short or long bed to tow 29' Arctic Fox 27 5L?

[Tibbs54]

Our plan is to purchase a 2014 or 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel LB to tow our yet to be purchased Arctic Fox 27 5L 5th wheel. The Arctic Fox dealer, while giving us the tour, noted that the 5th wheel's front cap is angled back to allow for it to be towed with a short bed truck. A short bed would fit in my driveway/garage easier and would work for any other purpose we may have for the truck but I've read that you really should tow a 5th wheel with a Long Bed. What are your thoughts on short vs long bed? What are the issues? Plusses and minuses? Thanks for your help, thoughts and advice!

[jus2shy]

If you go short bed, all the Northwood trailers come with an extended kingpin. Also, there's 2 ways to nearlyguarantee the same turning radius as a longbed truck. Either a Reese Revolution/sidewinder setup (requires a 5th wheel hitch that uses rails or pucks to mount, not the gooseneck ball) or a sliding hitch setup. I'm planning on installing the mopar 5th wheel prep onto my truck since I didn't get the option from the factory, however the kit is only 250 bucks to add on. Then I'll probably go with a revolution/sidewinder setup since I like the fact that you get so much turning radius fore and aft. Also seems to be lighter weight than a sliding hitch setup.

[cummins2014]

up2nogood wrote:

Tibbs54 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the information! A new option has been presented to me --- The Dodge Ram MegaCab which only comes with the 6'4" short bed. The wheel base is about 9" shorter than the CC LB - would that make much of a difference in towing and ride? The overall length is 10.9" shorter. Not sure if that makes parking and maneuvering any easier - it MIGHT mean it fits in my garage easier. The payload is just about the same as the CC LB. Since we will be having 4 adults and 2 kids ON OCCASION in the cab, this may be a viable option. Thoughts? I've never had either truck and I appreciate all the information I get from those in the know!

Still looking at the Dodge 3500 SRW Cummins Diesel (maybe with the Aisin trans? - still reviewing that) to tow an Artic Fox 27 5L 5th wheel.

Now you are on the right track, the 2014 MegaCab 3500 SRW is the truck I own ,and the only configuration of Ram trucks that I considered . A bit more room in the cab, no notches in the back seat as the crew cab has, just a better fit for a family. It would be great fit for the fifth wheel you are talking about, and with a bit of growing room for a bigger fifth wheel down the road. the wheel base is a bit longer then both Chev , and Ford crew cabs , If I remember Chev being the shortest, Ford in the middle, and Ram the longest. four inches longer then Ford. Can't imagine it not fitting in a standard garage . I have a three car, and I park in the longer third car, but one of my sons parks his in a standard sized garage Plenty of truck for that Arctic Fox . Good luck with your choice.

I think it would be pretty tough to tell the difference in ride ,and handling between the MegaCab, and the long bed crew cab .

[cummins2014]

Tibbs54 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the information! A new option has been presented to me --- The Dodge Ram MegaCab which only comes with the 6'4" short bed. The wheel base is about 9" shorter than the CC LB - would that make much of a difference in towing and ride? The overall length is 10.9" shorter. Not sure if that makes parking and maneuvering any easier - it MIGHT mean it fits in my garage easier. The payload is just about the same as the CC LB. Since we will be having 4 adults and 2 kids ON OCCASION in the cab, this may be a viable option. Thoughts? I've never had either truck and I appreciate all the information I get from those in the know!

Still looking at the Dodge 3500 SRW Cummins Diesel (maybe with the Aisin trans? - still reviewing that) to tow an Artic Fox 27 5L 5th wheel.

Now you are on the right track, the 2014 MegaCab 3500 SRW is the truck I own ,and the only configuration of Ram trucks that I considered . A bit more room in the cab, no notches in the back seat as the crew cab has, just a better fit for a family. It would be great fit for the fifth wheel you are talking about, and with a bit of growing room for a bigger fifth wheel down the road. the wheel base is a bit longer then both Chev , and Ford crew cabs , If I remember Chev being the shortest, Ford in the middle, and Ram the longest. four inches longer then Ford. Can't imagine it not fitting in a standard garage . I have a three car, and I park in the longer third car, but one of my sons parks his in a standard sized garage Plenty of truck for that Arctic Fox . Good luck with your choice.

[Tibbs54]

Thanks everyone for the information! A new option has been presented to me --- The Dodge Ram MegaCab which only comes with the 6'4" short bed. The wheel base is about 9" shorter than the CC LB - would that make much of a difference in towing and ride? The overall length is 10.9" shorter. Not sure if that makes parking and maneuvering any easier - it MIGHT mean it fits in my garage easier. The payload is just about the same as the CC LB. Since we will be having 4 adults and 2 kids ON OCCASION in the cab, this may be a viable option. Thoughts? I've never had either truck and I appreciate all the information I get from those in the know!

Still looking at the Dodge 3500 SRW Cummins Diesel (maybe with the Aisin trans? - still reviewing that) to tow an Artic Fox 27 5L 5th wheel.

