Auto slider or manual

[smithrhjr]

My new truck has a 6' 8" bed and I have a 2018 Rockwood FW. I understand the functional differences between an auto slider vs a manual slider, but was wondering how often I need it to slide. I vision myself being in a small town and need to make a sharp corner and I need to stop traffic to get out of the truck and let my manual slider slide. Am I being realistic/crazy?

[smithrhjr]

Thanks everyone for your information.

[2112]

If your 2018 Rockwood has a rounded front cap, do you even need a slider? I realized AFTER installing a Pullrite I didn't need a slider. I have replaced the Pullrite with a manual slide Reese and have not needed to slide it back since installed 5 years ago. I will say I tried backing up with the manual hitch slid back and it is easier to back up with the hitch back towards the tailgate.

The Pullrite was a PITA to deal with. More times than not it would not disconnect.

[cougar28]

I have a manual slider and in the last 18 years of towning I've only had to use it one time.

[sayoung]

Instead of a slider why not one of those " orbitol " pin boxes that rotate at the rear instead of the kingpin. My buddy uses one on a short bed Ford .

[mtofell1]

Hammerboy wrote:
In general traffic I doubt you would ever need a slider with todays cut corner cap fifth wheels. Maybe when backing in a tight site but I try my best not to cut super sharp anyway because of the twisting and scrubbing it does to the fifth wheel tires. But every fifth/truck combo is different, as for me I have plenty of room.

I do however have a manual B&W slider and the only reason I have one is because I have a steep hill I have to back down to get to the barn and this provides a steeper angle without hitting the tailgate when backing down. Hope that made sense.

Had a Pullrite auto slider for about 5 years on a previous fifth wheel years ago and to be honest I didn't really care for it. I had too many times where I had to separate the head from the rest of the unit just to unhitch plus I was always cleaning and greasing the slide bars. Plus in my situation it wouldn't work for my needs.

Dan

This is my exact situation as well. My driveway is steep and I need to slide back to keep the underside of the 5th overhang from clipping the tailgate.

Also, I generally don't care for things that are "automatic" as it seems they are always "automatically" doing something I don't want them to do and can't stop it. Besides, manually sliding the hitch back is not exactly technical or physically demanding.

[Me_Again]

spud1957 wrote:

smithrhjr wrote:
spud1957 Pullrite and B&W do not have auto sliders for the 2020 chvey YET. They are working on it, but no timeline.

He does not have the hitch pucks as stated in his other closed thread.

And as I have said in both threads, that should be his first step to install them and have someone install them.

I installed the OEM ones in our 2015 RAM. The bed had to be raise one side at a time to drop them in the frame saddles. Took 4 hours including the 7 pin outlet in the bed, working by myself. With two people it would have gone much faster. Chris

[spud1957]

smithrhjr wrote:
spud1957 Pullrite and B&W do not have auto sliders for the 2020 chvey YET. They are working on it, but no timeline.

He does not have the hitch pucks as stated in his other closed thread.

[Ductape]

Pay me now or pay me later.

Body and glass repair mid trip is not fun.

[Me_Again]

As I said in the other thread. First install the pucks or have someone install them for you. Then get the puck mounted hitch of your choice.

[Hammerboy]

In general traffic I doubt you would ever need a slider with todays cut corner cap fifth wheels. Maybe when backing in a tight site but I try my best not to cut super sharp anyway because of the twisting and scrubbing it does to the fifth wheel tires. But every fifth/truck combo is different, as for me I have plenty of room.

I do however have a manual B&W slider and the only reason I have one is because I have a steep hill I have to back down to get to the barn and this provides a steeper angle without hitting the tailgate when backing down. Hope that made sense.

Had a Pullrite auto slider for about 5 years on a previous fifth wheel years ago and to be honest I didn't really care for it. I had too many times where I had to separate the head from the rest of the unit just to unhitch plus I was always cleaning and greasing the slide bars. Plus in my situation it wouldn't work for my needs.

Dan

[4x4ord]

I would never get a manual slider. I am happy with my B&W in my short box but if I was worried about hitting my back window I would go autoslide.

[Durb]

If you have the factory puck system, you may not need a slider. It appears GM may have addressed this issue when designing the new truck. They installed a longer bed plus they put the gooseneck ball 2" behind the axle centerline for additional cab clearance. I have observed this truck with a puck mounted B&W hitch and the owner had set it up so that the jaws were over the gooseneck mount. You may want to measure the ball to cab clearance and see how it jives with your trailer.

[smithrhjr]

spud1957 Pullrite and B&W do not have auto sliders for the 2020 chvey YET. They are working on it, but no timeline.

[C_B_]

16 worry free years on a 16K Pullrite Superglide.

Do it right the first time and enjoy the ride.:)


C.B.