5th wheel hitch?

[Northern Wis.]

I'll be picking up our 2014 HT 26.5 RLS 5th wheel in a few days. The dealer says a slider type hitch is not needed with this unit. Any real world experiences with this 5th wheel and a Ford F250 short box that say differently.
Thanks

[judgerr]

I have a 2000 /f-350 short box. Bought a new 2003 Designer and Dealer told me I didn't need a slider! I insisted on one though because of all the horror stories on the internet. After 10 plus years of towing I found due to the extended hitch pin on the Designer, I didn't need it! I now have a 2014 Eagle Premier and the newer trailers seem to be tapered to facilitate short beds. I found even with the Designer I could turn about 80 degrees w/o hitting anything.
Long story short I have the slider hitch and used it the first year, out of fear. But never used it since.
I doubt that you will need it!

[jal0710]

We now have a short-bed GMC crew-cab pickup and pull a 26.5 HT RLS and have yet to need to use the Reese slider that we have now had in three pickups. We did use it when we had our old, 1993, Jayco 215SD, but not on this one yet. I just moved the slider hitch from one pickup to another as we traded out just in case I needed it. So far, so good.

[Northern Wis.]

Thanks for the info.

[troutslayer]

I had a humongous SOB 5er before purchasing my Jayco HT26.5RKS (which I believe has the same outside dimensions as yours) so I have a slider hitch. I don't use the slider anymore...plenty of room to make the turn with the Jayco. I do have a GMC2500 CC though but doubt their is much difference from the 250.

[rsbwjohnson]

I have a 2012 shot bed f250 and had the same question. after talking with a bunch of people the results were about 50/50. I went with a b & w patriot hitch which does not slide. First trip I got into a place that if it was going to it hit it would have. the reason I got in this situation was because mine is 35' long. it spooked me pretty good and hope to not get in that sharp of a turn again.

[norty1]

Nothing any more frustrating than to have a cab crunch from not activating your slider. I have never been in that position but have seen it happen.

[taviking22]

With the extended pin box and the concave corners on the front cap of the 2 5Ws I have owned, I didn't get and haven't needed a slider hitch for my standard 6.5' pu box. However, that is just my experience.

[Flapper]

I was chicken - got the Reese Sidewinder built into the 26.5 RLS I picked up this spring. Wanted to make sure I didn't crunch with my 6.5 F-150. Being a total newbie at this, I can advise that I have gotten into situations a couple times already that I feel would have caused damage without that "slider-replacement-modification" So, while the cost and weight of a slider are not fun, absent a factory installed Revolution, I'd advise getting one.

[Twistzz]

Hi, have the same rig with a 2013 F250 6.5 bed and can almost jack knife the think with no problem. You don't need it and if you get into anything tighter, well your just looking for some body work. Love my rig and truck

[Twistzz]

thing, sorry...

[Shorty Cox]

I have to agree with Flapper. The Reese Revoution is the way to go regardless of the length of the tow vehicle bed. Nothing moves down inside the tow vehicle bed. Gives far more hauling capacity in the tow vehicle bed.

Shorty