Short bed or long bed?

[DelCamper]

I'm looking at a 2014 Dodge Ram 3500 non dully with a 6.4 ft bed to tow a 2013 5th wheel Keystone cougar 327 RES.

Do I need the long bed? What do I loose if I have the short bed?

My previous experience was with a TT and a 5th wheel is a new world for me.

[taybrynn]

I have had both and love my long bed dually ... So much more room for hauling stuff when needed ... Never had a problem parking it. Compared to my 39' 5er it feels small.

[DelCamper]

WOW

Thanks. Looks like it can "turn on a dime and pick up five cents change".

[wuhungsix]

I run a Pullrite Superglide (4100? 16k) on my 2012 Ram 3500 short bed. Works great and have not had a problem with it. Here are some picture of the clearance.

[DelCamper]

Does anyone have an opinion on a PullRight Series Super 5th 16K?

[DelCamper]

Does anyone have an opinion on a PullRight Series Super 5th 16K?

[retispcsi]

I use a B&W 3300 which sits in the under rail in my Ram. Del Camper you could use the Turnover ball model. If you have the factory hitch/gooseneck already installed it is an easy fit. You get a flat floor with the hitch out and hitching and unhitching is so easy. They are American made in Kansas with great customer service.

[DelCamper]

Gents:

Keep the information flowing. Many thanks to everyone regardless if I followed their specific advice. I have a couple of weeks before I get the hitch installed so I have time.

[Cummins12V98]

handsome51 wrote:
Now that you have a new truck with a long bed. Bite the bullet one more time and buy you a air hitch. You won't regret it. It only hurt when you write the check out. With the air hitch your trailer will float back their. Your truck and trailer will not be in a bind. I have the air safe 25k hitch with the binkley holland head. You want a air hitch with this head no matter what brand you buy. Once it latches it is not coming lose.

Yes that is a good quality setup.

I still prefer the B&W with the TrailAir air bag extended kingpin. The reason is the B&W weighs less and is much easier to remove when you want to use the TV for other reasons.

[handsome51]

Now that you have a new truck with a long bed. Bite the bullet one more time and buy you a air hitch. You won't regret it. It only hurt when you write the check out. With the air hitch your trailer will float back their. Your truck and trailer will not be in a bind. I have the air safe 25k hitch with the binkley holland head. You want a air hitch with this head no matter what brand you buy. Once it latches it is not coming lose.

[Cummins12V98]

DelCamper wrote:
retispcsi

Got the 2014 3500 single tire 8ft bed diesel 4x4 Ram a few hours ago. The instrumentation is amazing. The back up cam predicts where your going. The MPG is impressive at 18.5 town w/o towing. Now its time to choose a hitch to attach this to a 36ft 5 fiver @ 12,000 lbs and 1550 pin weight so I'm taking suggestions.

I'm kind of fond (too fond) of Publix banana cream pie.

Make sure you check out the B&W hitches. Top quality USA construction.

They don't rattle and the locking mechanism is solid with 1" thick jaws. When the handle is closed and a quick look to see the jaws are around the kingpin there is no question it's locked.

tweetys.com is a good place to buy B&W

[DelCamper]

retispcsi

Got the 2014 3500 single tire 8ft bed diesel 4x4 Ram a few hours ago. The instrumentation is amazing. The back up cam predicts where your going. The MPG is impressive at 18.5 town w/o towing. Now its time to choose a hitch to attach this to a 36ft 5 fiver @ 12,000 lbs and 1550 pin weight so I'm taking suggestions.

I'm kind of fond (too fond) of Publix banana cream pie.

[retispcsi]

Del Camper I always park at the back of the lot it will help to keep the those yahoos from singing your new truck. Plus the extra exercise will help to shed some of those calories from the Publix carrot cake. Good luck with your new truck. This is my 4th Dodge/Ram and my second diesel.

[Hvyhauler]

Del Camper

Excellent choice,you will like the long bed.I started with my existing short box 2006 2500 Dodge 4x4 quad cab CTG,it pulled and stopped the 5ver good.

The payload was close to being maxed out...added super springs and also had a Pullrite Superglide,no chance of hitting the cab...good sturdy durable hitch. The 36 foot 5ver in my opinion was too much trailer for the truck. In 2008 I upgraded to a 2006 Dodge 3500 4x4 DRW long box CTG (payload to spare) and the difference was night and day.I have no problems in parking lots or drive throughs / maneuvering around town.The truck controls the camper with authority.

The 2500 is my daily driver - 175k miles... the 3500 45k miles is my tow vehicle and also hauls the Lance truck camper. My neighbor down the street has lost 2 back windows and sustained cab damage while pulling his 5ver with a short box truck & non slider hitch.

Enjoy your new long truck and peace of mind !!

Hvyhauler
2006 Dodge 3500 CTG 4X4 QC DRW LWB
2007 Mountaineer 336RLT
2000 Lance 1130
2 Camping Collies always ready to go

[JIMNLIN]

Jimf1234 wrote:
I keep seeing people say that a short box = short wheelbase. My dodge Mega cab short box has the same wheelbase as a crew cab long box. After owning the Mega cab it would be hard to goto a smaller cab.

Some folks haven't educated them selves on the subject and are still stuck in the era when a long bed truck had a 132-134" wheel base and the short bed trucks ran in the 118'-120" wheel base.
Now most short bed trucks have wheel bases much longer than the older long wheel base trucks.

And then we have a few types that their equipment is all better than others.

[Jimf1234]

I keep seeing people say that a short box = short wheelbase. My dodge Mega cab short box has the same wheelbase as a crew cab long box. After owning the Mega cab it would be hard to goto a smaller cab.