Getting a 2017 F350 4x4 short bed w/5th wheel hitch prep. Will pull a new Grand Design Reflection 5th wheel (307MKS). I think, but not certain, Reflection nose caps are the same across models. Will I be able to safely make tight turns using a fixed hitch or will I need to purchase a heavier slider? Appreciate advice. Thanks.

 

Get a goose neck ball (Reese, Curt or B&W) and the Andersen Ultimate hitch to go with it. Much cheaper and lighter. I have an F350 SB and have no clearance issues.
http://www.andersenhitches.com/catal...onnection.aspx

http://www.andersenhitches.com/uploa...d%20trucks.pdf

While you may see folks dismiss it because it is different, folks who have them love them. It is becoming so popular that Pullrite has a similar one now, but Andersen has more adjust-ability for clearing the cab. Pullrite doesn't necessarily recommend theirs for short beds.

 

Thanks for the info. Does that set-up allow for any angle between truck and 5th wheel when hooking up?

 

Sure, you can easily hook up 10-15 degrees off center.

 

I put a demco hitchhiker 21k autoslide in my shortbed. Works great. Not sure how I personally feel about the Anderson's. If you decide to go with a slider, get an autoslide. Then you don't need to remember to slide.....

 

Is it correct that with the autoslide when hooking up the truck and 5th wheel need to be lined up with little if any angle? My parking space at home is tight.

 

Here is a link to the manual: http://demco-products.com/assets/use...ts/HJ26077.pdf

From it:

"Because the Autoslide hitch uses capture plates to maintain the hitch head position in relation to the trailer king pin, the trailer can only be coupled and uncoupled when it is in straight or slightly angled alignment. The Autoslide can couple anduncouple up to a 10-15° trailer angle quite easily. Anything over this degree of angle will not allow for proper coupling."

Yea, because of how it works, you cannot unhook at a sharp angle. I tried it once, and it wasn't pretty.

 

This is not a problem with the Andersen Ultimate. One of it's delights is not having to have the planets aligned in a certain way to couple or uncouple. It is good to have that be a fading memory.

 

I've connected when it was about 85* - and disconnected whenever I have needed to!

 

F250 right, a short bed? Any clearance problems at 85*? Take it you like your Andersen Ultimate. Any negatives?

 

Truck is short bed F250, hitch is andersen, turn is nearly 90 degrees, regrets are zero.

 

No negatives. It is so good not to wrestle with 100 plus pounds at the beginning and end of a season. And if I need the bed in the summer, it comes out quickly.

 

If you have depth perception issues you will have issues lining up the pin with the ball but the new ones come with the added cup so your line-up only needs to be within 4-5 inches to connect.

 

2 or 3 inches, but who's counting. I ordered the funnel for mine, but won't put it on until spring.

 

OK, I'm convinced. Perhaps a bigger funnel would give me the extra leeway. Hoping the back-cab camera gives me the line. Is it better to secure the hitch to the truck via the beds gooseneck ball, or to buy a drop in rail box and get the rail-type Andersen ultimate hitch? Another question. With the hitch in place using the standard gooseneck-type attachment, what is the distance from the center of the hitch ball to the back of the cab of a 2017 F350 SB? Like to estimate clearance before buying hitch. Thanks.