Good Day to all! Asking for help. I am in the process of getting a fifth wheel and with all the previous help, we will not be over weight, over sized etc. Now for the hitch, and yes it will be rated at the proper weight ratings or over. I have been told that I may need a slider hitch, which is fine with me, just need to know pro's and con's of them. I am trying to keep this cost more minimal and don't need to have an expensive one just to keep up with the big boys. So truck is a 2010 GMC Sierra 4 X 4 extended cab, regular six and a half foot bed. I have an auxiliary tank box in the back and has been professionally installed so installation will be fine. So there ya go, give me your input! Thanks! Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

The slider option depends on the truck and 5th wheel combo. I have a short bed Ford and a slider. Never used it. My buddy has a short bed Chevy, no slider and has never been in a situation where he needed one. I have a Reese, he has a B&W. You said minimal cost so that rules out a auto slider. Check out the Sidewinder or an extended pinbox. You really need to ask someone with your exact truck and 5th wheel combo what they use.

jffnkrn wrote:.................So truck is a 2010 GMC Sierra 4 X 4 extended cab, regular six and a half foot bed. I have an auxiliary tank box in the back and has been professionally installed so installation will be fine. So there ya go, give me your input! Thanks! Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !I really hope that truck is not a 1500 or you really will have problems staying under your ratings with other than a very small fiver!

I have a 6.5' bed and installed a Reese Manual slider hitch. Easy to use, and even though I've never been in a bind where I needed it, I will usually slide it to maneuver mode when getting ready to back it into a space.

The length of the pin box and trailer nose design will determine if you need a slider. I managed to punch out the back window with our previous unit, the current one is fine. Measure the trailer and truck before purchasing.We have a slider but it is basic, the pins need to be lifted individually to move the hitch. I can't reach them with the trailer hooked up so it is pretty much useless if sliding is needed.

Is this A 1500 or a 2500? If a 1500 get a bumper pull

FifthWheel Hitch | Good Sam Community

pauliwalnutz
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
I have the Reese sidewinder for my crew cab truck with 5'7" box and love it. No need to worry about things sliding back and forth and no moving parts. Lots of clearance to the cab.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Aug 21, 2014
I have a 17 year old square tube 16k Reese manual slider. Don't use it much other than backing some times. I keep it maintained so it still slides easily at any angle with 2200-2500 lbs sitting on it. The hitch is still tight with no noise even with a manual NV5600 tranny behind the Cummins.

Many GM owners report they may have a slider but its never used. Some year model GM trucks have a longer dimension from the back of the cab to the trucks rear axle.
My 2500 Dodge has about a 5" shorter dimension and my 5er has a flat profile/square corner so its better to have a slider just in case.
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2014
I have a 15K pullrite autoslider. Bought from Tweetys for $812.00 delivered to door. Love it and never have to get out to slide it. I'm not sure you really need a slider though. depends on trailer nose.
michigancougar
Explorer
Aug 21, 2014
used a husky slider for the past 12 years - last year I was cutting it tight coming out of a waste dump but had room so didn't slide the hitch - heavey rain the night before and the edge of the pavement gave way making the 5er hit the truck - $1000 to repair it - so just got new truck and installed the pullrite auto slider - first pull was 2 days ago and I am in love. it is all up to the person to decide if spending the little extra now is worth the convenience and peace of mind. after that $1K - I know it is in my case
miked101
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
I have a Reese 16k slider and really do not like this hitch it has too much back and forth movement in the slider portion.
laknox
Nomad
Aug 18, 2014
B&W Companion, slider or standard, and you can't go wrong. Great product and great company to stand behind it. I'll never have another hitch...

Lyle
jffnkrn
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
Sorry for the missed info. Yes it is an HD 2500 GMC Sierra. Plan is to purchase a, what is called a super lite with right at 10000 GVWR of a trailer and about 1500 pounds of hitch weight. still tossing between a couple of them, but may end up with the 2011 Forest River Rockwood 8265ws or the Keystone Cougar half 279rkswe. Both fifth wheels. So thanks again and additional info is great. Thanks again. jeff
GmaPaTime
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
Check out the Anderson Ultimate hitch....
Halmfamily
Explorer
Aug 17, 2014
I had a Reese 16K slider on my F350 and only used a couple of times. The one time I didn't I hit the nose of the fiver on the trucks cab, no damage. Luckily a Ranger was there and seen what I was about to do or it would have been worse. I'm a firm believer in its better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. And yes my fiver nose is supposed to go to 88° without needing a slider and I can safely say it won't. Buy the slider....
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Aug 17, 2014
As others have said, it will depend on the truck and 5er.

My first set up, a '99 Ram short bed and 1998 Dutchman 5er never needed a slider.

My next rig, an '03 Ram short bed and current 5er, needed it just about every time I backed into a site.

I had a Reese 16k Qwick Slide, and that thing was PITA to use, I had to drop the landing gear and remove most of the pin weight to get it to slide. I finally upgraded to a Superglide, which was great for manuevering, but it must weigh over 200 pounds, and was a PITA to get out of the truck.

Most things in life are trade offs. This is one as well.