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Topic: Sliding Hitch: Do I need one???
Posted By: bowler1 on 12/31/17 06:25pm

I am looking to move up to a 5th wheel in the near future and will need to get a new truck as well (probably a new Ford F-350 diesel). I am still torn between a long and short bed truck. The long bed has plenty of practical advantages, but the short beds are more readily available around here and would seem to be a lot easier as a daily driver. The 5th wheel I get will be a brand new one so it will have the rounded front design of the newer trailers. The companies I am leaning toward is either Open Range or Jayco.

So if I do get a short bed truck with one of these trailers...do I need a slider hitch? That is a negative point against a short bed truck for me.

I have read some posts that say that you really don't need a slider hitch with the newer 5th wheel campers. Seems reasonable, but I would hate to find out the hard way that I need a slider after putting the nose of my camper through my back window.

Of course I could just go with a long bed truck which will have much appreciated extra cargo capacity and other advantages, but I am not sure if the extra 1.5 feet of cargo space will outweigh the added parking and maneuvering challenges I will experience while using it as a daily driver which will be 90% of its use.

thanks for your help

matt

Posted By: JIMNLIN on 12/31/17 07:56pm

The idea of the new rounded/notched corners is to eliminate the need for a sliding hitch. The trailer mfg or a experienced dealer can tell you if a F350 short bed needs a slider or not.
Check out the PullRite ISR Superlite hitch rated at 20k lbs or the same type Andersen hitch systems.
Also a Reese Sidewinder pin box works with a non slider on short bed trucks.

"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
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides

Posted By: Dayle1 on 12/31/17 08:07pm

I've used 6.5 ft bed trucks for almost 30 yrs towing fivers, before rounded front caps or slider hitches. Still don't use a slider. You don't need a slider, you just need to be aware of the limitation and when necessary, do a little more jockeying back and forth in tight spots. A long bed isn't a guarantee, difference in jack knife angle is 80+ degrees to about 100 degrees. But at any of those steep angles you are twisting the trailer suspension more than moving the trailer.

If I felt unsure with a SB, I'd probably get the Sidewinder pin box. Less maintenance, weight and space, and helps with backing and tracking in turns.

Larry Day
Texas Baptist Men-Retiree Builders since '01
'13 Silverado 3500HD LT 2wd CCSB SRW, custom RKI bed
'19 Starcraft Telluride 292RLS
Rig Photos


Posted By: guidry on 12/31/17 08:07pm

I’ve had both and didn’t need a slider for my short bed. Another advantage to a long bed is a smoother towing and non towing experience. Parking is about the same. I’m happier with the long bed!

Posted By: 4bearhug on 12/31/17 09:34pm

I have a short bed and get along just fine without a slider hitch. Our 5th wheel is 38' to the tips so you do need to be aware of what you are doing as you get into tight spots. I had a slider hitch on our previous truck because I kept hearing that you had to have a slider hitch with a short bed. We towed for two years with that truck and never used the slider hitch once so I decided on the next truck I was going to skip the slider hitch when I upgraded hitches. That was two years ago and I haven't had any issues w/o a slider.

Posted By: pyoung47 on 12/31/17 09:50pm

With a short bed, an auto slider such as a Pullrite is much preferred. For everyday use as a truck, a short bed is very limited. Driving/parking a long bed crew cab is a real inconvenience. This is a much debated often trolled subject on this forum.

Posted By: Greene728 on 12/31/17 09:59pm

Dayle1 wrote:

I've used 6.5 ft bed trucks for almost 30 yrs towing fivers, before rounded front caps or slider hitches. Still don't use a slider. You don't need a slider, you just need to be aware of the limitation and when necessary, do a little more jockeying back and forth in tight spots. A long bed isn't a guarantee, difference in jack knife angle is 80+ degrees to about 100 degrees. But at any of those steep angles you are twisting the trailer suspension more than moving the trailer.

If I felt unsure with a SB, I'd probably get the Sidewinder pin box. Less maintenance, weight and space, and helps with backing and tracking in turns.


