I am building a 88 250/350 from scratch. It is a 133 inch frame and I am planning to put an extended cab or maybe even a 4 door cab on it. That means I will need to cut the bed down. My question is, how much bed do i need to effectively use it for a fifth wheel? I know the bigger the bed the better but can I use a fifth wheel with a 5 foot bed?

thanks

 

If you have an extended pin on the 5th wheel and use a slider type hitch, you should be fine with a 5 ft bed. You will ALWAYS have to remember that you can't make a tight turn or the coach will be into the side of your cab unless you use the slide.

You also need to watch the height of what you put in the bed behind the cab as it will get wiped out in a turn if it sits to high.

 

thanks MistakenID. That's what I hoped would be the case. I'm thinking 4 door cab with a low bed frame. This should be a fun project. The last one I did was a 53 ****** but I hope this one has a happier ending then that one did.

 

I dont know how you feel about flatbeds but, I think that would be the way to go if youre going to have to chop the box.

 

I thought about a flat bed. It would be easier than cutting a standard bed down, I think. I guess I could use a tool box and a headache rack to hold stuff.

 

remember that the trailer is around 8 feet wide.

pin to corner will be around 4'. If you don't have 4' from pin to cab... you'll end up with a custom convertible

Now this doesn't hold true for all goosenecks. Many have a triangular tounge and you'll have a jack hit your bed before the tounge hits the cab.

 

Very good Info.I used a 99 with a six ft bed for several years and more than once I wish I had the slider in the bed.over the years I managed to bend both cab corners and scuffed up my camper,It can happen before you realize it.Finally broke down and purchased a 350 with 8 ft bed ,,problem solved

 

When you say 133" frame, are you referring to the wheel base of that frame? If so, I think the cab will play a more important role than your bed. If your using a 5th wheel hitch, I'm assuming it will be mounted directly above the rear axle? That will be your fixed point and will dictate how large of a cab you can put on. FYI, a current model year crew cab short bed is on a 156" wheel base, a supercab short bed is on a 141" wheel base. And I believe that either of those would require a slider hitch. If you are putting a crew cab or supercab on a 133" wheel base, you are running out of turning radius for your 5th wheel.