I need help with a new hitch

Ricpin wrote:
I have a 2015 gmc 3500hd with a short bed. I'm buying a Solitude 375RES-R.

My son has a '15 SRW chevy Z71 crew cab Dmax/A short bed and pulls a 35' bunk house 5th wheel trailer that has the rounded/notched corners for short bed trucks.
His pin is set up zero over the trucks rear axle giving his combo around 5"-6" of cab to trailer clearance at any time at any angle.

AS MFL mentioned GM has the longest CA (cab to axle) dimension of the big three truck makers at 41 1/4".

I would check with your trailer mfg and see if the 375 RES-R has the rounded/notched corners made for short bed trucks. No cents/sense in buying a expensive auto slider IFif its not needed.

Let google be your friend in looking at all the hitch makers auto sliding hitches.

B.O. Plenty wrote:
If you have mounting rails in your truck there is no reason why a 18K B&W Patriot wouldn't be a good choice. Either as a slider or fixed mount. The mounting arms on them can be installed with a small setback. They are just a great hitch and made in America with all American materials. I went from a 16K Super Glide to one of these. No more slack or banging and clanging. Very easy to hitch and unhitch.


B.O.

This is what I have also except the 16k version. I have a 2015 Ram short bed and I have the hitch set back with gracious clearance. Its a incredibly stout hitch that sets in and out with no sweat and the head has the quick release handles. Highly recommended by me and second not needing a slider.

If you have mounting rails in your truck there is no reason why a 18K B&W Patriot wouldn't be a good choice. Either as a slider or fixed mount. The mounting arms on them can be installed with a small setback. They are just a great hitch and made in America with all American materials. I went from a 16K Super Glide to one of these. No more slack or banging and clanging. Very easy to hitch and unhitch.


B.O.

I used to have a 12k Pullrite for my older, smaller FW and liked it. Tried to use a fixed hitch for our new FW and the corners of the RV "kissed" the back of the TV cab twice but fortunately did no damage other than paint rubs. I changed to an 18k Demco Hitchhiker slider whichs works fine. I would have gotten another Pullrite but it wasn't height adjustable; the Demco is.

SkiSmuggs wrote:
I went with the Andersen Ultimate in my short bed F350. 35 lbs. It moves the connection 5" further back and reduces the risk of hitting the cab.

Ditto. Mine is the rail mount version and I also use it flipped back. I think it's rated for 20k lbs. Some folks will inevitably be along to dump all over it shortly, but they work great as far as I'm concerned.

I went with the Andersen Ultimate in my short bed F350. 35 lbs. It moves the connection 5" further back and reduces the risk of hitting the cab.

Ricpin wrote:
I'm looking at a new grand design. I've got a 16k superglide. The new 5er will be heavier about 17k. I would like to get a new 20k slider hitch. Would like to get something other than another superglide. So any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

To answer your question, if you need another slider, there are only two that are "autslide" as far as I know. Your superglide, just in a heavier model, or the Demco hijacker autoslide. I have the Demco now, and really like it. It is the 21K model. Manual sliders are a waste of money in my opinion, as often the slide is forgotten until too late, or not used at all.

If you don't want a slider, then there are a multitude of choices. B&W is a favorite, and Anderson is gaining popularity.

GM HD trucks have the longest distance from the rear axle center, to the back of cab. My Ford rear axle center is 41"s behind cab. My hitch pin center is one inch forward of axle center. If you are just an aware kind of driver, I'd suggest a quality non-sliding hitch of your choice. Many, many are towing FWs with short bed/standard actually, trucks with no slider. Do some hit the cab? YUP...however just a bit of awareness could avoid this in most cases.

Jerry

I have a 2015 gmc 3500hd with a short bed. I'm buying a Solitude 375RES-R.

You don't say which Grand Design you're considering - I'm assuming a Solitude or a Momentum - or whether you have a long or short bed. We pulled a GD Reflection fifth wheel (14K) with a short bed truck without a slider for 15,000 miles and never had a problem. As stated, the shape of the new front caps makes a big difference.

Rob