Spot on! I have a SB Ram and a B&W Patriot and its great! After about 70-80 degrees your no longer backing up anyways, just jack knifing the trailer. Situational awareness and being aware of your limits is the key! I'm betting you'd be just fine.

2011 Crossroads Cruiser 29BHX (Traded)
2017 Grand Design 303RLS
2015 Ram 3500 CC 4x4 6.7 Cummins
Me and the wife and our two daughters. Life's good!

Posted By: AFChief_and_Pilot on 12/31/17 10:49pm

The long bed does have more room for “stuff”.

Posted By: WNYBob on 01/01/18 06:39am

It only takes one opps to pay for the slider!

* This post was last edited 01/01/18 07:24am by WNYBob *

Posted By: Me Again on 01/01/18 08:48am

WNYBob wrote:

It only takes one opps to pay for the slider!


What he said^^^^!

2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021


Posted By: Bob Sue on 01/01/18 08:49am

I have the Pullrite auto slide, and am very happy. Being automatic, there is never a doubt wether to deploy or not, it is done on every turn, or backing situation. Also recommend the Open Range. You can visit the owners forum for feedback on the model your looking at.

Bob&Sue
2021 Cedar Creek 34IK
2011 Ford F-250
6.7 litre PSD
Pullrite Superglide

Posted By: C.B. on 01/01/18 08:51am

Been using short bed with Pullrite Superglide for 14 years.


Wouldn't have it any other way.





C.B.

CBVP2004~FORD~F350~CC~LARIAT~SRW~SB~4X4~6.0D~
AUTO~PULLRITE 16K SUPERGLIDE~DEMCO GLIDERIDE~
PRODIGY CONTROLLER~C-BETR MIRRORS~EMS-HW50C~

Butch/Barb=2013-Cedar Creek 36CKTS
Kris/Katy=2006-Cherokee 32B

Posted By: NMDriver on 01/01/18 11:54am

15 years and never needed the slider. I have a slider and a head ache rack but as other have mentioned, I have not used it and I have a old square front 5er.

Where the slider hitch comes in handy for me is to use the 5er as a hoist for the hitch.

I leave the hitch hanging from the pin in the off season. By putting the slider in the unlocked slide position it takes all of the tension off of the pins so I can pull the pins and lift the hitch with the landing gear of the 5er.

Same when I am ready to reinstall the hitch. Put the slide in the unlocked position and slide the bars where I want them in the bed of the truck, then lower into place with the landing gear.

5er/2500Duramax/18ftBoat

Posted By: Dave H M on 01/01/18 01:11pm

Bowler, folks in my opinion prowl this net to chime in on issues such as you brought up. The ole gotta have it, good insurance, on and on always comes up.

I have towed with three short box pick ups thus far. have never needed a slider. Will never need one.

Also that old adage about the wheel base of a long bed is what you have to have. My suggestion is to get a brochure at the Ford dealer and check out wheel bases. i bet my current crew cab short box wheel base is within a smidgen of the long boxes.

you know how opinions are, And that includes mine.

good luck and have fun out there

Posted By: PopBeavers on 01/01/18 04:44pm

I forgot to move the slider once. Now I have a crease in the cab.

I now have a slider where I do not have to do anything with it. It automagically slides back as the turn radius tightens.

When I get home from a trip I make a 190 degree u-turn at maximum turn of the truck. This is probably not normal towing for most people, but it is for me.

My first hitch required that I climb into the bed of the truck to insert a pin to prevent the slide from sliding while on the road. I got tired of that quickly. I damaged that hitch so had to buy a new one. I have a super glide and love it.

Wayne in Coarsegold near Yosemite
2016 Keystone Cougar 303RLS
2015 Ford F350 diesel 6.7L 4x4 crew cab short bed
Super Glide hitch

Posted By: 4bearhug on 01/01/18 04:48pm

NMDriver wrote:

15 years and never needed the slider. I have a slider and a head ache rack but as other have mentioned, I have not used it and I have a old square front 5er.

