Short bed with companion slider

[b-dog]

Ended up getting w companion slider for my 2500 Chevy. Seems I'm going to have to remove the tail gate with the slide in the back position. Has clearance problem with the pin box. I can adjust the arms on the hitch up a 1" or 2"

[Toolguy5]

I had no issues with my 06 2500 duramax 6.5 bed. I had pull rite superglued. Which sat at 19 inches high. But the truck sat lower.
I also was nose high.

I raised my companion to 19 inches today it helps the tailgate issue some but does not fix completely.
I lowered it back to middle just to have a little more rail clearance. I am a tad nose high. My arms are in the rear i can turn close to 90 degrees in the tow position so I will leave it there for a while. I may consider raising Fifth this winter

[700g]

I have the same problem with my Curt hitch. When slid back it is right at the tailgate. I solved the problem by making up a wire hook where I can open the tailgate a few inches.....works great

[laknox]

Toolguy5 wrote:

laknox wrote:

Toolguy5 wrote:

b-dog wrote:
Ended up getting w companion slider for my 2500 Chevy. Seems I'm going to have to remove the tail gate with the slide in the back position. Has clearance problem with the pin box. I can adjust the arms on the hitch up a 1" or 2"

I just purchased a 2015, 3500 Sierra and a B&W companion slider recently. I have only towed my 5er around the block. After reading your post I started thinking I better check my set up out thoroughly.
As you I have the arms at the lowest position to be level. I put the slider in the back position and I am only about an inch from tailgate, if I looks like if I try to turn a lot the Fiberglas shroud will hit tail gate. There is about a 1/2 inch I could trim before I get into actually pinbox frame.

I took my 5er and truck to an empty parking lot. With the hitch in the tow position I was almost at a 90 degree angle from 5er and still had about an 1 inch before I hit the cab. So I don't believe I would ever need to use the slider so I am not going to worry about tailgate problem.

Then my brother called me he just bought a older fifth wheel. He had no means of towing it home. He asked if I could. This 5er is only half the weight of mine. The bed clearance was only about 4 inches. It is a good thing I only had to go a few miles. Coming out of the drive way he bought from the dip and turn was so that the top of my tonnaue cover rail just missed rubbing on underside of 5er.
So this week I will spend time raising my arms on the hitch. I will try the highest position first. If it looks to out of level the I will drop it down.
Mostly for the simple reason if I had to help a friend in need I would have no issues.

Check the suspension on your FW while you're at it. You might be able to fairly easily raise it up, especially if you have multiple holes on the spring hanagers and you're not already in the lowest hole. It's also an excuse to slip in a set of wet bolts and bronze bushings. 🙂

Lyle

Nope can't raise it unless I put blocks or buy a kit for it. I checked that out before hitch was installed when I bought the truck. I was worried I would not have enough rail clearance.
In the present position of mine I'm ok with it. But I will explore different hitch height just in case I need to help a friend.
I figure if I raise the arms 1 or 2 inches it will give me a little more rail clearance. With the arms in the rear position I don't really think I will need to use the slide. As I said I can turn almost 90 degrees with about 1 inch clearance of cab.

FWIW, my '02 D'max 4x4 CC, 6.5' bed, will not hit my very square front Komfort at full lock, left or right, when going forward. ALL will hit going backwards. I have a Companion, too, and have the side pieces as far forward and high as I could get them. I do tow slightly nose-high, but it's small trade for the 8" bed clearance I have, and =need=, when boondocking at our usual site. No tailgate or bed rail clearance issues with this setup.

Lyle

[Toolguy5]

laknox wrote:

Toolguy5 wrote:

b-dog wrote:
Ended up getting w companion slider for my 2500 Chevy. Seems I'm going to have to remove the tail gate with the slide in the back position. Has clearance problem with the pin box. I can adjust the arms on the hitch up a 1" or 2"

I just purchased a 2015, 3500 Sierra and a B&W companion slider recently. I have only towed my 5er around the block. After reading your post I started thinking I better check my set up out thoroughly.
As you I have the arms at the lowest position to be level. I put the slider in the back position and I am only about an inch from tailgate, if I looks like if I try to turn a lot the Fiberglas shroud will hit tail gate. There is about a 1/2 inch I could trim before I get into actually pinbox frame.

I took my 5er and truck to an empty parking lot. With the hitch in the tow position I was almost at a 90 degree angle from 5er and still had about an 1 inch before I hit the cab. So I don't believe I would ever need to use the slider so I am not going to worry about tailgate problem.

Then my brother called me he just bought a older fifth wheel. He had no means of towing it home. He asked if I could. This 5er is only half the weight of mine. The bed clearance was only about 4 inches. It is a good thing I only had to go a few miles. Coming out of the drive way he bought from the dip and turn was so that the top of my tonnaue cover rail just missed rubbing on underside of 5er.
So this week I will spend time raising my arms on the hitch. I will try the highest position first. If it looks to out of level the I will drop it down.
Mostly for the simple reason if I had to help a friend in need I would have no issues.

Check the suspension on your FW while you're at it. You might be able to fairly easily raise it up, especially if you have multiple holes on the spring hanagers and you're not already in the lowest hole. It's also an excuse to slip in a set of wet bolts and bronze bushings. 🙂

Lyle

Nope can't raise it unless I put blocks or buy a kit for it. I checked that out before hitch was installed when I bought the truck. I was worried I would not have enough rail clearance.
In the present position of mine I'm ok with it. But I will explore different hitch height just in case I need to help a friend.
I figure if I raise the arms 1 or 2 inches it will give me a little more rail clearance. With the arms in the rear position I don't really think I will need to use the slide. As I said I can turn almost 90 degrees with about 1 inch clearance of cab.

