Jim Cindy wrote: Even without using the bed of the truck for storage, you are going to have a great deal more storage space under a 5th wheel than any TT. We usually have a Carryout satelite dish, water softner, wheel chocks, blocks, a large cooler and sometimes a case of water and beer in our truck bed.
So true JimCindy - most everyone here is focused on the hitch when the OP's primary question was storage in the bed. Fifth Wheels have a tremendous amount of space in the storage bays. And as already said by one poster (or two), keep it below the hitch and trailer front end and you'll be ok.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 SD CC DRW 6.7L Diesel Lariat, Hensley BD3 with Ford Under-Bed Adaptor
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, and Paris in spirit), Missy, Maggie, and now Mica!
Does he want a bed cap? That would be the biggest deal breaker. The hitch thing is a non-issue to me but it all depends on how he want to use his truck. I take my hitch out whenever necessary and have a smooth bed and I can also fit a lot of camping stuff around it when the hitch and 5er are on. Craig
03Dodge QC HO CTD Dually NV5600 4.10 Rear/WD A2K turbo, TST/PMCR, 4" exh, PRXB Pacbrake, Rancho 9000s, FS Airbags, Onboard air/in-cab controls, Custom hauler bed. 98 Sunnybrook 30RLFS 5er WHOEVER INVENTED WORK DIDN'T HAVE AN RV!
C Schomer wrote: Does he want a bed cap? That would be the biggest deal breaker. (full text above)
When I install our 5th wheel hitch, I sold the bed cap and installed a tri-fold tonneau cover. It keeps the weather out and IMHO looks better than with a cap.
To the OP, Good luck talking your DH into a 5th set-up, if that's what you want.
Jim Cindy wrote: Even without using the bed of the truck for storage, you are going to have a great deal more storage space under a 5th wheel than any TT. We usually have a Carryout satelite dish, water softner, wheel chocks, blocks, a large cooler and sometimes a case of water and beer in our truck bed.
In my haste to please the DW by buying the fiver she liked I bought the only one on the planet with NO basement storage at all. It is brutal. But, having a longbed I have plenty of storage in the bed even with the home made 3 bike travel rack at the front of the bed.
Back on topic, I have left my hitch in the bed of my pickup for the past couple of years because I was tired of working around it in my garage (its my woodshop) . I have only needed to take it out if I need to haul sheet goods or if we are going to take both kayaks out at the same time.....
2003 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC/LB 2WD 8.1L
2006 Laredo 26BH
I used the same arguments against my wife until I actually looked at a nice fifth wheel trailer and saw the huge advantage in space and comfort. Got a Reese fifth wheel hitch that can be removed, but surprised at even with a short bed, how much I can still carry when not towing, and within limits when towing. Tell him to go for it.
2011 F150 Super Crew EcoBoost, Short bed, Max Tow, Truxedo Lo Pro QT, SuperSprings, Bilstein HD shocks, Reese 16K hitch.
2012 Cougar High Country HE 299RKS 5th wheel, Reese Sidewinder pin box
Little bed storage was one of the reasons I wanted a fiver. All that camping stuff in the truck bed was stuff I had to load and unload every time we took a trip. Now, all that stuff is happily stored in the fiver, and we hitch up and leave with much less time spent loading.
I have and use the storage in the front of the bed (8 foot Long bed), Its covered by my Extang Tri Fold. and I also put the cooler behind the hitch sometimes. I have also had an EZ-set tent stored along the side of the hitch. Never a problem. Short bed trucks will give you less room for Truck Bed uses when hitched. Most 5th wheels will give you much more storage compared to a Trailer.
1997 Ford F250 Extended Cab, 7.3 Diesel, 8 foot bed.
Reese 16K Hitch
(Moved into Shed) Hensley Arrow
Jordan Brake Controller, Hensley TruControl Gold Shelved.
Open Range 5th Wheel, Roamer RF392 BHS
If, as said earlier, you purchase a B&W Turnover Ball/Companion hitch combination, it takes ten minutes to go from hitch in the truck box to no hitch in the truck box and a completely empty truck box.
This is an excellent product with nary a complainer to be found. It is built in the Mid West by a company that cares about it's products, customers and the local community. You can do no better
Regards
Ricatic
Debbie and Savannah the Wonderdachsund
2009 Big Horn 3055RL
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Dually LTX with the Gold Standard LBZ Engine and Allison Transmission
2011 F350 Lariat SRW CC SB 4WD 6.7 Diesel POS Gone Bye Bye
ricatic wrote: If, as said earlier, you purchase a B&W Turnover Ball/Companion hitch combination, it takes ten minutes to go from hitch in the truck box to no hitch in the truck box and a completely empty truck box.
This is an excellent product with nary a complainer to be found. It is built in the Mid West by a company that cares about it's products, customers and the local community. You can do no better
Regards
OT here a bit, but I just called B&W and was told the B&W turnover ball and Companion hitch would not work with the Ford factory underbed hitch prep. I recall that you are, as stated above, using that exact setup on your truck! They have a Companion 3300 that works with the Ford system, but I like the fact that the 'regular' Companion works with the in-bed ball, like you have.
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