Buying a Grand Designs Solitude 344 and an F-350 SRW. Can I get some thoughts on a short bed with a slider vs a long bed, given the 101" wide ? I saw something on a thread that the wider trailer presented some problems with the short bed/slider combo ? Are there any long bed fans who want to talk me out of a short bed anyhow ? I am a rookie, so any help is appreciated.

Thanks !

 

 

 

My Cardinal is same width, and I run the Demco Hijacker autoslide in my CCSB SRW. Glad I am, not sure it was a requirement. Just not having to think about it is comforting enough. My next truck will be a Long Bed SRW, and I will then ditch the slider in favor of a B&W. My move to LB is mostly to get the much larger fuel tank stock. I could retrofit my 2016 with a Titan tank, but I have a hard time dropping the coin for that, knowing I will trade the truck in in 3 more years.

 

That's a good size trailer if loaded to GVW. If you're going crew-cab diesel, I'd be real tempted to go DRW with the simple B&W hitch. The long-bed SRW will have less payload than the short-bed SRW, but you won't need a heavy slider hitch (gain some back). The added fuel capacity and a very simple (two piece) hitch would be nice benefits.

 

Another way to go is to use a Reese Sidewinder pin box. It gives more turning radius on a SWB truck. No need for a slider with this.

 

What did you go from and to on the tire size?

 

I had 245/ 17 tires on 7.5 wide wheels (stock). I went to 275/ 18 on 9.5 wheels and it seems to make a difference. We have air bags on as well and I never really have a problem.

 

Humm...not a bad idea gives more of a footprint....and thus better stability I would assume

 

I have a SRW short bed with a 101" fifth wheel. I have a B&W patriot slider in mine. First thing I did when I got it all set up was slowly jacknifed in my yard to see how far I could go. How far you can go will greatly depend on the trailer and how the nose is. My old trailer wouldn't come anywhere near this Columbus that I have. The new one is way more rounded in the front and allows me to almost get to 90 degrees. There's no way I could hit the cab while travelling forward unless on some extreme angle so I'm good with that.