[laknox]

Toolguy5 wrote:

b-dog wrote:
Ended up getting w companion slider for my 2500 Chevy. Seems I'm going to have to remove the tail gate with the slide in the back position. Has clearance problem with the pin box. I can adjust the arms on the hitch up a 1" or 2"

I just purchased a 2015, 3500 Sierra and a B&W companion slider recently. I have only towed my 5er around the block. After reading your post I started thinking I better check my set up out thoroughly.
As you I have the arms at the lowest position to be level. I put the slider in the back position and I am only about an inch from tailgate, if I looks like if I try to turn a lot the Fiberglas shroud will hit tail gate. There is about a 1/2 inch I could trim before I get into actually pinbox frame.

I took my 5er and truck to an empty parking lot. With the hitch in the tow position I was almost at a 90 degree angle from 5er and still had about an 1 inch before I hit the cab. So I don't believe I would ever need to use the slider so I am not going to worry about tailgate problem.

Then my brother called me he just bought a older fifth wheel. He had no means of towing it home. He asked if I could. This 5er is only half the weight of mine. The bed clearance was only about 4 inches. It is a good thing I only had to go a few miles. Coming out of the drive way he bought from the dip and turn was so that the top of my tonnaue cover rail just missed rubbing on underside of 5er.
So this week I will spend time raising my arms on the hitch. I will try the highest position first. If it looks to out of level the I will drop it down.
Mostly for the simple reason if I had to help a friend in need I would have no issues.

Check the suspension on your FW while you're at it. You might be able to fairly easily raise it up, especially if you have multiple holes on the spring hanagers and you're not already in the lowest hole. It's also an excuse to slip in a set of wet bolts and bronze bushings. 🙂

Lyle

[Dr_Holiday]

The Arms that hold the Fifth Plate on that hitch are reversible. If you swap the left for the right and right for the left you will notice it moves the Fifth Plate about 2" forward or backward. Make sure its in the forward position.

[Toolguy5]

b-dog wrote:
Ended up getting w companion slider for my 2500 Chevy. Seems I'm going to have to remove the tail gate with the slide in the back position. Has clearance problem with the pin box. I can adjust the arms on the hitch up a 1" or 2"

I just purchased a 2015, 3500 Sierra and a B&W companion slider recently. I have only towed my 5er around the block. After reading your post I started thinking I better check my set up out thoroughly.
As you I have the arms at the lowest position to be level. I put the slider in the back position and I am only about an inch from tailgate, if I looks like if I try to turn a lot the Fiberglas shroud will hit tail gate. There is about a 1/2 inch I could trim before I get into actually pinbox frame.

I took my 5er and truck to an empty parking lot. With the hitch in the tow position I was almost at a 90 degree angle from 5er and still had about an 1 inch before I hit the cab. So I don't believe I would ever need to use the slider so I am not going to worry about tailgate problem.

Then my brother called me he just bought a older fifth wheel. He had no means of towing it home. He asked if I could. This 5er is only half the weight of mine. The bed clearance was only about 4 inches. It is a good thing I only had to go a few miles. Coming out of the drive way he bought from the dip and turn was so that the top of my tonnaue cover rail just missed rubbing on underside of 5er.
So this week I will spend time raising my arms on the hitch. I will try the highest position first. If it looks to out of level the I will drop it down.
Mostly for the simple reason if I had to help a friend in need I would have no issues.

[b-dog]

Might can trim a little off the back of the pin box. Also can go up with the arms on the hitch. They are all the way down because I thought I did not look level. But it was empty. I have a pic but can't post it

[keisling]

Depending on how your hitch is setup, you may be able to reverse the pivot arms and get the hitch head a couple of inches closer to the cab. Look at the section on "INSTALL PIVOT ARMS" in the instructions here: http://www.turnoverball.com/sites/default/files/rvk3400_03_02_2015.pdf
If in doubt, call B&W, they have great customer service (620.473.3664) and may be able to help.

-Dave

[JIMNLIN]

I see you now have a older Cardinal in your profile.
As glazier says the back of the pin box can be tapered. However the back of the pin box on many older 5th wheel trailers was squared. The fix was to cut more of a angle off the back of the pin box....and mounting flange if needed. I had a '97 5er that I had to cut a big angle for enough clearance between the tailgate and sides of the bed on sharp turns.
Give B&W a call with your problem. I've used their GN hitch when they first got started in the hitch business. They were a great bunch for helping their customers regardless of the size of the problem.

[glazier]

Sounds to me like the taper on the back of your pin box is hitting your tailgate. If that is the case, the same problem will be there when you turn sharp at your bed sides. Take your tailgate off, then slide the hitch back, check the inside clearance of your pin box and truck bed when you turn.

[Bamaman11]

You don't say where your hitch is presently sitting, however B&W Companion hitches are adjustable up and down, front and back.

You may have some limited up and down adjustability on the fifth wheel kingpin too.

Unless your truck is lifted and/or has very tall tires, you should be able to make adjustments.

[LOFAT36]

I have a Reese 16K Pro Series in my 2010 Chev Silverado 2500HD short box and no problem with hitch slid back and tailgate closed.