Where the slider hitch comes in handy for me is to use the 5er as a hoist for the hitch.

I leave the hitch hanging from the pin in the off season. By putting the slider in the unlocked slide position it takes all of the tension off of the pins so I can pull the pins and lift the hitch with the landing gear of the 5er.

Same when I am ready to reinstall the hitch. Put the slide in the unlocked position and slide the bars where I want them in the bed of the truck, then lower into place with the landing gear.



I also leave the hitch hanging from the pin in the off season, but don't have a slider hitch so you can do that regardless of slider or not.

Posted By: NMDriver on 01/01/18 05:56pm

4bearhug wrote:


I also leave the hitch hanging from the pin in the off season, but don't have a slider hitch so you can do that regardless of slider or not.


Never said you couldn't pull pins without a slider, but it is a lot easier to remove the tension off the pins by pulling the slide lever, than trying to move the truck a smidgen one way or the other and positioning the truck just right when re-installing is a whole lot easier when you can move the bars instead of the truck.

It also releases the tension from the lock bar when I am unhooking at a campground. No need to put the truck in reverse to release the pressure on the locking bar.

Reese 20000lb hitch without the slide is about $100 cheaper than with the manual slide. Each must decide for themselves if the $100 is worth it.

Personally I prefer a goose neck but the truck came with the hitch so I use what I got.

Posted By: 2112 on 01/01/18 06:55pm

Dave H M wrote:

Bowler, folks in my opinion prowl this net to chime in on issues such as you brought up. The ole gotta have it, good insurance, on and on always comes up.
Yep, and I bought into it. It took me 3 years and three hitches to realize I don't need a slider.

I have a Superglide and Reese manual slide I'll let go for cheap. Come get them out of my storage.

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost SuperCab Max Tow, 2084# Payload, 11,300# Tow,
Timbrens, PullRite SuperGlide 2700 15K
2013 KZ Durango 2857


Posted By: cummins2014 on 01/02/18 09:03am

2112 wrote:

Dave H M wrote:

Bowler, folks in my opinion prowl this net to chime in on issues such as you brought up. The ole gotta have it, good insurance, on and on always comes up.
Yep, and I bought into it. It took me 3 years and three hitches to realize I don't need a slider.

I have a Superglide and Reese manual slide I'll let go for cheap. Come get them out of my storage.



If they don't like yours ,they can come ,and get that monster slider of mine. Bring some boys with you its heavy [emoticon]

Did I forget to mention, I have the Andersen now [emoticon], no need for a slider, although I never used the monster slider .

Posted By: lazydays on 01/03/18 08:42am

I've owned a 5ver for 10 years and have never used my slider but I guess it's nice to have if for some reason I do need it. My only issue is I've neglected it over the years and it probably will not work if I need it.

Very Patient Wife
Two Boys & a Girl
2013 Keystone Avalanche 345TG
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD 6.6L

Posted By: RCMAN46 on 01/03/18 09:33am

Depends on where you plan to tow.

If you ever plan to use some of the forest service campgrounds in the western US then you will probably need a slider.

I have been in several that I would not try without sliding my trailer back with my short bed truck.

Sliding back allows more trailer to bed rail clearance when going through gullies that are common in forest service campgrounds for water drainage in the campground.

Posted By: jffnkrn on 01/04/18 06:20am

We we have a manual slider. I use it every time we get home to back in. The parking spot I have along my house is fine, just getting the turn into the spot around the transformer, mailbox and block wall on opposite side. We have also used it like said above to get into tight camp spots. We don't need it to clear the cab, but it does move the pivot point back about a foot, so that is a biggie to be. We all have our own comfort zone. Do what you think is best. I would rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it. Good Luck & Be Safe! ! !

* This post was edited 01/04/18 06:26am by jffnkrn *

Posted By: JIMNLIN on 01/04/18 06:38am

I like my 22 year old manual slider especially when maneuvering in tight situations.
Flip the handle moves the pin 11" behind the trucks rear axle makes for less steering wheel input especially while backing.

