Do I really need a sliding hitch?

[drillagent]

I know there are probably lots of opinions on this topic, but that's what I'm looking for. I need the pro's and con's. And I've already heard the "which would you rather pay for, a slider or new truck cab" mantra. I'm hoping for more ideas.

We went to our local Camping World and we met some very nice people. When the topic of sliding hitches came up, we were basically told we really won't need it because we won't have to turn that much.

We have a 2012 F250 diesel Crew Cab short bed SRW. I've already crunched the numbers and figured that it would tow the Montana Mountaineer 375FLF with the 79 degree turning radius front cap that we want to purchace in the near future. So here are my questions.

In what situations will we need to go beyond 79 degrees?

Do we really need 90 degrees of turning radius?

Besides the possibility of going beyond 79 degrees and crushing my cab, why else would we need a sliding hitch?

Any and all info is welcome and appreciated. Thanks.

[minnow]

I've got a 28' Cougar and a 2004 Chevy 2500HD crewcab shortbox with the Reese Slider. Never needed to use it and I have to cut it very sharply to back the Cougar into my driveway. I think it all depends on the design of the front of your fiver.

[Cummins12V98]

MTkit5 wrote:
I towed a fifth wheel with a short box without a slider for one season and it just wasn't worth the stress and worry. This is why I drive a long box now.

Good call! Real trucks have 8' beds.

JMHO

[wandering1]

Get a long bed or good insurance.

[MTkit5]

I towed a fifth wheel with a short box without a slider for one season and it just wasn't worth the stress and worry. This is why I drive a long box now.

[drillagent]

Thanks for all the great info. The pictures from Krease also helped out quite a bit. I really appreciate it.

[slomark]

The fixed Reese hitch in My Dodge Mega Cab short bed works just fine, with the Heartland product and its trimmed front corners. Not a worry.

[Cummins12V98]

Allworth wrote:
There are two questions that come up often on this forum that have automatic answers.

1. "Do I need a slider hitch?"
If you ask this; you need one!

2. "Will my truck pull this?"
If you ask this; It probably will, but you really need more truck!

I agree with #1 !

[Buckeye_Chuck]

A point of information: My 2012 F250 Super Cab 4X4, 6.2L with 81.8" length box with Reese 16K manual slider, full tank of fuel, Myselfe @200lb weighs as follows according to Cat Scales:
Steer Axle.....4080 lb
Drive Axle.....3200 lb
Trailer Axle......no trailer
Gross Weight.....7280 lb

I think the diesel engine weighs a little more.

-BC-

[Allworth]

There are two questions that come up often on this forum that have automatic answers.

1. "Do I need a slider hitch?"
If you ask this; you need one!

2. "Will my truck pull this?"
If you ask this; It probably will, but you really need more truck!

[Cummins12V98]

Robin1953 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
You and I both know this for a fact but there are some that think a 2500/250 will tow anything!

I worked with a guy that had a 3/4T Chevy SRW gasser and he told me that he and his dad were going to buy a fifth wheel in the 40' range. I told him that he may want to rethink that fiver. He said it would pull it. I said no more. I call it "mytruckcanpullanythingitis"...:)

If these type of people were not going to hurt anyone with their decision to tow overloaded or oversized I would keep my mouth shut, but since I drive the same roads they do I will keep preaching GET A TV THAT WILL SAFELY TOW YOUR RV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Robin1953]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
You and I both know this for a fact but there are some that think a 2500/250 will tow anything!

I worked with a guy that had a 3/4T Chevy SRW gasser and he told me that he and his dad were going to buy a fifth wheel in the 40' range. I told him that he may want to rethink that fiver. He said it would pull it. I said no more. I call it "mytruckcanpullanythingitis"...:)

[Robin1953]

bpounds wrote:
I don't know how you crunched numbers and came up with that F250 handling that very large fiver. You didn't ask about that, so I will just wish you luck.

I was thinking the same thing. Tow rating of F250 for fifth wheel is 15,200# Shipping weight of that fiver is almost 12,000# If it is a 4X2 it would be a little better. Like you said...best of luck.

[Krease]

rattleNsmoke wrote:
Was that a DUALLY short-bed on the previous page?? I personally have never seen one.

Only available with a MegaCab.

[rattleNsmoke]

Was that a DUALLY short-bed on the previous page?? I personally have never seen one.