Short bed 5th wheeling

[Pull Toy]

I just brought home my brand new 2016 F-350 Lariat 6.7 TD. Pic's to follow.

I have always towed with a long bed, but decided on a short bed with a Reese slider. Need input from short bed haulers. Any advise and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

[bwright]

I have had no problems over the past 2 years pulling our Montana HC with our 2016 F-350 short bed. I did not get a sliding hitch after discussing this with others that found they didn't need the slide.

[jerseyphil]

I have a slider in my short bed super duty. With my Cougar 318SAB, I only slide the hitch back when making a very tight back up move into my driveway, or some other tight spot.

Otherwise, straight forward and turns are no problem.

[fredbaro]

Been towing with short bed for 10 years have never needed or used slider.

[LZScout]

Been towing my Keystone Alpine with a Pullrite Superglide auto slide hitch. I can turn my F350 short bed 90 degrees (not that it’s good to do that) and still not come close to contacting the rear window. I wouldn’t be without it. I think it depends a lot on the design of the fifth wheel. If there is a chance at all that, in a turn, the front of the fifth wheel will contact the back of the truck cab, you need one. As to a manual slider versus an automatic one like I have, well, I’ve been known to forget things.


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[brad2388]

Be careful with the slider hitch when it is slid back. The pinbox could hit the tailgate. Just check it before you get in a jam.
We also tow with a short bed. I had a slider in our chevy and never used it.
Didnt but one for the ford. And i never needed it.

If its that tight of a spot where i need a 90 degree angle with the truck it aint for me anyway.


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[JRTJH]

I've towed fifth wheels for the past 8 years with both short bed (Ford) and long bed trucks. I currently tow with a Ford short bed (it's about 3" longer than GM's short bed) and I've never been in a situation where I needed a slider hitch. While some "swear by them", because of the mechanical complexity and increased number of parts, I "swear at them"... For me, I just don't see the need, at least in my experience. YMMV

[SteveC7010]

My Cougar has the cut back corners on the front of the trailer, allowing about an 80° jack knife without touching the cab. Only once did I have reason to wish I had a slider, and that way my own misjudgement of a turn backing into a narrow campsite. Once I re-positioned the rig, there was no problem backing in. It would be difficult to convince me to spend the money for a slider of any kind, automatic or manual.

[Racebug]

I have a slider and use it a lot! My toy hauler IS 43' long, so that does add into it. I also have to do a 180* turn at my house everytime I come home. I wouldn't be able to bring my camper home with out a slider (or long bed).

[Dave W]

My last truck was a short bed with a conventional B&W hitch. Never once had a cab close encounter but was always aware that the potential was there. I miss the SB for around town driving and in parking lots but for sure don't miss the choppier ride in comparison to the LB plus love the added load size capacity that allows me put 8' plus long building materials in and close the tailgate

[jonnyaiks]

I pull a 42' Montana HC with a Ram short box. I use a manual slider. Used to use it all the time, but I'm better now at deciding exactly when I need it, so I no longer use it much. Did have a few close calls though. It's insurance, because I find that longer 5ers have more instances in tight spots where near 90-degree breaks happen, but I try to avoid them.

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[dcg9381]

A slider is good insurance.. I went this route after a buddy with a Ram short bed did $4000 in damage because he forgot to use his manual slider...

[cpaulsen]

Use a Pullrite in my SB Ford......love it..........good insurance for me.

[Cabindweller]

I currently have a Pullrite auto slider in my F350. I plan to replace it soon with a non-slider. I find the slider noisy and not overly smooth in operation. Also the weight makes it a real PITA to remove.

[cfensty]

I have a 2016 Silverado 2500 HD with a short bed and have installed the Pullrite Superglide hitch to tow my Sprinter 353FWDEN. I can make real tight turns with plenty of clearance between the nose of the trailer and the truck cab. Love it.

[mtofell]

I only slide mine back when I park at home due to the grade change as I back in beside my house. Without sliding back the underside of the 5th gets REALLY close to the back corners of my truck bed. Not because of the cab clearance but because of the rake angle of the underside of the 5th to my truck bed as my trailer tracking down and my rear wheels are heading up the driveway apron.

Also, I second what someone said about damaging your gate when the hitch is back. I took a chunk out of the bed liner material on the top of my gate and did some damage to the gate itself. I now have a chain and hooks to hold my gate +/- 6" open while the hitch is back.

[Tinner12002]

I've had a dually with 8ft bed for several years and have never had any issues getting around town or parking either one, but then I don't try and park next to the door when I go places either. Have driven the short beds and I agree ride is very choppy compared to the longer wheelbase.

[RaptorJB]

I have the RAM MegaCab dually with the 6.4 Bed and a slider is required, even with the tight turn radius the frond end cap has on the Raptor there is not enough room to back it in the driveway or pack campgrounds at the beach. My 1st attempt was with no slider b/c the dealer said I didn't need one, almost a huge mistake and damage to the truck and RV. Better to have it and not need it IMO.
IF a RAM MegaCab a slider is required.

[mets721]

I have a 2015 F350 Short bed. I installed a Reese Sidewinder and have never had to worry about making contact. I can go 90 degrees if needed without coming close to contact.

[bsmith0404]

Sounds like you already have the truck and Reese slider, not sure what else you need/are looking for as far as advice. I’ve towed with short bed and long bed trucks and there really isn’t a difference between the two other than the slider/non slider question.