fifth wheel truck bed storage

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by Frisbeekev

.............I have a ford f250 with a 6ft9 bed and will be getting a slider hitch. With that set up would there be room in front or behind of the 5th wheel hitch to store gas cans, a generator, or plastic tote bins?........

I had space to carry these items in my F250 short bed with a slider hitch. If in doublt, make a dimension sketch with the slider in the bed to confirm.

[rlh1957]

Yes some clear areas, but You really won’t know until you get the fitch you plan to use mounted in the TV bed you’ll use and the 5’ver hitched and done a few full turn snd backing maneuvers noting the clearance distance from the slider and it’s components and the hitch rotating on the 5’ver.
I believe you might find a generator may fit all the way against tailgate as long as height is well below bed rails.
In the front corner maybe a gas can.
It’s really a test and see.

[ENJ]

Instead of carrying extra gasoline cans for the generator (added weight), you could add the Hutch Mountain Propane conversion kit and run a Honda generator from your RV propane tanks. Easy to add and saves worry of spilled gas. And you don't loose the ability to still use gas if you want.

https://www.hutchmountain.com/

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by friz

There are now two posts going on here. The OP's question about space between the cab and sliding hitch and a tangent thread about load capacities/weight which has nothing to do with the OP's question. So, okay children, pay attention! Please stay focused on today's lesson.

Actually the weights & the items the OP plans to haul are directly related depending on the trucks payload.
The weight of the items that's added in/around the hitch is that much less pin/tongue weight of a RV he has to carry.
Some of us are/were focused on the original question of "what will fit" that doesn't necessarily have only one answer that won't affect "can I carry that much safely?".

[foneguy]

If you do an Anderson ultimate you won’t need a slider and will then have room for stuff

[dmar]

Originally Posted by Frisbeekev

I am going to be going from a travel trailer to a fifth wheel and I was curious about truck bed storage. I have a ford f250 with a 6ft9 bed and will be getting a slider hitch. With that set up would there be room in front or behind of the 5th wheel hitch to store gas cans, a generator, or plastic tote bins? The trailer will have a cargo rack but I will be using that for bikes.

We often carry a Yamaha 3kw generator with us in our 2019 gas F250 short bed 2wd. It fits nicely in front of the B&W Companion hitch (non-slider), with room for gas cans on each side.
Trailer is a 2010 Cougar 27RLS, 10,000# GW.
So far we have towed this way for 7500 miles, including 2 trips into the mountains of western NC, with no issues.

[jimborokz]

Originally Posted by Frisbeekev

Thanks for all the info. I am still calculating all the exact numbers. However, as my OP i was just wondering about storage space in front of the fifth wheel hitch. Thanks for all the feednack

I have an F350 SB with a Companion slider hitch along with a tri fold toneau cover. I have installed a 37 gal. aux fuel tank in front of the hitch with enough room on top to store our folding chairs. I carry a Champion 3400 gen and 20lb propane tank behind it and still have room for wheel chucks and power cables. So that should answer the question about room for stuff.

That other question you didn't ask is important though. My hitch is 275 lbs.and if I was doing it all over I might go for the Anderson hitch at more than 200# lighter. My specs put my pin weight at 20% of dry weight, but when I scaled it guess what the real pin weight comes in a 20%. OP's spec on pin weight is 17%. Maybe that holds up and 23% is too much. Maybe it's 20%. Only way to know is to scale it. Until you hit the scales, everything else though educated is just a guess.

The best part is you came here with questions and got lots of advice. Smart move.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by jimborokz

I have an F350 SB with a Companion slider hitch along with a tri fold toneau cover. I have installed a 37 gal. aux fuel tank in front of the hitch with enough room on top to store our folding chairs. I carry a Champion 3400 gen and 20lb propane tank behind it and still have room for wheel chucks and power cables. So that should answer the question about room for stuff.

That other question you didn't ask is important though. My hitch is 275 lbs.and if I was doing it all over I might go for the Anderson hitch at more than 200# lighter. My specs put my pin weight at 20% of dry weight, but when I scaled it guess what the real pin weight comes in a 20%. OP's spec on pin weight is 17%. Maybe that holds up and 23% is too much. Maybe it's 20%. Only way to know is to scale it. Until you hit the scales, everything else though educated is just a guess.

The best part is you came here with questions and got lots of advice. Smart move.

Get the Reese Goosebox & have even more room in the bed for stuff.as long as you leave about 8" diameter around the ball.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by jimborokz

I have an F350 SB with a Companion slider hitch along with a tri fold toneau cover. I have installed a 37 gal. aux fuel tank in front of the hitch with enough room on top to store our folding chairs. I carry a Champion 3400 gen and 20lb propane tank behind it and still have room for wheel chucks and power cables. So that should answer the question about room for stuff.

That other question you didn't ask is important though. My hitch is 275 lbs.and if I was doing it all over I might go for the Anderson hitch at more than 200# lighter. My specs put my pin weight at 20% of dry weight, but when I scaled it guess what the real pin weight comes in a 20%. OP's spec on pin weight is 17%. Maybe that holds up and 23% is too much. Maybe it's 20%. Only way to know is to scale it. Until you hit the scales, everything else though educated is just a guess.

The best part is you came here with questions and got lots of advice. Smart move.

Jim, I am not too bright but it seems a toneau cover would work with a fifth wheel hitched to slider hitch. Explain? My sis has a Ram 3/4 ton with a hard sliding cover and had a bumper pull and I can understand that but not a fifth wheel.

[NMRandy]

I have a short bed truck. I have a 20 gallon fuel tank, a gas BBQ, a charcoal BBQ. and some charcoal ect., ahead of my Demco Autoslide hitch. It is all shorter than the side rails. It is covered by a tri-fold cover that I leave on, folded forward, when travelling. I also have some lawn chairs, the electric cord, and firewood along the sides and in the back.

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Get the Reese Goosebox & have even more room in the bed for stuff.as long as you leave about 8" diameter around the ball.

Yep X2. With 2 shock absorbers and an airbag it's a soft ride.

[Javi]

Or, get a real truck ��

[CWtheMan]

My traveling companion and I took off the heavy tail gates and added a much lighter "V" box. Of course both trucks are long bed.

[jimborokz]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Jim, I am not too bright but it seems a toneau cover would work with a fifth wheel hitched to slider hitch. Explain? My sis has a Ram 3/4 ton with a hard sliding cover and had a bumper pull and I can understand that but not a fifth wheel.

When opened it covers essentially only the front 1/3 of the bed clearing the king pin by a good 6" or so.

[wiredgeorge]

Bob, My sister has a hard toneau cover that is two piece and the top slides. I am guessing it would interfere with a 5th wheel hitch of any sort. Thanks!

[djac13]

I have a 3500 chevy standard bed truck with a 5th wheel. I did a bunch of research and options and went with a gooseneck pin box which enables me to have a pretty open truck bed for a westinghouse 4000w generator between the truck and 5th wheel. I also have gas, propane and a box of stuff.

I also have a hardcover four fold tonneau cover

I know the Andersen hitch is light weight and enables you to take it out and move it easily. that might be a consideration

[schwengel11161]

same truck and hitch, yes, gas cans, I store 2 5gal extras of diesel there, room for a medium size storage box as well.