Sliding Hitch

[Rwake901]

Who has a 6 1/2 ft bed and doesn’t use a sliding hitch? I’ve had two RV dealers and the company that makes the 5th wheel we are interested in tell me I don’t need a sliding hitch with a standard 6 1/2 ft bed. But when I go to Curt’s website (the maker of the hitch) they tell me I do need a sliding hitch. (Plus I emailed them) Who do I believe? I’ve read some other posts where people say they have one but never use it. Thanks for the help.

[LERD]

The pullrite is very automatic. It uses a gearing system that pushes the actual 5th wheel hitch backwards as soon as the head starts to turn. I have to use a strap to hold it in place when I'm not towing, or else you hear it it sliding back and forth. Once you get the hang of it, it's very slick to use. The engage lever locks into place and it makes a very loud noise when it engages, and the handle pulls out full when disconnected. It is very susceptible to pin binding, so chocks and your parking brake are in order. However, I have an older 5th wheel that I tow with a f-150 with the 5.5 ft bed, so this hitch is a must. The front corners of the trailer do not have the rounded corners, so I can get close to 90 degrees but not quite. But when I look at what it does to the suspension of my trailer with that kind angle, I don't care.

[Bob_Sue]

As stated previously I have a pull rite auto slide, and am glad I have it. As far as paint on the hitch, spray some W-D40 on the way tubes prior to pulling the trailer. That's about it for daily use. Every year mine comes out of the truck for storage. Everything is cleaned and lubed at this time. Yes there are wear marks on the way tubes from use, but in 5 years there is no rust. Piece of mind, and one less thing to be concerned with, it's all well worth it to me. Oh yeah, being automatic does mean you do NOT get out of the truck to activate it, it's automatic.

[Rwake901]

LaundroKing wrote:
Thanks Bionic Man for the link.

I visited the PullRite web site and looked at the owners manual to see what kind of mechanical things are going on to get this to work. Well... there are a lot. As promising as this looks, the maintenance schedule is grueling. Every day of use you must lube the plastic wear plates after cleaning them. It is "normal" for the plastic wear plates to wear the zinc from the slide bars. Then they will rust and scoring will occur, they say this is "normal". But before next use you should sand the rust off, clean and lube them once again.

They recommend disassembling the hitch once a month to lube the pivot bolt with axle grease.

You know they say, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. I think this is one of those. I suppose you could not do any of this and just take it in once a year and have all the parts replaced.

IMHO this is just to much work, just so I don't have to pay attention when backing up.

Glad I didn’t order one of these.

[cummins2014]

bshgto1 wrote:

MFL wrote:
I agree Dave...while 90 degrees makes a reference point, it is impossible to back a FW trailer at that angle. As you approach 90 degrees, you are just pushing the trailer sideways, and severely twisting your suspension. You need to pull forward a little, straighten a little, before proceeding to back.

Jerry

Finally someone debunked the 90 degree bull. A little up a little back a little up a little back. In 40 years and never had to do 90 Degrees. But I did have a Pullrite slider for a time and it came in handy more than once especially at night, yep a little messy but worked well.

Well from the lack of response, I doubt many are backing in at 90 degrees, or they don't realize what 90 degrees is .

Just watching 45 degrees , and what the tires are doing, can't imagine what 90 degrees is doing to them as well as the suspension , especially on cement or asphalt .

[bshgto1]

MFL wrote:
I agree Dave...while 90 degrees makes a reference point, it is impossible to back a FW trailer at that angle. As you approach 90 degrees, you are just pushing the trailer sideways, and severely twisting your suspension. You need to pull forward a little, straighten a little, before proceeding to back.

Jerry

Finally someone debunked the 90 degree bull. A little up a little back a little up a little back. In 40 years and never had to do 90 Degrees. But I did have a Pullrite slider for a time and it came in handy more than once especially at night, yep a little messy but worked well.

[LaundroKing]

Thanks Bionic Man for the link.