For years we towed GN/5th wheel trailers with a regular 5th wheel hitch in our short bed trucks as we had no sliding hitches. As mentioned look at the trailers front corner profile and simply determine what is or isn't needed. You either need a hitch system for a short bed or you don't.
My next hitch will be a Andersen or the PullRite Superlite ISR hitch system

Posted By: sbergherr on 01/05/18 06:38am

We originally bought a B&W slider hitch for my short bed F350. Had a great deal on a F350 dually come in, so I jumped on it. Which of course is a long bed. Kept the slider and I love it. Can slide the hitch back and hitch up with the tailgate down. With the slide forward need two people 1 to help with tailgate and the other to
back the truck. Just my opinion.

Posted By: Keithk3628 on 01/05/18 08:16am

Bowler1

I would give you one more thought, with a long bed F350 you will get a much larger fuel tank, and as I have found out 26 gallons in my short bed F350 is very small.

I have a BW Patriot slider in my short bed, for just in case, but now I am looking at a 50 gallon replacement tank.

My recommendation would be a long bed F350.

Keith

Posted By: bowler1 on 01/05/18 10:18am

Agree about the advantages of a bigger tank which is a selling point for a long bed, but my understanding is that both long and short bed f350s this year have a 43 gallon tank.

Posted By: Dave H M on 01/05/18 03:43pm

bowler1 wrote:

Agree about the advantages of a bigger tank which is a selling point for a long bed, but my understanding is that both long and short bed f350s this year have a 43 gallon tank.


I see you been doing some home work. That echo of long bed/little tank will probably be here forever. it does not apply mostly now.

Posted By: Keithk3628 on 01/05/18 07:01pm

Wish my 2016 F350 had the 43 gallon tank, that additional 17 gallons would be great, and save me $1700 for the replacement tank.

Posted By: 4x4ord on 01/05/18 07:50pm

I have gotten by without a slider for years and don't consider it an issue. I do not want an 8 foot box. I would buy a 6.5 foot box with an automatic slider before getting a long box or any kind of manual slider.

2022 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5

Posted By: 4x4ord on 01/05/18 07:52pm

bowler1 wrote:

Agree about the advantages of a bigger tank which is a selling point for a long bed, but my understanding is that both long and short bed f350s this year have a 43 gallon tank.


F350 short box have a 34 gallon tank for 2017.

Posted By: Nv Guy on 01/07/18 06:39pm

Yeah, I didn't think I needed a slider until last Monday. Backing into spot next to the house when the height difference between the driveway and street "got me". Turning on flat ground is one thing, throw some angle into it, and you get to see what a 2017 Super Duty rear window costs..




Posted By: retskc on 01/10/18 11:50am

When I purchased my new truck, I wanted a long bed but my DW wanted a short bed. The rv we have has the rounded front cap which is made for towing with a short bed. So I went with the standard bed. I have campion hitch not a slider, and have had no problems towing or backing into space with the new truck. The new truck pulls the fiver better than the old long bed that I had. Love the Chevy Silverado High Country

USN retired (Chief StoreKeeper
2017 Chevrolet 3500 HD High Country
2015 Big Horn 3570RS

Posted By: Bowti on 01/15/18 08:56pm

Nv Guy wrote:

Yeah, I didn't think I needed a slider until last Monday. Backing into spot next to the house when the height difference between the driveway and street "got me". Turning on flat ground is one thing, throw some angle into it, and you get to see what a 2017 Super Duty rear window costs..


I think this is the real answer to most, but not all of our rigs. I have a slider that I have never used, but what worries me is I am so used to not using it that I will not think to use it when needed.

2013 Keystone Cougar 28SGS Xlite
Shipping weight 7561 lbs
Carrying capacity 2439 lbs
Hitch Pin 1410 lbs
2008 Silverado 2500 Duramax 4X4 Crew Cab
Reese 16K Round Tube Slider
Custom 3 Receiver Hitch Scooter Carrier
2013 Honda PCX Scooter on the Carrier


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