Personally I would not be without a short box with extended cab.
Anyhow I have towed fifth wheels with the last two short boxes for around 15 years without a slider. No problems.
Depending on the model of the fiver also, they are shaping the front caps to allow a lot more turning freedom. Go to the Keystone site and read about it.
I maybe can remember one or two occasions on the much older fifth wheel with the traditional front shape that I even got close to the back of the truck.
PAUL3500HD wrote: Just wondering how many tow their 5th wheeel with a 3/4 ton short bed and how heavy is your 5th wheel? What draw backs have you found?
What if anthing have have you done to beef it up.
Glanced at the other posts.
Lots towing with 3/4 ton trucks.
What do you mean by 'beef it up'? This implies you feel they are inferior to something. A short bed will be lighter than a long bed just by nature of the design.
Short bed trucks should have slider hitches. Not required but recommended. Many tow without slider hitches, but there may be times when needed.
To my loving wife, Carolyn:
"I dont love you because I need you. I need you because I love you".
I have a Dodge 2500 QC SB with Husky 16K slider. Fiver is 2008 K-Z Durango 325BHS. Unloaded camper weight was 9900#, I weighed it. My loaded for two weeks weight was 11,300#, 1700# under my max for the fiver. I have Ride-rites and they perform well; takes what little sag I have out. What I do like about the airbags is how they stop a lot of the bouncing up and down on segmented highways. I HAAAATTTEE segmented highways that are in need of repair, but my rig seems to handle rough, smooth, mountains, flat, starting, stopping....everything just fine. No matter what altitude or grade of hill, I can always drive the speed limit. My mileage usually averages out to 10.5, but that is at 70-75mph. I am sure I can get better going slower, there just isn't anything to see in the midwest on the interstates.
I love the short box truck! It is a little nicer in the parking lots, has ample room in and out and fits in the garage. I like the versatility of the long bed, I just think the short bed suits my need better and I like the look more.
2008 Durango 325BHS
2007 Dodge 2500QC 6.7 CTD, 6 sp auto, Ride-Rites, prodigy, Husky 16K slider.
Retired USAF Air Traffic Controller after 26yrs
Gotta keep em separated!
DW, Sons 17,11,5; Daughters 15,13,4
Been there, done that (2005 F250 Supercab, short bed, 6.0 towing a 12,000 lb 5er with 2,700 lbs dry pin weight). After 5 pulls we decided we were too heavy and parked the 5er for a year and a half until it made sense to trade for an F350. Very happy with our decision. Good luck and happy camping.
Ron and Marsha
**************
2006 Montego Bay 34RLB-3 by KZ 37' 5'er, 3 slides
Hauled by a 2006 Ford F350 Lariat CC FX4 dually 6.0L PSD
PAUL3500HD wrote: "Gas or Diesel? This will make a difference in your pull also"
It's an 8.1 gasser with allison trans
The 2500 8.1 or the 2500 DMAX both trucks have the same 6000 RAWR/tire capacities, which carry the 5er pin weight, so they will carry the same max gross load. Looking at the trucks empty rear axle scaled weights (8.1 vs diesle) there is only a small difference.
My 2500 Dodge carries a 11200 gvwr 5er with only 2200 lbs of pin weight. Well under FAWR/RAWR the manufactures gives for carrying payloads on the rear axle.
The '03 year model 2500 2wd truck comes with no overload spring pack which Dodge corrected a couple of years later. I had to go with Supersprings to help with leveling the truck.
I've towed with short bed and long bed trucks. My preference is the short bed and a sliding hitch with a 4 door truck for just a RV. When I had the long bed it was needed in the type work that I did. If I need a long bed then I'll get one.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" Will Rogers
'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach Linex
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er with two slides 16" BFG Commercial LTs
PAUL3500HD wrote: Just wondering how many tow their 5th wheeel with a 3/4 ton short bed and how heavy is your 5th wheel? What draw backs have you found?
What if anthing have have you done to beef it up.
Glanced at the other posts.
Lots towing with 3/4 ton trucks.
What do you mean by 'beef it up'? This implies you feel they are inferior to something. A short bed will be lighter than a long bed just by nature of the design.
Short bed trucks should have slider hitches. Not required but recommended. Many tow without slider hitches, but there may be times when needed.
Not trying to imply anything... Just asking questions
I am considering timbrens and just wondered if anyone felt the need for the extra help....
The '03 year model 2500 2wd truck comes with no overload spring pack which Dodge corrected a couple of years later. I had to go with Supersprings to help with leveling the truck.
With the 2003 model and beyond Dodge dropped the 2500 Camper option, which provided a rear spring pack similar to the 3500 spring pack. This option also included a rear swap bar.
To my knowledge ALL 2500's from 2003 to date do NOT have the overload springs, with no factory option to add them.
The extra rear overload springs, door badges, GVWR sticker and your wallet (few hundred dollars) are the only difference between the 2500 and 3500 SRW Dodge trucks 2003-2009.
The difference between 2500-3500 SRW GM's is pretty much the same rear spring pack differences.
GM and Dodge use basically the same drive train across the models including gear ratios.
Ford I believe offers some lower gear ratios in the 350 dually tow boss package to up the GCWR. Starting with the upgraded ratings in 2005 the Fords became a little less cookie cutter between models.
Chris
* This post was
edited 08/20/09 08:00am by Chris *
2500 Duramax/Allison, 6.5 bed with the 5W package, pulls double-11,000lbs 5W and 3000lb boat. I have a 13 in pin extension plus a slider but have never used the slider. The boat on back may counter balance the pin weight some but even without the boat I barely get any spring compression. I do not see any need to change anything with the hitch or suspension. I can accelerate on any hill I have encountered here in NM and cruise at 70mph, although with the boat on back my mileage drops to 9 mpg.
Chevy 2500 Duramax, 30ft Prowler, 18ft Bass Boat, 2 big dogs,
Boondocking at Rio Costilla, NM
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