[n7bsn]

You probably can use the short bed. I've never towed a Northwoods with one (that was with a MeToo 20+ years ago).
But the angled nose would help
I doubt you could hit the cab on any turn going forward.
The trick will be backing, you may have to back-and-fill more often with short bed then a long bed.

Of course there is a solution, A Pullrite SuperGlide.

I actually have one on my 8ft bed (a previous owner) and I can jack-knife to some amazing angles

[laknox]

Tibbs54 wrote:
Our plan is to purchase a 2014 or 2015 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel LB to tow our yet to be purchased Arctic Fox 27 5L 5th wheel. The Arctic Fox dealer, while giving us the tour, noted that the 5th wheel's front cap is angled back to allow for it to be towed with a short bed truck. A short bed would fit in my driveway/garage easier and would work for any other purpose we may have for the truck but I've read that you really should tow a 5th wheel with a Long Bed. What are your thoughts on short vs long bed? What are the issues? Plusses and minuses? Thanks for your help, thoughts and advice!

As the others have said, buy what's right for you. Personally, my '02 Duramax 2500 HD 4x4 CC short bed, will NOT hit my trailer at full lock, left or right, going forward. I have my B&W Companion set as high and as far forward as it will go and my FW is very flat in the front. Being 4wd, I assume it has a longer turning radius, but don't have a way to check how it handles with a 2wd truck. ALL will hit in reverse, just some sooner than others. A slider gives you a bit more room, but, IMO, if you need it then you're likely in a situation you shouldn't have got into in the first place. 🙂 I don't currently have a slider, and don't feel I need one. Were I to get one, I'd get the B&W version.

Lyle

[C_Schomer]

I like the LB ride, I can haul a lot of firewood or camping gear in the front of the bed, I don't have to worry about the shape of any 5er, cheap hitches work great, parking is no problem even with dual wheels and my garage is long enough for the LB/QC with plenty of room to walk around it but it's not my money or my truck you're dealing with. It only matter that you're happy.
And yes, I've had a short bed and I won't buy another one. I prefer to have the whole truck. Craig

[mileshuff]

I have a short bed Dodge 2500 and pull a 30' fifth without issue. I do have a Pullrite Superglide auto sliding hitch. During a turn the hitch slides back allowing for very tight turns.

Many use a manual slide hitch. In the normal tow position the turn radius maybe limited depending on trailers front cap design. This is normally not a problem as most rarely need to turn sharp while towing. Once to a campground, the hitch is manually slid to a rear position allowing full 90 degree turning while backing into a spot.

Others have used a standard non sliding hitch with the newer angled front cap trailers without issue. In theory you can turn up to 85-88 degrees without contact. Since most never turn that sharp it works for them.

That said, the Pullrite Superglide makes it fool proof if in doubt. It is more expensive than other hitches but takes the worry away. I prefer the short bed myself but thats another argument!!

[JIMNLIN]

MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
Go with whatever you prefer. You'll have plenty of truck for the trailer you're towing. Either one will do the job just fine.

Same here.
I've owned several long and short bed trucks pulling GN flatbeds/stock trailer and 5th wheel RV and 5th wheel work trailers.

I couldn't recommend one over the other.

Do your home work on the new trailers with the rounded/notched front corner profile. Many folks report a sliding hitch isn't needed.

[rhagfo]

MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
Go with whatever you prefer. You'll have plenty of truck for the trailer you're towing. Either one will do the job just fine.

X2

I can tell you what I prefer, but in the end it is what works for you!! They are redesigning the front caps so NEAR 90 degree turns are possible. You could also get a Reese revolution pin box.

PS: Personally I like Long Beds. 🙂

[Allworth]

After a short Dodge, I like the ride and room of my Long Silverado (particularly the ride) enough that I'll never go back.

[the_bear_II]

Trucks are not meant to be parked in a garage....they become soft and sissified

Real men leave their trucks outside with the windows down and put up with the cat and mold smell. Come on guys be real men. Crewcab Dually Longbeds forever...

Hope you know I'm just kidding. But I do like a big truck that's why I bought the Chevy C4500 Dually Crewcab long bed (8.5 ft bed). Wouldn't tow with anything else (except I would consider an HDT).

[JesLookin]

With our 2014, 3500, crew cab, SRW, short bed we use the B&W Companion hitch. With the B&W you have several choices on how to assemble the hitch - relating to the location of the pin. We have ours set all the way to the rear, approximately 4" behind the axle. Towing our 2013 27-5L we don't get anywhere near the hitting the back of the cab. Since we are no where near the capacity of the truck, I'm not concerned about having more weight toward the rear. The 27-5L and 2014 Ram 3500 are a perfect match.

We've had three different hitches over the years and the B&W is the best. It also fits perfectly into the factory "Pucks".

A long bed won't fit in the garage. So the short bed was mandatory.

[MSGTRETIREDCSP]

Go with whatever you prefer. You'll have plenty of truck for the trailer you're towing. Either one will do the job just fine.

[korbe]

My truck bed is 6.5' in length. I use my truck all year long, drive it to work, use the bed all the time, and am glad the truck isn't any longer.