I visited the PullRite web site and looked at the owners manual to see what kind of mechanical things are going on to get this to work. Well... there are a lot. As promising as this looks, the maintenance schedule is grueling. Every day of use you must lube the plastic wear plates after cleaning them. It is "normal" for the plastic wear plates to wear the zinc from the slide bars. Then they will rust and scoring will occur, they say this is "normal". But before next use you should sand the rust off, clean and lube them once again.

They recommend disassembling the hitch once a month to lube the pivot bolt with axle grease.

You know they say, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. I think this is one of those. I suppose you could not do any of this and just take it in once a year and have all the parts replaced.

IMHO this is just to much work, just so I don't have to pay attention when backing up.

[MFL]

I agree Dave...while 90 degrees makes a reference point, it is impossible to back a FW trailer at that angle. As you approach 90 degrees, you are just pushing the trailer sideways, and severely twisting your suspension. You need to pull forward a little, straighten a little, before proceeding to back.

Jerry

[Dave_H_M]

I really do not understand the ole 90 degree jack for backing.

I do not think there is a pick up made that could turn sharp enough to keep up with a 90 degree jack when backing.

it could be done with the old cab over 18 wheeler i drove, but I say it is impossible and no utility do try that with a fifth wheel camper. Needles to even consider the lateral forces on the suspension.

So it looks like the slider folks rule on this post. :h

It surprises me that the stealer gave a practical response as opposed to just jumping into your pocket or at least trying to.

[twodownzero]

cummins2014 wrote:

twodownzero wrote:
get an auto slider. Don't ask how I know.

Pretty sure I don't need to ask, its situational awareness , and there was no awareness.

Oh, there was awareness or I wouldn't have a cab corner or a (maybe) back window anymore. Never doing that again. Probably a half inch of cab to axle and I wouldn't need it, but that's a half inch too little. Now I can turn way beyond 90 degrees and not worry. I have to turn nearly 90 to get into my driveway from the street, so it's nice to have.

[Nicholsfamily05]

From our experience all depends on the person and trailer.
My wife and I are soon to be on our third short bed truck for a fifth wheel but our 5th short bed truck over all.
We have had a 2012 Ram Mega cab towing a 40’ bunk house and a 2016 Crew Cab Cummins towing a 42’ fiver and are ordering a new 2019 Mega Cab dually Cummins. Out of the 2 other trucks we have always had a sliding hitch, but never used it.
Our trailers are the new front cap design that allows tighter turning. So with that and my wife who is an amazing spotter never had an issue. We have managed to get it into some good spots. We had an issue once so far that took several tries and that was at Fort Wilderness in Florida.
With the 2019 we aren’t even doing a sliding hitch.
But again a good spotter and communication is key.

[Bionic_Man]

Look here

LaundroKing wrote:
I have a 2005 Ford short bed with the pin over the axle. The 5er is a 2008 Sundance with the long pin box that is designed for short beds and also has the corners of the nose cap radius in. I don't even get close to my back window, but yes you do have to pay attention. I can't get around to 90 degrees with the trailer, but i can get about 80 degrees.

I have never seen an automatic slider. So some are suggesting that when you start backing in, it "automatically" slides back? Or is it just actuated from inside the cab. Because if you have to get out of the truck, that is not very automatic.

[LaundroKing]

I have a 2005 Ford short bed with the pin over the axle. The 5er is a 2008 Sundance with the long pin box that is designed for short beds and also has the corners of the nose cap radius in. I don't even get close to my back window, but yes you do have to pay attention. I can't get around to 90 degrees with the trailer, but i can get about 80 degrees.

I have never seen an automatic slider. So some are suggesting that when you start backing in, it "automatically" slides back? Or is it just actuated from inside the cab. Because if you have to get out of the truck, that is not very automatic.

[2012Coleman]

somebody wrote:
You don't need a slider if you can remember to pay attention. But as already stated some of that depends on the variables.

ya - one of those variables is a blind spot. If you don't have one of those, you can pay a lot more attention to how close the rounded corner of your modern fifth wheel is coming to your cab.

[cummins2014]

twodownzero wrote:
get an auto slider. Don't ask how I know.

Pretty sure I don't need to ask, its situational awareness , and there was no awareness.