I just traded in my 2000 F350 Dually Diesel 8ft bed and purchased a 2012 F150 5/8 ton SuperCrew Ecoboost 6.5ft bed with max tow and max payload 8200 GVWR. My fiver is a 2009 Keystone Springdale 280FWIKSSR Dry Weight 7323lbs, Pin weight 1183lbs. The fiver currently has a Lippert 1621 pinbox that sticks out about 6" from the front of the camper with a Colibert Goosneck Adapter on it. I am looking at two bed mounted hitch options:
B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck Hitch using existing gooseneck adapter - Cheap and easy, will hit the cab if turned too sharp
Pullrite Superglide 15K - expensive and hard, but will not hit the cab
So if you have a 6.5 ft bed and are towing a fiver similar to mine, how close does your trailer get to the cab driving forwards? Could you accidentally make the camper hit the cab driving forwards? Do you have a slider and never use it? Do you regret the purchase of your slider or regret not getting one. Please include kind of truck/hitch/fiver in your response
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
-SeaRayder
PS Please do NOT reply telling me how I am going to die a in a massive fireball killing everyone within a 1/4 mile radius because "It's just a 1/2 ton!" or that I should buy an F250. I only tow this camper at most 6 times a year for short distances. I drive extremely convervatively towing. I have run all my numbers and I am well within the Ford towing specs and State laws. Thanks
Current RV: 2009 Keystone Springdale 280FWIKSSR Fifth Wheel
Current TV: 2012 Ford F150 Heavy Duty Crew Cab EcoBoost Lariat 4x4
SeaRayder wrote: I just traded in my 2000 F350 Dually Diesel 8ft bed and purchased a 2012 F150 5/8 ton SuperCrew Ecoboost 6.5ft bed with max tow and max payload 8200 GVWR. My fiver is a 2009 Keystone Springdale 280FWIKSSR Dry Weight 7323lbs, Pin weight 1183lbs. The fiver currently has a Lippert 1621 pinbox that sticks out about 6" from the front of the camper with a Colibert Goosneck Adapter on it. I am looking at two bed mounted hitch options:
B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck Hitch using existing gooseneck adapter - Cheap and easy, will hit the cab if turned too sharp
Pullrite Superglide 15K - expensive and hard, but will not hit the cab
So if you have a 6.5 ft bed and are towing a fiver similar to mine, how close does your trailer get to the cab driving forwards? Could you accidentally make the camper hit the cab driving forwards? Do you have a slider and never use it? Do you regret the purchase of your slider or regret not getting one. Please include kind of truck/hitch/fiver in your response
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
-SeaRayder
PS Please do NOT reply telling me how I am going to die a in a massive fireball killing everyone within a 1/4 mile radius because "It's just a 1/2 ton!" or that I should buy an F250. I only tow this camper at most 6 times a year for short distances. I drive extremely convervatively towing. I have run all my numbers and I am well within the Ford towing specs and State laws. Thanks
I'm a big B&W fan, and would recommend them. I do know that my truck can not hit my trailer going forward, in either direction. Backing up is a different story. B&W as a company is every bit as good as their products, too.
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 55 Year Member
neal172 wrote: B&w makes a offset ball for there hitches.
The offset is for the gooseneck ball only. The Companion is a fixed distance back with some adjustment of about 4" depending how you bolt the upright in it. If you truly are only going to use it a few times a year, go with the B&W.
2011 Chevy 3500 HD LTZ Duramax/Allison Crew Cab Long Box DRW
B&W Turnover Ball with Companion
SeaRayder wrote: is your ball 4" ahead of the axle on your truck? also is yours a 6.5 bed?
Thanks
Not exactly sure of where the ball sits in relationship to my axle, though I was told by B&W that my Companion, in the front holes, puts the center of the kingpin about 1.5" ahead of the axle centerline. Personally, I'd take another 1-2", but not sure if the base would have mounted properly. Would love to see B&W make a set of replacement side pieces that would allow just a wee bit more forward mount. My D'max is 4x4 Crew Cab short box.
I only know about the Superglide. It works but is expensive. You should look at the 12k version because you have a light FW. My Supercrew is 2004 and has the really short bed, but I can still do a 90 degree turn using the SG so it should be fine with your 6.5 bed. The pin should be just forward of the axle centerline, about 1/2 inch.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
If you get the superglide you will never have to worry about hitting the cab-I had one. I now have an 8' box so I am now going to use a B&W Companion. One thing about a super glide is your pivot point is constantly changing as you back up and cut your wheels-makes it more interesting when you are backing in.
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