Is a long bed a requirement for pulling a 5th wheel?

[Retired_Sailor]

Looks like we're going to switch to a 5th wheel so I need to buy a truck. Do I need a long (8') bed or will a short (6'4") bed be sufficient. Im not worried about other cargo and the short bed would be easier for the wife to drive around town. Thanks

[Allworth]

I have to agree with KW. The improved ride due to the longer wheelbase makes it worth the occasional parking problem.

[kennethwooster]

NO, but after 5 short beds, and now a long bed. I now much prefer the long bed.

[mileshuff]

Retired Sailor wrote:
If anybody can recommend a 'trustworthy' RV dealer in the Phoenix area, I'd love to hear about them.

I have dealt with most of the dealers in Phoenix over the years. Haven't found any dealers I could fully recommend to buy from, bad experiences with sales dept. at them all.

Ended up getting a great deal at an out of state dealer. I have had great experiences with the service dept. at La Mesa RV in Avondale but not so good at their Mesa dealership.

I've also had excellent service at Bell Rd. RV and they handle warranty issues as well for non RV manufacturer items, A/C, Awning, Toilet, Furnace etc.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Coach-man wrote:
Oh, if you have your mind made up about buying the truck first, IMHO buy a dual wheel 3500/350 with a long bed, at least with that set up you would not be limiting yourself when it comes to the 5th wheel!

The HDT will tow *anything* you can find - for way less than "buying a new 3500/350" - with way more creature comforts, and *genuinely* never be limited when it comes to towing/owning any 5th wheel!

Many of those folks have moved up 'through the ranks' of LGT, to MDT, to HDT...;)

.

[Coach-man]

Oh, if you have your mind made up about buying the truck first, IMHO buy a dual wheel 3500/350 with a long bed, at least with that set up you would not be limiting yourself when it comes to the 5th wheel!

[ol_Bombero-JC]

RustyJC wrote:
Yep, that's the thing about sliding hitches and short bed trucks. You never need a sliding hitch.....until that one time you do, and then it's too late when you hear the crunch and/or the breaking glass.

That's one reason I've towed all our 5th wheels since 1996 with long bed duallies. More than I've needed with some of the earlier ones? Probably, but I operate on the principle that one can almost never have too much truck.

Rusty

Wow - that wouldn't be a reason for me to want a long bed dually!

Since 1985 for me!
Had my 1T CC long bed non-dually previously - no dually wanted or needed ever - including *no more* long beds.....

however.........

*if* the need arises -Ex: really heavy trailer- to apply the principle of "too much truck" - it would be a singled HDT (yep that would be a dually) - and the *too much truck* issue is *forever* moot!..;)

Too Much Truck(s) - here



.

[Coach-man]

I do not know about Phoenix area, but I purchased my rig at Lazy Days Tampa, I understand they also have facilities in the Phoenix area, you may want to check them out!

[RustyJC]

Yep, that's the thing about sliding hitches and short bed trucks. You never need a sliding hitch.....until that one time you do, and then it's too late when you hear the crunch and/or the breaking glass.

That's one reason I've towed all our 5th wheels since 1996 with long bed duallies. More than I've needed with some of the earlier ones? Probably, but I operate on the principle that one can almost never have too much truck.

Rusty

[ol_Bombero-JC]

azdryheat wrote:


I had a slider on my shortbed Chevy and never once had to use the slider.

Most trailers have the front cap that's designed for shortbeds.

And - a differing opinion - and experience/s:

Auto slider (PR SG) on my short bed gets used frequently!

No doubt (watching) it's a "don't leave home without it" item!
(Tight turns - my '06 Jayco won't clear the cab w/o it)

No, most trailers do *NOT* have a front cap designed for short beds!

Better statement would be....
SOME trailers -usually newer models- have a front cap designed for short bed trucks - be sure to give it a 'real world' test !!


BTW - lots of short bed truck posts by owners who are/were like the kid's story, "The Little Engine That Could" - thought they could "make it" with what they had (no slider required).

Resulting in.... "The Little Short Bed That Couldn't".

*If* they were lucky - no dents in the cab, only broke the rear window.


~

[Retired_Sailor]

Thanks everybody. Really appreciate all the advice. I understand the theory of buying the FW first but it isn't practical for us at this time. Have to buy the truck first. If anybody can recommend a 'trustworthy' RV dealer in the Phoenix area, I'd love to hear about them.

[cruiserjs]

Bought our first fiver in 1991 and gave up RVing in 2013 (health). Always had a short bed ( thru 4 different trucks) and NEVER had a sliding hitch!

[Ventureman]

GoPack....So one thing to know is that the Ford F350 shortbed fuel tank is about 26 gallons. The longbed gets you a 37.5 gallon tank.

Only true with diesel engine. Gas engine same tank regardless....

[kopy_kat]

You can also go for a unit with either the Revolution or Sidewinder pin boxes, which allows a great selection of standard hitch systems. As for the fuel issue on my F350...I could spend the $1000 to have a replacement 50 gal. Tank put in place of the factory 26 gal...but no real issues after over two years of towing around the west.

Larry

[LOFAT36]

My 2010 Duramax SB was a 26 gallon. I had it swapped out last year to a Titan 52 gallon tank.

[mileshuff]

GoPackGo wrote:
So one thing to know is that the Ford F350 shortbed fuel tank is about 26 gallons. The longbed gets you a 37.5 gallon tank.

Not sure about the newer Dodges but my 2007 Dodge SB has a 34 gallon tank. It is plenty for my needs. I easily tow 300 miles between stops and thats about all my body can handle anyways! I needs breaks too!

Many of the Chevy SB's are 26 gallon as well. Why do Fords and Chevy's have such small tanks in their SB's? Been that way for many years.