troy t
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So we just got our new truck, a Ford F350 with the 6'9" box and 5th wheel hitch prep package. Our reason for upgrading trucks was to upgrade campers to a 5th wheel.
I've done some google searching and see a plethora of answers but my question on hitches is do I need to go to a sliding hitch or will a fixed hitch be fine? Still looking for the perfect camper but I'm searching for hitches so when we're ready to buy a camper we can go get it. It'll be a newer camper with the rounded corners if that helps.
Thanks!
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laknox
Arizona
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All depends on the FW and the turning radius of your truck. My '02 D'max would not hit my very square front Komfort going in either direction. Close, but not quite. My current KZ has more rounded corners, so I have more room. ALL will hit when backing up; a slider just gives you more room before you =do= hit. :-) That being said you probably won't need a slider, especially if you have 4wd, as that does affect your turning radius. There are so many stories of people that bought sliders, then never used them, that it pretty much proves my point. Which ever way you go, you can't go wrong with a B&W hitch of any flavor.
Lyle
* This post was
edited 04/19/23 08:58am by an administrator/moderator *
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CarnationSailor
Cathedral City, CA
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"ALL will hit when backing up..."
I have not heard that before. Please explain why that is true.
Thanks
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edited 04/19/23 08:59am by an administrator/moderator *
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Nv Guy
Reno NV
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The issue is if you are backing up an incline and turning. As the trailer goes up, the distance between the truck and 5th wheel gets tighter.
On flat ground I can go 90 degrees with no issue, add a slight grade or turning tight while going thru a driveway dip, and you get to buy a back window.
Luckily my incident happened at home, so it wasn't an issue to wait for a replacement window. If I had been traveling, it would have been a royal pain.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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If you are careful and don't make a mistake, you can make the shortbed work.
If you aren't careful or you make mistakes occasionally, don't be shocked if you wind up buying a new rear window for the truck.
We did it for a couple years and got away with it but I was always obsessing over it when backing up.
If buying new, unless you have some overriding concern, the long bed makes far more sense. (driving down the road or parking, the extra length is a non-issue).
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
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schlep1967
Harrisburg, PA
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Yes. Get an automatic sliding hitch. A neighbor didn't get a sliding hitch. When he backed the trailer up the hill into his driveway while turning he found out why he needed it. So instead of paying $2100 for a proper hitch, he paid $800 for the wrong hitch, $3100 for truck repair and $2100 for the proper hitch.
Spend the money up front. I have the Pullrite Superglide. It's my second one and if I got another short bed truck, I would buy a third one.
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MNRon
Tennessee
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We have a 2022 F350 short bed and a Superglide auto-slider hitch. Have pulled about 5-10k miles with it so far. Pulled with 80-90k miles with a 2013 Duramax 3500 short bed and a Superglide auto-slider. Love the Superglide.
Many times I’ve backed up in a tight spot, or backing uphill, etc and watched the hitch do its job without me worrying. I know that “if you’re careful” you can do without an auto-slider …but… I also have seen *many* dented 5ers or trucks, or punched out rear windows (just saw a taped up rear truck window pulling a 5er this last week). I would never recommend anything but an auto-slider with a short bed truck
Ron & Pat
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joelc
Cedar Point, NC
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I have a '06 with a 8 ft. bed and standard hitch. I can't answer your hitch question, but be sure your 5er is high enough so it won't hit the rails of the truck. My ford truck is high and the trailer needed the axles reversed so they would gain height and not hit the truck. You need aboue 4 - 6" between truck and trailer.
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troy t
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Thanks for all the advice everybody.
We are looking at a Grand Design this weekend that checks off all of our boxes, 35' long or less, king bed, large water tank. Then we'll have to get serious about a hitch.
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Cptnvideo
Arizona - most of the time
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FYI, Troy, we have the Solitude 378 MBS and very satisfied. We bought it new off a dealer lot just over a year ago and have have very few issues. So, we are very happy with Grand Design.
Can't help with the slider hitch - we have a Ram dually long bed.
Bill & Linda
Arizona
2019 Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 dually 4x4 diesel
Hensley Trailer Saver BD5 hitch
2022 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS
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