Will fifth wheel front hit truck back window?

If I am on level ground, NO; if I am pulling out of a driveway, YES. I know that for sure.

I bought a slider hitch and have never used it. I'm careful in extreme turning however and so far no accidents. Go to a parking lot with an assistant and see how far you can turn.

schlep1967 wrote:
If you're worried about it now, you will always be worried about it. Get an auto-slider and all the worry goes away. Think of it as insurance.

Good advice.

Did just that 16 years ago.

2 fifth wheels later still no worry.

Jackknifing on a level surface may be ok.

See how fast you lose clearance jackknifing up an incline.


Even if not needed for current 5er, might be for next one.


Insurance= Pullrite Superglide



C.B.

Lantley wrote:


Then hope you always camp on flat ground where the trailer or truck will not tilt or pitch

True dat! Same thoughts apply to testing in a parking lot. But, if the OP was to do the measurements from where the hitch will be located, he can see the limit before he drops the coin for any hitch...

JRscooby wrote:

Two Hands wrote:
I think I would certainly find out. Go out into a large parking lot and slowly start making tighter and tighter turns while keeping a close eye on the front cap of your fifth wheel. You will then know for sure.

IMHO, a much better plan would be use a tape measure, get the distance back of cab to center of 5th wheel. Next, measure width of cab at the height of nose of trailer. Now a piece of string, tie a loop large enough to fit around the king-pin in the end. Pull the loop straight, and measure the first measurement down the string, and put a clip on the string. Put loop around king-pin, with string in front of trailer, then move to side until clip gets to front of trailer, make a mark. Measure from that mark, back toward center half the width of cab, that is where it will contact.

Then hope you always camp on flat ground where the trailer or truck will not tilt or pitch

Two Hands wrote:
I think I would certainly find out. Go out into a large parking lot and slowly start making tighter and tighter turns while keeping a close eye on the front cap of your fifth wheel. You will then know for sure.

IMHO, a much better plan would be use a tape measure, get the distance back of cab to center of 5th wheel. Next, measure width of cab at the height of nose of trailer. Now a piece of string, tie a loop large enough to fit around the king-pin in the end. Pull the loop straight, and measure the first measurement down the string, and put a clip on the string. Put loop around king-pin, with string in front of trailer, then move to side until clip gets to front of trailer, make a mark. Measure from that mark, back toward center half the width of cab, that is where it will contact.

JIM, lets not get practical here. ;)

Come 1 Oct I am slamming the king pin into that trashy ole Reese hitch in the back of my short box Ford and heading for the east coast.

If you're worried about it now, you will always be worried about it. Get an auto-slider and all the worry goes away. Think of it as insurance.
Your options are-
1. Standard non-sliding hitch that might allow the trailer to break the rear window and or damage the cab. Around $1,000.
2. Manual slider that will prevent damage to the truck IF you have a place you can pull over and take the time to slide it back before entering that tight fuel stop. Oh and don't forget to put it back in travel mode after you leave the fuel stop. Probably around the same money as #1.
3. Auto-slider. Works every time whether you are paying attention or not (to some extent). Around $2500 - $3,000 installed.
Using 1 or 2 and making that one mistake..... $3,000 to $5,000 in damage to your truck plus the cost of the new auto-slider you will now purchase.

op wrote:
I have a Dodge Ram with a 6'4" box and a B & W Companion fixed (not slider) 5th wheel hitch mounted in the usual position between the wheel wells. Will the front of one of these 5th wheels hit the rear window of the truck on a hard turn? I'm thinking because of the rounded front of the 5th wheel I may be safe. Thanks

Lots of histeria about short bed cab/5er corner contact when it fact its rare....but it can happen.
We've had new members on various rv websites before ask will my 5er contact my GM short bed truck. They got the usual gotta' have a slider from many who had no idea but read some where you gotta' have a slider. Anywayz some bought the more expensive Superglide auto slider. After a year or so of camping with other short bed GM owners that had no sliding hitch they questioned their choice. Some kept them and others sold them and went with a lighter hitch with much less maintenance. My sons '18 short bed chevy crew cab and a 5er with rounded corners which has 5"-7" of clearance at the shortest point in a turn on any angle.
No one can tell you if your combo will contact. I would try the std hitch first and if it comes 2"-3" at the closest point while backing then I would be interested in some type of sliding hitch or different pin box like the Reese Sidewinder.

GM has the longest C/A (cab to axle) dimension at
..41.26"....
Ford at 39."....
Dodge/Ram at 37.4".

Use what you have and if it doesn't work ...then spend your bucks on one that works best.

Reading all the stories and wanting to make life easy, I installed the Pullrite 2700 automatic slider for my short bed. I do not ant to think about turning backing up and having an issue. The Truck cost alot, the fiver cost alot so for the difference of few hundred bucks to connect the two, wasn't the place to hold back. My first season and having been out 6 times it was a goo choice for me.