I have read all the posts about why it is so much better to pull with a long bed, But thats not what I have. I need some advise.

I have a 02 250 SC 7.3, short bed. I am pulling a 32 5er that was inherited to me. I am using a reese hitch (not a slider)

My question is what problems am i going to run into, besides the cab of my truck. I have pulled alot but I want to take the trailer next week for memorial day and can't invest in a slide hitch. Any tips for me or advice would be great.

Thanks.

 

Without a sliding hitch in a SB pulling a 5th, if you turn to tight you are going to smack the back of the cab with the trailer. Also be aware of uneven groung when turning, as you cannot turn as tight on uneven ground, do to truck-trailer tilt and contact with the back of the cab sooner than on flat ground. On uneven ground your turning radius needs to be larger than on flat ground.

Hope this helps

 

Never thought of that, thats exactly the kind of info I need. Thanks

 

I pull a 32 ft 5er with my 03 CC Short Bed. I have only taken it out twice and I am a NOVICE and a TERRIBLE backer. The first big trip I took I got into a jam at a too small camp site. I thought this was going to be really bad but I patiently worked it and all was well. I have an extended pin box on mine and I can almost get 90 degrees. I do not have a slider either although I do have a rocker. I mounted it myself and put the pin 3 inches in front of the axle.

It looks cool hooked up too

 

I have a shortbed F150, pulling a 26ft 5er. I have not had any problems.
Yes, you do need to watch out for the back of the cab when backing into a tight spot.
As for uneven ground, increase your hitch height.

 

Increasing the hitch height will not change the distance between the back of the cab and the trailer when the truck and trailer are on un-even terrain. Increasing the hitch height just increased the distance from the trailer to the top of the bed rail.

 

I pull with a short box. Many 5th wheels come with the extended pin now. My pin is even with the nose of my 5th but is an older model so not quite as large on the nose.

 

FYI, those with extended pin boxes, be espescially careful to pay close attention to the mounting point of the pin box to the trailer. The extended pin box puts a much larger load on the small mounting area at the trailer and cracking and fatigue wear occurs at a much faster rate.

In addition aftermarket extended pin adapters can cause pin mount failures at the trailer, since the trailer pin mounting point was never desinged for the added load stress imposed on it.

 

Blackhat620 - I should have explained myself better.
My 5er is a 2006 and it has the pin extention on it as Zip said.
Don't want to confuse anybody.

 

mel2000f150,

The new trailers that come with an extended pin box are far better than A/M pin box extenders. But with any extended pin box still pay attention to the mounting point of the pin box at the trailer, as there is a great deal more stress at this point than on a straight pin box.

This is no different than extend tongue reviever hitch mounts to clear overhanging campers.

The increased stress loads put on the pin box require more attention and maintenance do to the increased abuse. Just make it a normal part of your routine to check your pin box mount for stress cracks or fatigue & wear.

 

Blackhat620
Thanks, I did not know that.

 

It all falls into that increased lever arm theory. Hold a 5lb bag of sugar close to your body and it is fairly easy, now hold that 5lb bag of sugar out at arms length and it gets much more difficult to hold up.

Yes the engineers design the new pin box mounts on extend pin box to support greater loads, but it is just a good practice to keep and eye on them for signs of fatigue. Also there are higher loads put on the hitch mount in the back of the truck. Actually any type of towing setup be it TT or 5th should be routinely inspected for fatigue and worn parts replaced as needed.

 

tOff your topic question, but check your tires for age and inflation in case it had been sitting a while. Make sure there is not any dry rot on the tires. I lost two tires last year coming back from Me. Had a faulty compressor gauge. One other tire that was hot started smoking, had 110# pressure in it and was coming apart. Not fun at 70 mph. 4 hour trip ended up taking 10.

 

Wow!!! Great site! Thanks for all the feedback.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by pin extenders but I will research them.

Firehawk, the tires were new last year but it has sat since then. I will be very carefull with them.

Thanks.

 

Scroll down the page for "Fifth Wheel Trailer Extender"
www.bageco.com/5thadapter.htm

This is one type.