Laredo Turning Radius??

[sjturbo]

The newer Laredo's are supposed to have a front cap that allows one to use a short bed (6.5') without the use of a slider? Does anyone know what the turning radius is actually? Does anyone pull with a shortbed without a slider? How often have you gotten in a situation that you really needed a slider to shoe horn into a site? I'm not cheap but if I can handle most situations with the Laredo front cap I would rather put the money somewhere else. Thanks!

[Jim7411]

I pull with a short bed Chevy, no slider, and have had no problems with turning. Bye bye slider hitch!

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by sjturbo

The newer Laredo's are supposed to have a front cap that allows one to use a short bed (6.5') without the use of a slider? Does anyone know what the turning radius is actually? Does anyone pull with a shortbed without a slider? How often have you gotten in a situation that you really needed a slider to shoe horn into a site? I'm not cheap but if I can handle most situations with the Laredo front cap I would rather put the money somewhere else. Thanks!

If you'd use the search function here and use slider as a key word, you will find quite a few threads on the topic. Most of the new Keystone fivers have the cap like yours and many have reported on their experiences. Very few have indicated that they actually needed a slider at one time or another. Those that have sliders generally report great peace of mind that they could use them if needed. But I urge that you read these threads for yourself as there is much good info in them.

FWIW, I have a short bed F250 and the "Max Turn" front cap on the Cougar. I haven't towed enough yet with this truck to have any useful experience to offer except for my own driveway. We live on a moderately narrow street and it's a bit of a needle thread to get this large trailer into it's cubby. When I brought it home from storage, I put it in the driveway easily on the first try and never even got close to needing the Max Turn. I don't have a slider yet.

[therink]

I have towed two different late year models of Keystone diverse with a short bed truck over the past 3 years and have never needed or used the slide function on my hitch. I have backed into some tight spots. I believe my 2013 Sydney is marketed as a 88 degree radius cap but would say 75 degrees is about all I would try. If backing into an un level spot, the 88 degree theory goes right out the window or should I say into it.
Steve

[mobile42]

Nope! Don't use a slider either and I've really gotten into tight turning angles with my "Max Turn" Cougar.

[fendix]

I have done several close to 90 degree turns with my new 324rl and my 6.5 inch bed, with no slider hitch.

[woster]

Likewise. I pull a Laredo 310RE with the Max Turn Cap with an F250 shortbed. I have a CURT slider but I have yet to actually need it. The only scenario I can see where I would actually need it would be in a very sharp backing turn where the truck was on a downhill slope and the trailer in a level or uphill slope.....kinda in a vertical jackknife so to speak. Such a scenario is highly unlikely but theoretically possible. In all practicality, there probably is no need for a slider, just depends on how much value you place on piece of mind.

[Family_5ers]

Dealer told us 89 degree turning from what I recall... towing a 2013 Laredo with a short bed Ram 2500. We actually do have a slide hitch but with our new Laredo (38') we've never used the slide functionality.

[rjsurfer]

I have a slider hitch on a short bed with a 245rks, I used to use it a lot, especially when pulling into a new campground but the last few years I haven't used it much.

I think my ability to back it up has gotten so much better I just don't need it anymore.

But I'm glad I still have it for the rare emergencies.....

Ron W.