JTrac
Oklahoma
Senior Member
Joined: 10/27/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
We have been looking at new fifth wheels and notice many of the models have the indentions on the sides of the caps which I understand is to give more clearance with short bed trucks. Does this work well enough to preclude the need for a slider hitch in a short bed truck? One dealer told me it would and one said no.
We have a 2012 GMC 3500 with the 6' 7" bed (78.9" inside measurement). I like the B&W Companion but would get a Pullrite slider if we go that direction. We are hopeful we can sell the motorhome within a year so no hurry but hopeful to get it done sooner or later.
JimT
2013 Excel Winslow 34RKM pulled by a 2012 GMC 3500 Denali diesel, faithfully assisted by my wife and the two Bostons
|
MO_Trout_Bum
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 06/09/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Yes, that is the intention. And, it seems to work just fine for our rig.
2004 Silverado 2500HD Ext, Duramax LLY, 4WD, 3.73
2012 Keystone Cougar 327RES
|
zips2000
Medina, ohio
New Member
Joined: 08/20/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Yes it does work for some. I just purchased the 346ret Sierra and have a short bed F250 with the B&W companion and have not come close at all to hitting the cab.
|
kab449
PA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/27/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I do not have a slider and don't need one. Check sig for rig.
2011 F250 Lariat,SRW,Crew,6.7TD,ShortBox
2012 Montana 3750FL
Reese 18K Elite/Hidden Rails
|
mbrule
Massachusetts
Full Member
Joined: 08/10/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Buy a man's truck with an 8' box!
Sorry could not resist. I have a long bed, but it does look like the caps would make shortbox towing possible in most if not all situations....
Has anybody with one of these caps actually tried to cut it hard (supervised or course) to see how for one can turn and how close to the cab the fiver gets?
just curious.
|
|
|
jerb
phillipsburg, KS
Senior Member
Joined: 07/31/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
depends on the pin box as well, i tow a fiver with a 6'6" box with no slider and no indentions on the front cap, i can get 90 degrees with the camper with several inches to spare!!
2002 2500HD 8.1L/allison, 2004 KZ Durango
|
MO_Trout_Bum
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 06/09/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Very same here. Using 6.5 ft box on 2500HD with standard Reese 16K hitch. No issues with 90 degrees.
|
Mile High
Denver, CO
Senior Member
Joined: 02/05/2008
View Profile
|
Its a mixed bag.
I had a the standard nose on our 2003 Montana and never used my slider. Bought a 2007 Montana with the tapered nose and I very much need my slider.
All depends on the pin box (shorter on heavier units), hitch mount location, etc. As it turned out for us - the hitch mount location on our truck was a bit closer to the cab because of the frame, the pin box on the heavier Montana was nearly 5" shorter, and I lost another 1-1/2" with the 5th Airborne hitch, not to mention Montana shortened the front frame in 2007 because of frame flex issues. All this combined outweighed any benefit of the tapered nose for us.
Looks like I better grease up that slider for this one baby!
2006 Ford F350 4X4 SB CC SRW Powerstroke 6.0
2013 Redwood 36RL - full paint - disk brakes
"Comparison is the thief of joy! - Theodore Roosevelt"
|
kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/26/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
jerb wrote:depends on the pin box as well, i tow a fiver with a 6'6" box with no slider and no indentions on the front cap, i can get 90 degrees with the camper with several inches to spare!! MO_Trout_Bum wrote:Very same here. Using 6.5 ft box on 2500HD with standard Reese 16K hitch. No issues with 90 degrees. Hmmm, with the pin over the axle I have 37" to the back of my cab from the pin.
My trailer is 96" wide.
My math says that 1/2 of my trailer (48") won't go into 37" at 90 degrees.
THAT is why I have a Superglide.
Keith J.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver.
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC/SB/DA 2WD, LBZ air cleaner, 52 gal Titan tank, Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax cover, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors, TST TPMS.
|
AZ T&T
Mesa, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 03/25/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I have the same set up all the way down to the companion hitch. I can't get to 90* but I can get pretty close.
AZ T&T
2012 Jayco Eagle Super Lite 29.5RKS
2011 Chevy 2500 HD 4x4 Duramax
B&W Companion Hitch - Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags
Honda EU2000i Generator
|
|
|
