Problem Pulling a 5'ver With Short Bed Chevy?

[KYCAMPER]

I'm looking to purchase a new TV. Looks like I have settled on the Chevy/GMC and like the crew cab but most have the short bed. I have a TT now but may upgrade to a larger 5'ver in the future. Anyone know if the short bed creates a problem towing a 5'ver? My brother-in-law managed to put one through his back window towing with a Tundra so I'm wondering if this is a real problem or not.

[bcmorr]

I have towed a fifth wheel with a six foot four inch box for only two years and haven't hit yet. But this summer we went to a place we had never camped before, it was tight in there, but I managed to get in and out very carefully. I am looking at a slider hitch for next year for situations like that. My next pickup will have a long box, but this works fine for now.

[Quahog]

You just need a slider hitch for the short bed.

[jal0710]

We have towed our fifth-wheels since 2003 with short-bed crew cabs and have yet to attack the cab with the FW. However, we did put in a slider hitch in the 2002 GMC and did use it at times, especially when parking the FW in a tight place by our house. We now have a 2012 GMC crew-cab with the short-bed and have not deployed the slider, but still have it. I have a little bit more room to move the FW around so haven't had to jackknife it like the last house. Probably will come some time, but not yet. By the way, the slider is a Reese 15,000, 3,750 manual slider hitch.

[SouthCo]

As noted, at worst you would just need a slider hitch.

[RedHorse1]

I've got an apple/orange answer.....
We pull a '13 351 RLTS with our '13 F350 short bed (6.5'). Making a U-turn the cap touched the cab corner. Damage was $500-ish which was covered by insurance. If you are going w/ a short bed I'd think a sliding hitch. I have the Ford under-bed mounting and bought a B&W hitch. Love the hitch but doing it over I'd get a slider. Still using the B&W but not making full-lock turns. The 5th tries to turn inside or sharper than the TV when compared to a bumper-pull.
Using caution we've been good since our "incident", but I use caution when making sharp turns. 90 deg turns are ok but after that the bride is out as a spotter. It can be done but be careful!
You don't say which 5th or GM you are eyeing. So I'll add, make sure you match payload to the pin weight.
Post what you decide.

[UPCamper]

A short bed for a half ton (~5.5') and a 3/4 ton and up (~6.5') are two different animals. No problem with a short bed 3/4-1 ton. Just get a slider. A manual one will do, as you don't have to use it very often. This is my setup and I have no problems with it. As far as a 5.5' bed half ton, I've seen people do it but I don't think I would try it unless I had a specialized hitch like the Reese sidewinder. Even still you would have no other room in your bed. Doable but not ideal.

[RVhiker]

There are those who say that a fifth wheel with indentations on the corners of the front cap don't need a slider in a short bed truck and that they have never had a problem.

Some people like a manual slider hitches and it serves them well.

Here's for me: I would not tow a fifth wheel with a short bed truck without a Pullrite Superglide hitch. It works automatically, I do not have to think about it - other than to make sure it is properly lubricated.

When I am in a tight spot requiring a sharp turn, there are lots of things to watch out for. And not having two more to look out for - Is my trailer going to hit the truck? Do I have to deploy the manual slider on my hitch? - is helpful.

Driving a fifth wheel trailer is complicated, and an automatic slider hitch makes it just slightly less complicated.

Just my two cents, others have had good experiences handling the "slider or no slider" question differently.

[SouthCo]

Originally Posted by UPCamper

A short bed for a half ton (~5.5') and a 3/4 ton and up (~6.5') are two different animals. No problem with a short bed 3/4-1 ton. Just get a slider. A manual one will do, as you don't have to use it very often. This is my setup and I have no problems with it. As far as a 5.5' bed half ton, I've seen people do it but I don't think I would try it unless I had a specialized hitch like the Reese sidewinder. Even still you would have no other room in your bed. Doable but not ideal.

Good point with pointing 1/2 ton 5.5' bed and 3/4 ton 6.5' bed. I guess I assumed OP meant 3/4 ton as just I went back and reread post and it's not indicated. So I assumed 3/4 ton when I said slider needed at worst. I wouldn't tow a 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton of any bed length but that doesn't mean you can't.

[carey965]

I towed one with my 5.5ft box f150 for the last summer and it pulled great. I bought a Reese sidewinder and a Reese pro series 15000 lbs slider hitch and there was no situation that combo couldn't handle. Most of the time i wouldn't even have to use the slider. I could put it at 90 degrees without the slider on relatively flat ground. Normally i would slide it back when parking just incase but generally wasn't needed. The plus side with that combo was i was under 2000 for the combo with the bed rails installed (i installed the sidewinder myself)

[rbintheup]

I have the Reese Revolution on my 5th wheel and I pull it with a 1/2 ton Ram 1500. It works great it turns under the trailer not in the box.

[CDavid]

The owners manual for my 1500 Chevy Crew Cab with 5.75 ft. bed specifically says it's not designed for a 5th wheel trailer.

[carey965]

they say that so when you smash out your back window they dont have to pay for it

im sure it will be able to handle

[PKEagle]

I have a Toyota Tundra CrewMax with super short bed (5.5ft bed). I use the massive Pullrite SuperGlide Hitch with Super Rails- 12k Slider.

You should see the amount of confidence I display while maneuvering those extremely tight spots at the campground while other campers are staring at me with awe.

[Gunnar]

I have pulled 3 different 5th wheels over a number of years. A couple of my hitches were non sliders. I never had a problem but was and am still always aware of where the 5th wheel is to the corner of my cab. I have another slider but have never had to move it.

[reedga1990]

Originally Posted by PKEagle

I have a Toyota Tundra CrewMax with super short bed (5.5ft bed). I use the massive Pullrite SuperGlide Hitch with Super Rails- 12k Slider.

You should see the amount of confidence I display while maneuvering those extremely tight spots at the campground while other campers are staring at me with awe.

Nice reply and photos. Cover the subject very well.
G

[namusmc65]

I have the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Reese slider hitch. Have camped in a lot of places the last year now and have never had to use the slider yet. The extra foot on the 3/4 ton versus 1/2 ton makes all the difference in the world. I do keep an eye on the corners while backing. Just take it slow and easy.

[Seann45]

Get the auto slider hitch otherwise you will take out that back window at some point..

[poohbear]

I have only towed a 5er with a 8ft bed(a real pickup) so just thinking.i have an "extended pin box" on mine that is supposed to eliminate the need for a slider on the 6.5 boxes with the newer style front rv's . Read lots of posts on several forums of short bed owners saying this.

[RVhiker]

Towing a fifth wheel with a 6.5 foot bed and an extended pin will work, most of the time.