Dayle1 wrote: Haven't found any use for the slider yet.
Operative word is "Yet". Hope it never happens to you. If "Yet" ever occurs it will cost a lot more than the Pullrite SuperGlide.
2006 F350 V10 4X4 SC SB SRW 4.30 22,500 GCWR
Keystone Sprinter 33'9" 12,500 GVWR
Pullrite Super Glide 18K
Super Duty, Super Cab, SuperGlide
SEE RV.net Classified for Vette Description
Imagine this scenario. It’s your first day out towing your new 5er. You’ve just driven through Downtown San Francisco after a bad call by your copilot (read DW) with the NAV unit. You’re underway in heavy traffic but need fuel. You get off the highway and search for a station. In the search you find yourself on a dead end road, a narrow dead end road. So, you know the maneuver from reading and seeing it, you need to jackknife the rig. You’re watching traffic, you’re watching parked cars. You’re trying to calm the DW. Turn signals, curbs, mirrors, angle, squirming tires, and trying to figure out where the filling station really is. Believe me, the last thing you’re going to think about or want to do is get out of the truck and release a manual slider hitch, make your turn, jump out of the truck again and reset the slider. That’s when the damage might happen.
That’s what happened to me. That’s why I’m happy with a PullRite. It won’t happen to everyone, not everyone needs one. But I consider it an asset. I actually installed it before we even shopped for the trailer.
I always enjoy hearing from those that have manual slider that have only needed to use them 3 times in 10 years. That is because they are such a pain in the butt. So they go thru all kinds of manuevers, so they don't need to get out of the truck...twice.
I used my slider probably 10 times today. Making tight turns in city traffic. And never even thought about it. Because it did it all on its own.
If you ever turn more than 90 degrees, NO hitch or extended pin pox is going to save your cab.
Vulcaneer - you use your "automatic" slider hitch every time you make a turn (whether you know it or not). I always enjoy hearing from those who don't know how their own hitches work.
rwjejits wrote: Vulcaneer - you use your "automatic" slider hitch every time you make a turn (whether you know it or not). I always enjoy hearing from those who don't know how their own hitches work.
Thanks for the correction. I should have said I only NEEDED it 10 times today. I don't count the many 10 to 50 degree turns that I don't need it. Actually it doesn't really start to slide until you get more than about 16 degrees off center.
When I swing wide making a right turn, to keep the right side 5er tires off the curb, and the left front fender out of the oncoming bus at an intersection of a 2 lane street, the "bend" is getting up to the critical point, where I count on the slider. These are the only times that really matters to me. So I only count those turns.
Thanks for the correction. I should have said I only NEEDED it 10 times today. I don't count the many 10 to 50 degree turns that I don't need it. Actually it doesn't really start to slide until you get more than about 16 degrees off center.
When I swing wide making a right turn, to keep the right side 5er tires off the curb, and the left front fender out of the oncoming bus at an intersection of a 2 lane street, the "bend" is getting up to the critical point, where I count on the slider. These are the only times that really matters to me. So I only count those turns.
Being an engineer, I don't understand the 'help' provided with the slider. An extended pin box typically provides a maximum turning angle of roughly 65 degrees for regular short beds while the front wheels of cars and light trucks can only turn about 37 degrees, no more. So, when making a 90 degree turn at an intersection, the maximum angle between the truck and fiver is limited to 37 degrees. FYI, commerical trucks and MHs are capable of turning 54 degrees and the new F350 has an optional front axle (from the F450) that is also capable of 54 degrees. To my knowledge, there are only two ways to get a TV to fiver angle sharper than the steering angle. The most common requires using reverse gear. The other involves driving around in a continuous circle (not just 90 or 180 degrees). Finally, adding 9 or more inches to the rig length between the fiver axles and the truck doesn't really help keep the truck front fender out of oncoming traffic. Please show me where I'm wrong.
Larry Day
Texas Baptist Men-Retiree Builders since '01
'03 GMC 2500HD D/A EC SB, Jordan controller, custom RKI bed/hitch, Putco boards, TF 45gal tank, grey Speedliner
'04 CrossRoads Cruiser CF29RK, Mor/ryde IS, Carefree Eclipse 12V awning Rig Photos
Dayle1...In this case, I had to pull forward much deeper into the intersection, to get the 5er wheels beyond the RH curb, (and various sign posts). Then had to turn very sharply right, in order to swing the front of my truck to clear the city bus that was stopped at the red light. Bus driver tried to back up to help, but couldn't. I was able to just sneak by. I have no way of knowing exactly what the "bend" angle was. But I am sure that the right corner of the trailer would have struck the back of my cab, without the extra clearance provided by the slider. It was unusual, but it was an extremely tight turn.
My point is that the cab crunch was not something I needed to be concerned about, with the Auto Sliding hitch. Maybe you're right, and it wouldn't hit. But the corner of my trailer looked to be beyond the corner of the cab.
I have a manual slider and for the two seconds it takes to get out and pull the lever its no big deal.I personally would rather spend the extra money on something else. but to each there own.but I would advise getting one regardless of what one
Thanks for the comments and endorsements, but can anyone tell me HOW it works, electric? how does it know when to slide? etc? How does it slide on its own?
Thanks
Ted and Carol
2008 Cameo RE373S
Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel
Goldwing Motorcycle
Four Winns Boat
Z3 BMW
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