Towing with Dodge short bed

[dieseldan723]

Good evening,

I have had two GMC short box trucks and used a Pull-Rite sliding hitch with ZERO problems. I am now looking at a new Dodge with a short box. The Dodge is two inches shorter than the GMC's I have previously owned.

I am open to another sliding hitch. Is there any issue with this setup that I should be concerned about?

Thank you all for your great advice!

[dieseldan723]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I am now looking at a new Dodge with a short box."


No such thing, Officially RAM since 2013.

:). Sorry. My bad!

[Cummins12V98]

"I am now looking at a new Dodge with a short box."


No such thing, Officially RAM since 2013.

[mileshuff]

I have a 2007 Ram with pulrite superglide. Bed size is 6'2". Works perfect.

[scottykrug]

We had one of the original aluminum versions that bent slightly. A guy cut us off in traffic forcing me to stand on the brakes. Adding to the situation, our electronic brake controller failed causing the hitch and my truck to absorb the braking weight of a 10k lb 5er. Other than some small skid marks and a rectally inhaled seat cover the only damage was a slightly bent hitch. I contacted Andersen and they sent me a brand new redesigned (heavier built) version free of charge and I haven’t had an issue since. Yes I chucked the old brake controller in the trash. I love the simple design that can’t let the camper fall on the bed rails if the locking mechanism fails or isn’t locked. On the down side, you have to perfectly align the ball under the socket which can take time. Help from a spotter and practice makes this a non issue.

[dieseldan723]

I had never heard about the Anderson hitch until reading the responses to this thread. I looked it up and it looks very SLICK!

Has anyone had any issues with this hitch in a short bed? I'm eager to hear your experiences!!

[dieseldan723]

I'll confess. 🙂 I have actually had to turn 90 degrees on multiple occasions. Once the GPS routed us down a forest service road along side a lake. We would have been fine, except for the tree that had come down. We had to back up about 1000 ft to a wide spot in the road. I backed the trailer into the hillside at a 90 degree (had to dig about 3 feet of dirt out of the way to back trailer up as far as I could). I unhitched and turned the truck around, then drove to the other side of the trailer and hooked up at a 90 degree angle going back out the road.

It was an ordeal for sure. I wasn't sure I would get the trailer out!

Do I expect to to this on a regular basis - NO! But it was nice to be able to do it.

[cummins2014]

CaLBaR wrote:
I really am not sure never having a 5th wheel before what the pre-occupation is with being able to turn 90 degrees. I can't even get close and have never had to with any of my TTs and have never had an issue maneuvering anywhere. I do understand that you can damage the truck and trailer if you turn too sharp but just don't see the need for it.

Not sure what I am missing with this. Sorry if I stole the OPS thread.

Not at all, I feel the same way. I am not going to back my fifth wheel 90 degrees. Never understood it. I have backed into some very tight spots, and have never seen the need for 90 degrees . It gets talked about a lot for whatever reason.

[CaLBaR]

I really am not sure never having a 5th wheel before what the pre-occupation is with being able to turn 90 degrees. I can't even get close and have never had to with any of my TTs and have never had an issue maneuvering anywhere. I do understand that you can damage the truck and trailer if you turn too sharp but just don't see the need for it.

Not sure what I am missing with this. Sorry if I stole the OPS thread.

[scottykrug]

cummins2014 wrote:

GPG52 wrote:
I also experienced the same issue as LADYRVer with the slide binding the tailgate.
(2006 Dodge MegaCab with 6'4" box, 2008 KZ Dorango, 1/2ton)

Solution was installing a Reese Sidewinder, worked like a charm.

Another good solution is the Andersen hitch .

This is what we use. Love it but have a healthy respect for the turning radius. I can turn tighter with this setup than I used to with the old TT. Can’t turn 90° but it is tight enough for me.

[dieseldan723]

philh wrote:
Once you look at loaded pin wt, you're probably in dually territory
SPECIFICATIONS
Hitch Weight:2220 lb.
GVWR:18000 lb.
UVW 13064 lb.
CCC 4936 lb.

Thanks for your wisdom. Here are the numbers listed on the truck from the dealer website:
Gross Axle Wt Rating - Front (lbs): 6000
Gross Axle Wt Rating - Rear (lbs): 7000
Curb Weight - Front (lbs): 3892
Curb Weight - Rear (lbs): 2866
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap (lbs): 11800
Gross Combined Wt Rating (lbs): 32580
Gross Combined Wt Rating (lbs): 21500

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs): 5000
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs): 500
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs): 23000
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs): 14270
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs): 2300
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs): 1427
Fifth Wheel Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs): 23520
Fifth Wheel Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs): 14090
Fifth Wheel Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs): 5880
Fifth Wheel Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs): 3522
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs): 23000
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs): 14270

Looks like the trailer we are interested in will fit within these parameters?

Thoughts?

[JIMNLIN]

GPG52 wrote:
I also experienced the same issue as LADYRVer with the slide binding the tailgate.
(2006 Dodge MegaCab with 6'4" box, 2008 KZ Dorango, 1/2ton)

Solution was installing a Reese Sidewinder, worked like a charm.

LadyRVer has a GM truck so not apples vs oranges in the OP question about a Ram truck and your Dodge. Lots of difference in C/A dimensions between the GM and the Dodge/Ram trucks.
I had to mod (cut at a angle) the aft of my old '97 5er's pin box to clear the tailgate and truck bed side rails. My pin is zero over the rear axle for max slide distance away from the cab.
I never use the slider going forward but really like the 10" it slides the pin behind the rear axle for quicker steering response and less steering input.

I use my short bed Dodge/Cummins for a 36' GN triaxle stock trailer and the 32' 5th wheel trailer.

[cummins2014]

GPG52 wrote:
I also experienced the same issue as LADYRVer with the slide binding the tailgate.
(2006 Dodge MegaCab with 6'4" box, 2008 KZ Dorango, 1/2ton)

Solution was installing a Reese Sidewinder, worked like a charm.

Another good solution is the Andersen hitch .

[GPG52]

I also experienced the same issue as LADYRVer with the slide binding the tailgate.
(2006 Dodge MegaCab with 6'4" box, 2008 KZ Dorango, 1/2ton)

Solution was installing a Reese Sidewinder, worked like a charm.

[GPG52]

I also experienced the same issue as LADYRVer with the slide binding the tailgate.
(2006 Dodge MegaCab with 6'4" box, 2008 KZ Dorango, 1/2ton)

Solution was installing a Reese Sidewinder, worked like a charm.