Will a 5th wheel slider hitch work on a 2005 Crew Cab Short Bed? I'm talking 68 1/2 inch bed.
A friend of mine has a great deal lined up on a used Wilderness 5th wheel but he only has a short bed. Weight is not an issue.
I know there is no way with a regular hitch, but will a slider work?
Anyone out there doing this already and if so, which slider would you recommend?
thank you,
califasramsfan
Central Calif.
05 Chevy 4X4 2500HD Duramax Crew
06 Cardinal 37RL, 5500 LP Onan Gen.
"Hotel California" Cardinal 37RL
I know there is no way with a regular hitch, but will a slider work?
You don't absolutely need a slider. If you pay close attention at all times in sharp turns. But it is certainly recommended.
Your choices for slider are manual or automatic. A manual requires that you use it when needed. Sometimes people forget to use it, or don't think they are in a situation when they should use it. They are not all that convenient, but do the job nicely.
I went with the automatic PullRite SuperGlide. A great hitch. Quite expensive compared to a manual slider. To me it was worth the extra expense.
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
Sorry to disagree but I wouldn't pull with that truck without a slider. Am I correct in reading that bed is the real short one since the normal short bed is 78"? I didn't know they put that bed on that truck. If so I really don't know if I'd pull with it at all. That puts the cap of the 5ver 10 inches closer to the cab of the truck and you'd have to really pay attention when making turns. If that is right you also might need to check out the 5th Airborne sidewinder pin box if it doesn't void your 5ver warranty. I have a 2006 2500HD 6'6" bed and use my slider regularly. Just my opinion.
I have an '06 CC/SB and a Reece 16K Slider. I've only needed it once, but when I got into that tight spot, I was darn glad I had it. that extra foot or so was all I needed. Gave a potentially bad situation a happy ending.
Unless the truck manufacturer recommends that you SHOULDN'T tow a 5er with this truck, then I HIGHLY recommend going with a slider hitch on such a short bed TV. Though often repeated, it's still worth saying, "It's better to have one, (a slider hitch), and never need it, then to need one, and not have it. It only takes ONE time to mess up your truck...I know, and that's from experience. Get a slide hitchs, you won't regret it.
Jim & Kathy
2007.5 Chevrolet K3500DRW/CC/LB/LMM/D/A LTZ, Prodigy,Reese 20K hitch.
2006 HR Presidential Suite 37RLQ (4 slides).
2007 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4X4
Boxers: Sheba, 13...Buddy..1 yr.
USAF 71-75 Nam Vet
If you are really talking about the short, short bed, then it really needs the Pullrite auto slider. Your friend should contact Pullrite directly to see if they have the correct hardware for his truck. It won't be cheap. The fiver should also have an extended pin box.
With a standard 6-1/2 ft short bed, then an extended pin box is the first priority, then a manual slider.
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
5O'clock wrote: Go with the Pullrite Auto Slide. Pricey but worth the money. I had a Reese manual slide but traded it in on the auto slide. Worth every penny.
It sounds as if you're "short bed" is shorter that my short bed. I've been pulling 5er's with my 2003, 2500 Crew Cab Short Bed diesel for several years now; I've never had a slider, and I've never had a problem with it. I have backed into some pretty tight spots with it, and I have deffinately made turns that exceeded 90 degrees.
I know that my pin boxes were set up specifically for my bed on each trailer, so maybe that's why I've never had a serious problem. That being said, my own brother-in-law did a number of his Dodge short-bed several years ago backing up with a tight turn. Good luck, and enjoy camping!!
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