RVK3300 with Ram Short box EDIT

Yup. That’s how I use mine. It buys you a little extra cab to trailer front clearance and seems to handle just fine. The difference between putting 3000 lbs of pin weight 2 inches behind the axle centre and two inches ahead of the rear axle centre is minimal. 2 inches in front puts 37.5 lbs of that 3000 on the front axle where as behind takes 37.5 lbs off the front axle. One way the rear axle carries 2963 lbs the other way it carries 3038 lbs.

Edit: the above assumes the pucks are centred over the rear axle but I think they might be about 2 inches ahead of Center to start with. So it still would make a difference of 75 lbs to the front axle one way vs the other but angled back would put the pin directly over the rear axle vs angled forward would put the pin 4 inches ahead of centre .... putting 75 lbs to the front.

I see. Thanks for the tip, 4x4ord! I'll keep that in mind.

New truck option. See my original post.

I don't have the B&W, but I do have the Ram (Curt) slider in my Ram. I never use the slider and wouldn't hesitate to go to a non-slider if I were replacing the hitch. Hope this helps.

here is what it looked like with the 18K Patriot with the arms all the way back...when I had a Ford.

Learjet wrote:
here is what it looked like with the 18K Patriot with the arms all the way back...when I had a Ford.

That last picture makes up my mind. Way too close for me. If the trailer tires were on uneven ground, it could tap the cab.

spud1957 wrote:

Learjet wrote:
here is what it looked like with the 18K Patriot with the arms all the way back...when I had a Ford.

That last picture makes up my mind. Way too close for me. If the trailer tires were on uneven ground, it could tap the cab.

You might want to consider an Andersen, I tow with the steel rail mount Andersen ,and have no problem with clearance with my Ram 3500 short bed . Matter of fact with the rounded corners of my present fifth wheel I have turned the Andersen adapter around putting the fifth wheel closer to the cab . Still not an issue , I have no idea how much of an angle I can back, the most I have so far is getting back into my RV pad beside the house, and thats not a problem. I can get pretty tight.

I have to guess with the adjustments of a B&W its also putting the fifth wheel further back from the cab, or rearward of axle center, as did the Andersen. If needed I could run the Andersen the same which I did, but as mentioned I was able to move it forward. My previous fifth wheel I ran the Andersen a bit further back , putting it slightly rearward of the center of axle.

The simplicity of the Andersen is what I like the most, easy to hitch, and unhitch , no moving parts, nothing to adjust or replace. I also tow with a Reese 18K slider, which I have gotten away from the more I use the Andersen. I have never yet pulled the slider back on the Reese. Mostly likely will sell the Reese ,or just let it collect dust in the garage. :)

spud1957 wrote:

Learjet wrote:
here is what it looked like with the 18K Patriot with the arms all the way back...when I had a Ford.

That last picture makes up my mind. Way too close for me. If the trailer tires were on uneven ground, it could tap the cab.

I am not at all worried about my trailer hitting the my cab because I never have a need to put my truck/trailer at an angle where they get close. Even with a slider if you keep backing up cutting to a tighter and tighter angle you will eventually have the trailer hit your cab. At any rate as Biofgren pointed out a slider is only of value if you are going to use it and most who have a manual slider don't bother to use it because they don't think they need it. If I was worried about cab to trailer clearance I would buy an auto slider.

I also would never twist my axles on dry pavement, such as in the pics. Pics themselves show that this tight angle, is no longer backing, but just pushing the front. I would rather have pulled forward a little, to lessen the angle, before continuing to back.

Most times, an experienced tower, such as the OP, will be able to safely tow a FW, with the pin directly over axle center on a standard bed truck.

Jerry

MFL wrote:
I also would never twist my axles on dry pavement, such as in the pics. Pics themselves show that this tight angle, is no longer backing, but just pushing the front. I would rather have pulled forward a little, to lessen the angle, before continuing to back.

Most times, an experienced tower, such as the OP, will be able to safely tow a FW, with the pin directly over axle center on a standard bed truck.

Jerry

Very well said.