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Arewethereyet?
Montgomery, AL
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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Hi,
I am a newbie to fifth wheels (have not bought yet), and have questions about slider hitches.
I have a Chevy 2500HD 6.0L 2002 crew cab short bed (6.5 feet) , and I think I would like an automatic sliding hitch. However, I also use the truck to work, and therefore would like to use truck bed for hauling other items when not fifth wheeling.
(1) - Would this hitch be in my way?
(2) - Can it be easily removed when needed?
(3) - Do I need a sliding hitch at all?
Any information on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
David
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wittmeba
Virginia
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Joined: 02/02/2001
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IMO all short bed truck should have a slider hitch. I dont know enough about all the other hitches to know if there are remaining hardware/rails but with Reese manual there is rails remaining. You can pretty much fix this problem with 3 sections of 3/4" plywood between each section...bed is then pretty flat.
Here is some info and links to websites:
SuperSlide
http://www.pullrite.com/super.html
http://www.hitch-web.com/products.asp?mode=fwonly
Reese FWRS30049,30035
15K Fifth Wheel Hitch with NEW Improved KWIK-SLIDE and Rail Kit for FULL SIZE Truck
Hitch-Web Price $561.04
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http://www.hitch-web.com/products.asp?mode=fwonly
Reese FWRS30051, 30035
16K Fifth Wheel Hitch with NEW Improved KWIK-SLIDE and Rail Kit for FULL SIZE Truck
Hitch-Web Price $634.33
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http://www.reesehitch.com/fithwheel_kwik_slide.html
Fifth Wheel Model 15K Kwik-Slide Hitch Complete Part # 30037----$399.95
15K Models 15,000 lbs. capacity----Pin weight capacity 3,500 lbs.
Fifth Wheel Model 16K Kwik-Slide Hitch Complete Part # 30038----$475.95
16K Models 16,000 lbs. capacity----Pin weight capacity 3,750 lbs.
Rail Kit Needed For Installation either above
Rail Kit Part # 30035---$89.54
Rail Kit Part # 30040---$89.54
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http://www.hijacker.com/
24-SLP-16 - 16k Slider “Double Pivot” Fifth Wheel Hitch
Hitch: $
Rails: $
Optional brackets: $
NRA Member & supporter of the 2nd amendment - over 5,000,000 strong
Firefox® 33
Log home images - Updated 05/19/2013
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mckenziedt
WINNIPEG, MB.,Canada
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Joined: 06/02/2002
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Ditto. IMHO short beds should have slider hitches. Note I didn't say have to have. You can drive a lot of miles and park a lot of times without activating a slider, but that one time you need one and forget you don't have one can cause a lot of damage. *IF* one is always careful and never forgets, than maybe they don't need a slider. But,as I steadily progress to the senior stage of life (goodbye 50's),I have come to the conclusion that senior moments are not some imaginary condition in folklore.
I have an automatic slider,a Pullrite,. Cost me $1800.USD installed,not cheap,but what is the price of peace of mind? And it does have some other advantages.
A very positive slop free engagement
Removes relatively easily from bed,with pinned together components
Doesn't leave any rails or other hardware in the box when removed
Leaves 4 holes that can be plugged with inserts if you are going to carry dirt,sand etc.
The only change I might have made on installation if I had it to do over again,would be to install it an inch or so forward of where Pullrite's mounting template spots it at almost dead centre of rear axle.
From other brands I've seen (at half the installed price of the Pullrite),I would recommend ones with the small metal rollers in the slider part. The ones that just have a tongue and groove slide seem to be prone to sticking and jambing.
*This Message was edited on 24-Aug-02 10:35 AM by mckenziedt*
Don M
2002 Chev 2500HD 4X4 LT CrewCab,Dk Green,DMax/Alison,Line-X short-box, 2003 33'Newmar-Kountry Star,PullRite16K SuperGlide,Prodogy,Honda EU2000i,
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Arewethereyet?
Montgomery, AL
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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Thank You Wittmeba and Mckenziedt for your informative replies. They were helpful, as I have never seen a slider hitch before. I also feel that I need a slider, something on the order of the Pullrite sounds right for my situation.
Thanks again
*This Message was edited on 24-Aug-02 07:39 PM by Arewethereyet?*
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SSWilliams
Elizabethton, TN, USA
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Joined: 08/25/2001
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Got a Pull Rite Superglide and yes, it will get in your way when you haul in your bed. It's in the middle of your truck and has to be a little long so it can "slide" down the cam when you turn. I think it's worth the money though. Love the way it works with my fiver.
