fifth-wheel installation

tillerkiller · Feb 20, 2006

There are more slider hitches out there than you can shake a stick at. I don't have any experience with one but I would not give up just yet.

( due to the width of his trailer there apparantly isn't a hitch manufactured that will work in his 5.5' bed. )

I am having a hard time understanding this statement. Arent all RV 5th wheels wider than the tow rig anyway?

Dozernut · Feb 20, 2006

Before he trades trucks or sells his 5th wheel, have him look at this 5th wheel hitch. It is an automatic slider built for short bed trucks, it is pricey but cheaper than trading trucks or trailers. hitch The 12k Superglide will fit the short bed F150.

Bird · Feb 20, 2006

John, I would have thought the truck would have a 6.5' bed instead of 5.5'. A slider hitch for the truck is one option. Another is to change the pin box on the trailer for one that extends forward. But if it really is a 5.5' bed (crew cab?) then I'm not sure whether anyone makes something he could use unless an extended pin box can be found that's long enough.

fishman · Feb 20, 2006

( Arent all RV 5th wheels wider than the tow rig anyway? )

You've got me Tillerkiller. All I can report is that his rig is 95" and the widest the Reese technical guy said he could use was 84" or there-abouts. It might have been wider. The problem comes when turning . . . the trailer corner will hit the cab of his truck.

And yes it is a crewcab truck. I'm forwarding all of these suggestions to him. Thanks to all for the help so far as he really is in a bad spot on this one as one of the purposes of the new truck was to pull the trailer. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Bird · Feb 20, 2006

( Arent all RV 5th wheels wider than the tow rig anyway? )

Well, just about, but as you know, there's always exceptions to the rule. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif The Scamp is only 80" wide. I don't know now many others might be narrow. 95-96" is common, and then a number of the larger ones, such as the one my younger brother lives in, are 102" wide.

Bird · Feb 21, 2006

John, I asked my brothers about this hitch problem. Both of them are full time RVers; one used to be in the RV business and still occasionally helps the other brother who has his own RV service business. Neither of them have personal experience with using such hitches, but think the Pullrite SuperGlide is probably the best was to go, and they do make it for the supercrew trucks.

RedRocker · Feb 21, 2006

IMHO I'd get at least a 3/4 ton truck with an 8' bed, 1/2 ton trucks are great for trips to Home Depot, but for hauling a travel trailer there are a lot better alternatives.