Short Bed and 5th Wheels
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Elizabethtown, KY
Short Bed and 5th Wheels
We're thinking about getting a Travel Trailer and looking into the idea of a 5th wheel rig.
BUT, I just bought a 2001 F250 SC Short Bed, which we shopped long and hard for. Depending on who you talk to, short beds should NEVER be used to tow a 5er, or they CAN be used with some limitations. One RV web site even has a video of a rear glass shattering when the driver turns too sharp.
I love this truck and I'm not looking forward to the prospect of selling/trading it just to make it easy to tow a 5er. Even bumper pulled trailers have a turn limit which is probably more restrictive than a 5er on a short bed.
So, do any of you guys tow a 5er with a short bed? Are there any combinations of sliding hitches and pin extenders that make it safe/safer?
Thanks.
BUT, I just bought a 2001 F250 SC Short Bed, which we shopped long and hard for. Depending on who you talk to, short beds should NEVER be used to tow a 5er, or they CAN be used with some limitations. One RV web site even has a video of a rear glass shattering when the driver turns too sharp.
I love this truck and I'm not looking forward to the prospect of selling/trading it just to make it easy to tow a 5er. Even bumper pulled trailers have a turn limit which is probably more restrictive than a 5er on a short bed.
So, do any of you guys tow a 5er with a short bed? Are there any combinations of sliding hitches and pin extenders that make it safe/safer?
Thanks.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 116
Likes: 1
From: Bethlehem Ga.
You can do with little problem, My son and I both pull with short beds he broke his rear window when he first got it tuning around in his yard. But he wasn't paying attention but he does now. Some lessons hard learned. But normal driving down the road it works fine you just have to watch when backing or trying to get in tight spots. Some trailers do better than others depending on the pin box location and some adjustment can be made there.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Covington, La
My son-in-law and I both pull fifth wheels Rv with short bed pickups and have zero problems with backing turning, etc......He has a B&W hitch in his truck and I have a Reese slider. Some one did borrow my truck to pick up his trailer from the dealer and was not used to my short bed. His truck was regular 8 fot bed, and I got a call one night from my daughter telling me about the kink this guy put into the back of my trruck. He paid for all the body work and repairs. If you pay attention to what you do and how you do it, and stop all of the distractions around you when you do back up or turn a fifth wheel, you should not a problem.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NewYork
what about a fifth wheel exteder like shown on the web site to give more clearence between the truck and trailer.
http://store.mrtruck.net/servlet/Detail?no=21
http://store.mrtruck.net/servlet/Detail?no=21
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
short beds are no problem. I have a 36' with a extended pin box and a regular 5th wheel hitch. I've gotten into some pretty tight spaces and haven't had any problems yet. I haven't had the need yet to go out and get a slider hitch.
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Alberta
To avoid this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YajlvudkW_Y
I bought this...
http://www.pullrite.com/superglide.htm
A spendy solution, but for me it's worth the price in peace-of-mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YajlvudkW_Y
I bought this...
http://www.pullrite.com/superglide.htm
A spendy solution, but for me it's worth the price in peace-of-mind.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Elizabethtown, KY
Yep, that's the video I was talking about. But that SuperGlide hitch looks pretty slick. As for the price, avoiding a crushed cab because I "forgot" to slide the hitch might be well worth the $2-3K for the hitch and mounts.
Originally Posted by Kanuck
To avoid this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YajlvudkW_Y
I bought this...
http://www.pullrite.com/superglide.htm
A spendy solution, but for me it's worth the price in peace-of-mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YajlvudkW_Y
I bought this...
http://www.pullrite.com/superglide.htm
A spendy solution, but for me it's worth the price in peace-of-mind.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 342
Likes: 1
From: South central kansas
Wow, well I have a short bed and I pull my 5ver without any problems at all. Like everyone says pay attention and you will be fine. I have a B&W gooseneck hitch in my truck and a B&W fifth wheel companion hitch. You have to buy them separate but together they should come in at or just under 1k. My hitch doesn't slide or anything fancy at all. I have a extended pin on my camper and that is all. The front on my camper is also squared at the bottom, not rounded. Newer campers are almost all rounded at the bottom front to help with turning. You just need the extended pin on your camper and set your hitch so the pin itself is just barely in front of the middle of your rear axle. If you have a reputable camper and hitch shop set everything up they will do it correctly and you will be able to get out of any jam that is possible to drive out of.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Garden Grove, Ca
Originally Posted by vlietracer64
what about a fifth wheel exteder like shown on the web site to give more clearence between the truck and trailer.
http://store.mrtruck.net/servlet/Detail?no=21
http://store.mrtruck.net/servlet/Detail?no=21
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 790
Likes: 35
From: Austin
I pull my 34 foot 5th wheel with my shortbed truck. When I got it installed, the dealer recommended a slider hitch, so I went with it. It's a manual slide, which means you have to get out and pull a lever before it will slide back.
I suppose its nice to have If I ever get into a tight spot, but after about 10,000 miles of towing, I've never once needed to slide the hitch back.
I suppose its nice to have If I ever get into a tight spot, but after about 10,000 miles of towing, I've never once needed to slide the hitch back.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, KY
Goosenecks tend to be a little more narrow and angled in front, making them much easier to turn. RV's are generally fully 8' wide even to the neck section, whereas horse trailers are generally 7' outside. Even the square-nosed 7' trailers can be turned reasonably easy. That extra 12" can make a world of difference with turning 