Slider Hitch necessary?

[WYnWest]

Never had a short bed before and looking at a temporary situation of a year or two of towing with the pickup I currently have.

 

Long term I'll be using a long bed or completely different setup so I'm wondering if I really HAVE to use a slider hitch. I realize there are disadvantages in turning.

 

On my fiver the pin extend forward and is even with the extreme front overhang of the nose of the trailer so that's in my favor.

 

This is not a daily or even weekly towing situation, probably once per month.

 

What are the other considerations? Thanks.

[ronmon]

Potential rear window &/or cab damage.

Ron

[I'mdonewiththis forum]

Going straight isn't the problem. Like RonMon said, it is when you turn. The front corners of the trailer have a bad habit of trying to make your truck have better ventilation. I have read where a lot of people claim to never have had a problem with a short box and a lot that have had a problem. You may never get into that situation, but when you do..................

[skp51443]

Manual sliding hitches allow you to move them and then turn sharper, forget to move one and you get the same dings you'd get with a fixed hitch.

 

Automatic sliding hitches move themselves as needed removing the human error factor.

 

If you don't turn too sharp (mostly a problem when backing) you can do just fine with a fixed hitch, until you forget and crunch something. I'd say think about yourself and how sure you won't goof, if you are confident a manual, if you aren't so sure a slider is probably cheaper than the repairs a goof will do. Then the choice becomes manual or auto slider. A couple quick links as examples.

 

Auto sliders:

 

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-hitches/hijacker-autoslide-hitch.htm

 

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/pullrite-superglide-16k-5th-wheel-hitch-for-industry-standard-base-rails/50029

 

Manual slider:

 

http://www.reese-hitches.com/products/Reese_R16_5th_Wheel_With_Round_Tube_Slider,30869

[RV_]

Take a look at the Andersen Ultimate. I have a short bed which I hate and will be going back to a one ton diesel soon. However the Andersen allows me to do a 90 degree without the front touching the cab with my extended hitch pin/box.

http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/ultimate-5th-wheel-connection.aspx

 

It's used with an existing gooseneck ball but avoids all the drawbacks of tube extensions which will break your frame.

[WYnWest]

Thanks. As Stan pointed out or enlightened, I belong in the group of people that would forget. It only takes once.

 

I'll just go with a good slider. Some math is easy.

 

Good hitch < one screw up.

 

Peace of mind.

[I'mdonewiththis forum]

Smart man!!

[Randyretired]

A friend of ours had a short bed Ram that he towed a 5er with. He tried to be careful to move his manual hitch when necessary. He took out 2 rear windows. Could of had an automatic hitch for less than 2 windows and the manual slider! The first window went when making a tight turn slowly to keep an eye on things. Next a trailer tire fell into a small hole and boom. I knew better than to ask about the second time.

[WeBeFulltimers]

The design of the front cap of your fiver can be a determining factor also in addition to the hitch on it. I tow a 2012 Montana with a 2012 F350 short bed and never come close to making contact. Yes, I have tried.

[Chalkie]

The design of the front cap of your fiver can be a determining factor also in addition to the hitch on it. I tow a 2012 Montana with a 2012 F350 short bed and never come close to making contact. Yes, I have tried.

Correct! We have a trailer with a front cap design that is designed to provide clearance even towing with a short bed and it does work.

 

However we still have a slider as I think it makes it easy to back in spaces with the changed dynamic in relationship to the rear axle of the truck.

[phillyg]

I have a manual slider and have only used it once. But, and that's a big BUT, I know all it takes is one time to forget and do some damage. So, it depends on how much risk you're willing to accept.

[skp51443]

With a fiver designed for a short bed and fixed hitch you end up with less interior space for the same overall length of your rig, a compromise the sliders are designed to avoid.

[RV_]

I have a 2006 Dodge RAM short bed with the Andersen Hitch, and a 2003 Sunnybrook not made for short beds. With the Andersen Ultimate on the gooseneck that came with the truck, and the hitch pin set according to directions in the Andersen brochure, I can easily do 90 degree turns just like with my old Dodge Diesel dually one ton. Here is the Dodge: http://s1359.photobucket.com/user/RV_Roadie/library/Pups%20and%20Property/Vehicles?sort=3&page=1 That was before I Rhino lined the bed and bought stock rims and tires, and had just replaced a cracked rear window. Before I sell it I'll try to remember to hitch up and take pics of it 90 degree under the trailer.

 

Here is the fiver: http://s1359.photobucket.com/user/RV_Roadie/library/Pups%20and%20Property/Vehicles/2003%20Sunnybrook%202850SL?sort=3&page=2

 

My previous two diesels, the 92 Dodge and the 2002 Ram 2500, were both long beds so I have been on both sides. My conclusion is that I will use the Andersen on my next truck with a long bed. I am selling the short bed because I much prefer the extra room and capacity of a 1 ton with an easily removable hitch that even me with a bad back can lift one handed. Towing it doesn't clank on take off or applying the brakes, and the ball makes it swivel in all directions easily in off level situations, and it just feels more solid. The 1 ton I started with is in the website in the sig block below. See, all of us who switched to the Andersen have had the Holland style standard hitches too. We compared both and all the folks here and elsewhere seem to agree. Since I can wait for the right long bed diesel Ram truck to come up, I am selling this one as soon as the rain and pollen let up long enough to make it worth buffing out and detailing for sale. If style and easier parking by not much takes precedence, I have a low mile short bed for sale. The Andersen doesn't go with it.