Anyone tow a fifth wheel with a 6.5 bed?

[Mark TC]

Anyone tow a fifth wheel with a 6.5 bed? Thinking of trading my 6.2 8 ft bed for a new 6.7 6.5 bed. Currently have a Keystone Outback 35footer. Long term I want to get a fifth wheeler


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[Pentagon]

Originally Posted by Mark TC

Anyone tow a fifth wheel with a 6.5 bed? Thinking of trading my 6.2 8 ft bed for a new 6.7 6.5 bed. Currently have a Keystone Outback 35footer. Long term I want to get a fifth wheeler


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I tow a fifth wheel Montana Mountaineer 29.5 actually 34.2 feet with a 6.4 feet bed.
but I have a slider hitch, some fifth wheel models have a special clearance.

[dankent]

I too have a 6.5 bed , or 6.4 ... dont remember .. either way , yes i do. I also have a slider .. have never once needed it with the 88 degree corners on my cougar.

[jtyphoid]

I think that slider hitches are specifically designed for 6.5' beds. Whether a slider is desired or required will depend on the front cap design of the fiver. This is a common topic of discussion/disagreement in the forum. A quick search should get you plenty of information to digest.

I went with an automatic slider. I found one used for less than a new manual or non-sliding hitch, but then went with an under-bed mount that I had to buy new (couldn't find a used one for my make and model year truck).

[cblong]

I have a 330 rbk with the max turn and a 67" bed and no slider. I have never even came close to needing a slider.

[Quad]

I have a 6.5ft bed and have max turn front cap and also have never needed a slider for turning. I don't even have one if I did lol But I can turn extremely tight without one.


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[poncho62]

Actually, I think the slider hitches are made more for the 5.5ft beds...the quad cabs with the real short boxes. My 6.5ft bed cab never comes close to the trailer, but its a small trailer with the pin box out front....lots of room

[Pmedic4]

When we bought our Cougar, the dealer said you didn't need for the Cougar with a 6'4" bed. I've had mine at about a 80 degree angle, and had plenty of space.

Look at the newer models, and the front caps are cut back fairly far back, compared to the older models being very boxy on the front. On the older models, it seems like the pin is even back of the front part of the 'nose' of the 5ver, while the newer models have the pin in front of the 'nose'.

[bsmith0404]

I towed two different 5ers with a 6.5' bed and standard hitch. As everyone else has said the front caps on newer 5ers give plenty of room for turning. The biggest difference is the pin box, standard vs. extended. I haven't seen a standard pin box in quite a while. If you bought a used, older 5er with a standard pin box (pin back under the nose) you would need a slider. I don't think you will find anything without an extended pin box these days. The extended pin box and cut front caps these days make it almost impossible to hit the cab even with a non-sliding hitch, save your money and your back (they are heavy and hard to remove from the bed).

[kellydog98]

I too have a 6.5ft bed and I have a slider which has never been used. Plus my 5er has modified ends which allow me tighter turns.

[JRTJH]

We towed our 2011 Springdale with a F150 that had a 6'4" bed. The Springdale did not have the "cut away corners". We were in some extremely tight turns at many campgrounds and down some pretty rough two track roads and never came close to the cab. We did not have a sliding hitch and I'd not recommend anyone spend the money for one, especially with the cut out corners on today's fifth wheel front caps.

[Hoojs12840]

I have a 6.5 bed and I got the sliding 5th wheel, that I have never used and I have a awkward spot at my house that requires back down hill, while going up hill blindside at a about an 85deg turn. Only time I have is to check its function and wd40 the sliders.


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[shov]

I tow my 5er with the 6.5 ft bed with no issues. I will say my previous truck had the 8 ft bed and when I sold I "thought" I wanted the shorter bed. I regret not having it now. Not for towing the 5er, just a more capable truck!


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[Yosemitebob]

Same here, short bed with a slider that I installed incase I need to move a friends trailer for some reason. I figure turning way too tight will do more harm than you really want. It really puts a bind on the axles.

[gtsum2]

Some trucks have a bit more clearance than others I think. The ram factory pucks r a little further forward than the ford ones I think? I think the extended boxes and cut corners of the new rigs make sharp turns (most of them) a non issue. Bed rail clearance with newer 3500 series trucks is another issue (they sit up awfully high)

[Mark TC]

So here is the old and new Fords


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[2014301ktmhauler]

Trust me. If you have a Chevy CC with 6.5 bed and pull a Fuzion 342 , a slider hitch is required.

[JRTJH]

I'm not disputing your experiences, but am curious why a Fuzion/Chevy(GMC) would be any different than a Ford or Dodge with the same trailer. Any insight into what you have experienced would be appreciated.

[jsmith948]

The whole thing about needing a slider on a short bed truck is based on a 90* maneuver. With the distance from the pin to the side of the trailer being 4' it obviously is impossible to reach 90*. I don't turn that sharp because, as mentioned, it's very hard on tires & suspension. However, it only takes one time. JMHO

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[Mark TC]

Thanks for all the input all, I have pulled the trigger on the new 2014 F350 6.7 diesel. It has the 3.55 rear end and the 6.5 bed.


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