5th Wheel Movability

I would go with a slider. I have a Sandpiper with a rounded front cap and an F350 SRW with a Reese 16k slider. Only time I use my slider is backing out of my driveway as I have to jacknife
to make the turn. Have yet to need at a campground. But as others have said and I heeded the advice it's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. Best of luck. Travel on.

Pull Rite super slide just hook up and it will slide on its own. No worries about forgetting about sliding or 2nd guessing and making a mistake.

I have a 2008 Keystone Fuzion 362 and it has the cut corners on the cap. I used to pull it with an F-350 Short Bed and had a manual slider hitch. The one time I failed to slide the hitch when I should have, I put a nasty reminder on the rear pillar for all to see.

We just got our first fifth wheel and I feel your learning pain. As has been hinted here, but let's just say it, you do not need a slider for driving forward. Backing up is where it's needed occasionally. With our Puma which does not have extremely rounded front corners, and an F-350 short bed, I can do a 180 degree turn with the front wheels cranked around to the stop with out hitting the cab. As was pointed out in another thread sliding the hitch back results in greater steering influence. Never thought of that--gonna' try it. I would get a slider just to be sure--I did. The pivot king pin referred to by the dealer is probably a sidewinder. Some frame makers will not warranty when a sidewinder is used because of different stresses.

I use my slider every time I back into a site. It's so easy to use(takes me less than 30 seconds to get it to slide back)so why not use it? The way I look at it is that it gives me one less thing to have to watch out for when backing. I don't even think about it when I am maneuvering into a site.

I have a 2006 Chevy with the 6.5 short bed. My 5th wheel is a 2004 that does NOT have a radius style front. I do NOT have a slider hitch and so far have not needed one.

That all being said if I need to replace my hitch for any reason I will probably get a slider hitch. My current setup was done by my dealer with no input from me. At the time, it was my first RV and hitch and I knew nothing.

I added a Blue Ox Bed Saver system to my hitch and I also have Emergency Road Service. I have not used either one as of yet but the peace of mind they provide is worth it to me.

I would perform the measurements specified above and if it is close go with a slider. As stated before, better to have and not need then not and find yourself in trouble.

Best of luck to you!

On the day I picked up my 5er the dealer broke my back window trying to turn too tight. After trying a slider hitch (free) I bought a used 5th Airborne pinbox with the Sidewinder. It helps smooth out the chucking, and since the Sidewinder moves the pivot point 22 inches to the rear I no longer have to worry about turning.

OP mentioned having the newer shorter than short bed shorter than the standard 6.5' bed. To me that would require a slider hitch.

Got to remember they advertise "almost" 90 degree turning. That almost can mean a busted rear window and no, there is no just touching, there is not touching and pop... I had a Reese slider, fairly cheap, never used it..... But it was there just in case I got myself into a pickle. I am anal about not jacking my trailer around where it drags the tires anyway cause I feel that causes problems down the road with split casings. But I had it just in case, better to have it for the "one" time then not..

It also depends on your driving style. Though I had a long bed truck, I never turned more than about 70* as I believe it puts too much strain on the trailer axles and tires. This amount of turning should be sufficient for most short bed trucks and FW, if you are sure about your skill and restraint.

If you want to be sure though, get a slider and use it.