Do I really need a sliding hitch?

drillagent wrote:

Krease wrote:
My front living room Montana has a 3100lb pin weight (22% hitch weight). That's not including the hitch, or any water in the tanks. And we have nothing in the living room portion but a few movies. My 3750FL has a GVWR of 16k, and it weighs in ready to camp at around 15k. Front living rooms are more pin heavy than traditional living 5th wheels.

Now as for the short bed portion... I have a Reese slider that I've never had to use. I have the morryde pin box on mine and can even show you pictures with it hooked up from the side if you'd like. I can go to 90 degrees also. Knowing what I know now, I would have not bought the slider, but who knows, maybe my "next one" I'll need the slider.

Thanks for the info on your 3750FL. We had originally wanted to go with that FW but realized it was too big for our truck. The 375FLF is exactly the same but with only one door. I would definitely like to see your hookup if you can post some pictures. How is the Morryde? Thanks for everyone's help. Now I just have to figure out where to get 3,000 pounds so I can test my rear springs.

I would suggest if you're going to do it by the book and follow recommended weights that you have your truck weighed, full of fuel and normal passenger load. Go to about any truck stop with the Cat Scale sign and they will weigh it for abt $10.

Then look at the door plate for FAWR and RAWR. Compare to the scale ticket and you will see how much pin weight you can support. Any trailer you look at forget the empty weight or empty pin weight. Look for the GVWR of the trailer and multiply by 20% (0.2) to get a good idea of a real pin weight. If that pin weight added to the actual weight of the rear axle is less than the RAWR you are good. Allow a couple of hundred pounds for hitch and add to that whatever else you carry in the bed. The front axle weight won't change much.

Then take the GVWR of the trailer and add it to the actual weight of the truck. If under the GCVWR posted on the door you are good. Start hauling.

My setup listed below:
FAWR 5000 Empty 4660 Loaded 5020
RAWR 6693 " 3580 " 5900 (Hitch & Pin weight = 2320)
GVWR 11000 Actual 10920
GCVWR 23000 Actual 18,300

All of those weights are with an empty water tank otherwise fully loaded and headed out camping with wife, daughter, and 2 grandkids. And I think the kitchen sink the way my wife packs

My rear tires are 18" Load Range E rated 3415 ea, total 6830, more than the axle rating.

Granted my trailer is not as large as you are looking at but I think it's better to have too much truck rather than the other way around.

On topic. I have a short bed (6.5) and a slider. I've never used it.