It's very easy, but VERY HEAVY when you take it out. Trust me, get a couple of burly friends when you take the hitch out.
Scott & Sheri Williams
’02 Cardinal 29WB
’01 Chevy 2500HD CC
Short bed LS
Duramax \ Allison
Pullrite Superglide Hitch
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Jeepin Jim
Concord, CA
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Joined: 08/08/2002
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I was just hoping that someone would explain the automatic hitch to me. The PullRite slides backwards as you make a turn, then slide forward in the bed as the trailer straightens out?
How does it know?
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Tokat
Mukwonago Wisconsin
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Joined: 08/11/2002
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the whole 5th wheel turns instead of just pivoting like a normal hitch does. It rides on an eccentric cam that moves the slide back and forth. It is a really great concept, altho a little hard to describe. I love mine, and if you don't mind paying a bit extra, it's well worth the money in my opinion.
Chuck & Ellyn
2 Shelties Taz & Sadie
2002 Chevy Silverado crewcab 2500HD D/A
Pullright Superglide
Twin honda EU2000i gensets
2002 Cougar 278EFS
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wittmeba
Virginia
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Joined: 02/02/2001
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Jeepin Jim,
If Im not mistaken there is a plate that must be used with the pullrite hitch that attaches to the 5th wheel pin box. This plate has a large piece extending from the bottom in the same direction as the pin and on the same plane. It works like a rudder that is used in conjunction with the hitch to provide information of the position of the trailer relative to the truck - in rotation. The only way the hitch knows the trailer is turning is by this piece being repositioned as the trailer swings from side to side.
This rudder is used to control the cam action of the slider mechanism. It pushes part of the slide mecnhanism as the trailer becomes out of line with the truck. The greater angle difference, the greater the amount of slide action. When the trailer returns to the in-line position, the hitch slides back to normal.
It is also my understanding that the plate must be removed to work with standard 5th wheel hitches. Some one (sorry cant remember whom) just posted some pics of their plate. Perhaps they will chime in here and offer the link again. They indicated the place could be removed in 1-2 minutes.
Thats a rough overview but perhaps it will help.
*This Message was edited on 24-Aug-02 10:17 PM by wittmeba*
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mckenziedt
WINNIPEG, MB.,Canada
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wittmeba
Yes the Pullrite has a special adapter plate that bolts to the under side of the pin box. This plate has a projection on it the same shape as the trapezoidal shaped pin approach cut out(guide) area of a 5ver hitch and it fits into this area when hooked up, effectively preventing the trailer's pin box from pivoting
on the hitch plate as would happen with a normal hitch. Your description of this projection as a rudder is a good one. If one was to hook a normal 5ver pin/pinbox onto a Pullrite, it would function as a normal non slider hitch. However, no you can't hook a Pullrite equipped pinbox to a regular(Reese type) hitch. It would probably lock in,but it would not pivot- just fine until you came to a corner or a curve in the road.
How easily the pinbox adapter comes off depends on how it is installed. If screwed on with cap screws tapped into the bottom of the pinbox,it should be fairly easy. If bolted on with nuts inside the pinbox, not so easy.
If lot jockeys at a dealership or camp ground try to move a unit with the plate attached,they tend to prang it up or maybe even wreck it.
So,with the trailer and the hitch plate locked together in a straight line,how does the trailer pivot? Well the Pullrite has the whole carry plate,pin latch assembly pivot on a cam assembly underneath,nearer the floor of the truck bed. This cam assembly causes the pivoting part of the hitch to ride backwards down a 2 rail track when it changes from a 180 degree angle relative to the truck to a lesser angle. By 90 degrees(jacknifed) it has maxed out on its backwards travel. As it returns to 180o, it progressively returns forward. There is a 16 degree delay built into it,so that during the first 16o of turn the slide back action doesn't kick in, thus it is not sliding back and forth with every little steering correction made and you can hook up or unhook without being dead on 180o backing into the trailer.
It is ingenious and hard to describe, but I'm sure Pullrite did so adequately in their patent application.
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rn2
China Grove, NC,USA
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Joined: 06/13/2002
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Pullrite Superglide is a great hitch...glad I got it. It is heavy, but when removed from the truck bed, you've got an empty truck bed, no rails, no nadda!!! Good Luck.
2002 Chevy Silverado 2500LT HD Extended Cab 4X4 Dmax/Allsion. 2003 Designer Legacy 3330 RKTS,4000w Onan MicroQuiet Gen
Prodigy, Pullrite SuperGlide, CIPA Elec/Heated Towing Mirrors. Cessna 172 N53147
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