5th wheel hitch option for 6ft 9in bed

AZ Campers · 02-05-2013, 03:25 AM

We bought an f250 super duty crew cab to go alomg with a 5th wheel we are looking at. The 5th wheel is the jayco 30.5 RLS. It has a mor ryde pin. The dealer said we will need a sliding hitch. The bed of our truck is 6ft 9 in. Will this system work with my truck? How's it tow? We have never had a 5th wheel before so this is all new & I'm feeling like I'm learning a new language. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Josie
AZ Campers

krsmitty · 02-05-2013, 07:35 AM

Josie, I have a Ram 2500 with a short bed. I Tow a 31' Eagle 285. with a Valley 16k sliding hitch. On short beds the sliding hitch is recommended, but I have never had to use mine yet. There are 5er's out there that have the front end designed so that a slider supposedly is not needed. There are also hitches such as the Pull-Rite that automatically slides if needed.

Soooo....depending on you budget and 5er design. A slider may not be needed. Or, go ahead and get a slider. You may need it for your next 5er. The brand/type you get is where costs come in. I paid around $1200 for my Valley set up. Pull-Rite I understand goes for around $2500. You can always look for used.

Rob_Fla · 02-05-2013, 08:10 AM

I agree, we had a slider hitch when we had short bed trucks.
We pulled a Eagle and our current Pinnacle with the short bed truck and never used the slider portion of the hitch in 8 years of towing.
I sold the slider portion of the hitch on Craigslist when we bought our current 8 Ft Bed Truck.

AZ T&T · 02-05-2013, 08:50 AM

We are towing without a slider and have had no problems. If it would have been available at the time we bought are hitch I would have bought the B&W Companion slider hitch.

MikeNChelle · 02-05-2013, 09:07 AM

I had the exact truck you just bought and had the Reese 16K slider. I only towed with the truck twice and had to slide the hitch both times which was a total PITA that's why I now have the 2012 LB.
I too have the Moy Ryde and it tows like a sweet dream not a nightmare. I guess they always stick me in the tight places.

AZ Campers · 02-06-2013, 09:48 PM

The bed of my truck is actually 6ft 9 in which is not quite a real short bed of 5 ft. Now, I've had someone at the dealership tell me I don't need a sliding hitch. We are new to this & don't know which way to go!! We pick the trailer up march 12th. They were originally telling me that they could put a Reese sidewinder on it. What do everyone thinK? Suggestions?

2012 F250 6.7L power stroke crew can 4wd
2012 jayco super lite 30.5 RLS

krsmitty · 02-07-2013, 06:32 AM

IMHO...would go ahead and get the slider for "just in case".

MikeNChelle · 02-07-2013, 09:52 AM

No experience with the sidewinder. Sorry. I did the slider with me SB Ford, now I have the LB with the in bed hitch mount system. I adapted my Slider to work on the new truck because money may grow on trees, but my kids have plucked all the leaves off.

Panhead · 02-07-2013, 08:53 PM

We have an F250 with the same bed and cab. We do NOT have a sliding hitch as I wanted and now have the B&W companion hitch set up so that it is at the highest and rear most adjustment point. We have plenty of clearance and have not yet been is a situation where the cab and trailer get even close to hitting. IMHO with today's extended pin boxes and contoured front caps there is really not much need for sliding hitches. Remember, the sliding mechanism just adds one more place for movement between the truck and trailer, think chucking.

Hope this helps
Steve

taylorj · 02-08-2013, 09:07 AM

I pulled my 5th wheel with a Chevy 2500 S/B with a 6.5 in bed and never had an issue. If you had a 5 or 5.5 ft bed you would need a slider.They are trying to sell you a slider because of the difference in price.
Camper 10
2010 365 BHS
2005 Dodge 3500 DRW
290,000 miles and still kicking

taylorj · 02-08-2013, 09:10 AM

I pulled my 5th wheel with a Chevy 2500 S/B with a 6.5 in bed and never had an issue. If you had a 5 or 5.5 ft bed you would need a slider. They are trying to sell you a slider because of the difference in price.
Camper 10
2010 365 BHS
2005 Dodge 3500 DRW
290,000 miles and still kicking

lastone · 02-08-2013, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ Campers

The bed of my truck is actually 6ft 9 in which is not quite a real short bed of 5 ft. Now, I've had someone at the dealership tell me I don't need a sliding hitch. We are new to this & don't know which way to go!! We pick the trailer up march 12th. They were originally telling me that they could put a Reese sidewinder on it. What do everyone thinK? Suggestions?

2012 F250 6.7L power stroke crew can 4wd
2012 jayco super lite 30.5 RLS

Check with Jayco before you get the side winder installed. They build more reinforcement into the 5er for it. Our 31.5 rlts came with a Reese Revolution and it is great. Only suggestion is get a double jaw hitch not a bar type hitch.

Shorty Cox · 02-09-2013, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastone

Check with Jayco before you get the side winder installed. They build more reinforcement into the 5er for it. Our 31.5 rlts came with a Reese Revolution and it is great. Only suggestion is get a double jaw hitch not a bar type hitch.

Lastone, what is the advantage to the "double jaw" over the "bar type" hitch?

Shorty

SkiSmuggs · 02-12-2013, 05:42 PM

These Jaycos are built with what is called the Max Turn design which uses an extended pin box and cutaway front corners. They usually don't require a slider hitch at all. If concerned, get the Reese Revolution pinbox option instead.

CookieMonster · 02-18-2013, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZ Campers

We bought an f250 super duty crew cab to go alomg with a 5th wheel we are looking at. The 5th wheel is the jayco 30.5 RLS. It has a mor ryde pin. The dealer said we will need a sliding hitch. The bed of our truck is 6ft 9 in. Will this system work with my truck? How's it tow? We have never had a 5th wheel before so this is all new & I'm feeling like I'm learning a new language. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Josie
AZ Campers

We have a 2012 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab, 6.7L diesel... 81.8" box (the 6ft 9in you speak of)...pulling a 2012 31RLTS Jayco Pinnacle, using B/W companion hitch, not a slider. Not having an issue with turning, angle of approach, etc. Pulls, turns, just fine (did have to put air bags, air suspension on rear of truck... F250 rides nice without the load due to the soft rear springs... so, soft springs in back not all bad.. in that truck becomes your "go to the mall car for the wife" once you unhook. (Advantage of the air springs.. just deflate after pulling the 5th wheel... and have your "car" back!).

Good luck with the shopping.. lots of things to think about, work out... but worth it in the end.

RedHorse1 · 02-19-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CookieMonster

We have a 2012 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab, 6.7L diesel... 81.8" box (the 6ft 9in you speak of)...pulling a 2012 31RLTS Jayco Pinnacle, using B/W companion hitch, not a slider. Not having an issue with turning, angle of approach, etc. Pulls, turns, just fine (did have to put air bags, air suspension on rear of truck... F250 rides nice without the load due to the soft rear springs... so, soft springs in back not all bad.. in that truck becomes your "go to the mall car for the wife" once you unhook. (Advantage of the air springs.. just deflate after pulling the 5th wheel... and have your "car" back!).

Good luck with the shopping.. lots of things to think about, work out... but worth it in the end.

Cookie,
Whose airbags do you have?

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