on the trailer are notched out as well. Supposedly, this setup accommodates 90 degree turns....No Worry!, it says on a decal.That said, if I ever smash out my trucks rear window and ding the cab, I'll be sure to report that back here.

There are occasionally reports on here of someone knocking out their back windows or denting their cabs on a tight back in. So use your own judgement.

Slider for 5th wheel hitch, who uses them? | Good Sam Community

Shadow_Grey
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
I have a real short bed and use a Reese 5th Airborne Sidewinder that works perfect for me. More than 90 deg turns and smooth riding.
416Rigby
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
stro1965 wrote:
I have one in my short box Ram, and I need it to turn around in my cul-de-sac.

+1
Krease
Explorer
Jun 13, 2014
I have a slider with my megacab, but I've never once used it with my Monty and the MorRyde pin box in 20 RVing trips.
stro1965
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
I have one in my short box Ram, and I need it to turn around in my cul-de-sac.
Steakman
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
Pull Rite Super Slider = Never having to worry about anything when backing up with a short box.

I am so glad I spent the extra coin for this hitch...simply awesome.
Pull up , Back in and done. No need to get out of your truck - No pins to unhook, nadda.

My take,

Stk
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Jun 12, 2014
I talked to a guy towing a fiver in a short bed Dodge , no slider . I asked if not sliding was a problem and he said , " No problem , my wifes brother has a body shop and we have been there twice in six years .
Camper_2012
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
DesertFiver wrote:
Short bed truck and use Sidewinder.
Is 6'4' the shortest truck bed you can use to pull up your 5th wheel. Thank you.
Halmfamily
Explorer
May 31, 2014
I had a slider on my 06 F350 and used it a couple of times. The one time I did not think to use it, it was raining and I did not want to get wet, I tapped the front of fiver with corner of truck roof. Luckily a park ranger happened to be waiting for me to back in and seen what I was about to do and hit his siren just as I was hitting the corner of the roof. I have a small spider crack in the fiberglass and dealer said it will be fine, could have been much worse. Its a good piece of insurance on a short bed truck.
Jayco-noslide
Explorer
May 30, 2014
I towed a small 5th wheel with a 2000 Chevy, half-ton, short box and the salesman said I wouldn't need a slider and I didn't. But I bought a newer 2007 Chevy half-ton, short box and I found right away I needed a slider and probably used it once or twice per trip. The 2 trucks seemed the same but something was different. With a short box I would go slider.
southernsky
Explorer
May 30, 2014
I have the Pullrite Superglide on my rig. Expensive but never worry about hitting my cab, don't even think about it when backing. Guess you can say price of peace of mind.