I currently have a 30 ft. travel trailer and am considering going to a 5th wheel. I have a short bed quad cab. Can anyone who pulls a fifth wheel with a short bed give me some advice? Are there issues with trailer/cab clearance or types of 5th wheel hitch that I should consider? Any problems with 5th wheel/short bed?

Thanks in advance

Go to rv.net/forum and do a search.

I pull a 30' Artic Fox 5th wheel with mine.Clearance with cab is pretty good just need to keep an eye on it when you are in a tight situation or go to a slider style hitch.I use the B & W under bed hitch with the attaching companion hitch.This way I can pull either goose neck or standard 5th wheel.Super clean install and when its not in use bed is clear.

jsmall221,

I pull a 37' class Keystone Raptor. Total length is 39'1". I have a CCSB truck. Make sure you get a sliding hitch. This will give you all the clearance you need in the tight spots. I can make greater than 90 degree turns if I take it slow. Check out my garage for a pick of my truck and trailer. We love our 5th wheel. I have had bumper trailers and now the 5th wheel. I will never pull a bumper trailer again. The 5th wheel pulls so much better than any bumper trailer I ever had. You will have no issues with pulling a 5th wheel with your short bed truck as long as you get a sliding hitch. Good luck.

I had Husky slider hitch installed by Uhaul, Mesa, AZ. I have not had to move the slider in any situation, but I keep a close eye on the clearance between the truck and 5er. The truck is a cc short box. Like already mentioned, I pulled several bumper pull trailers until I got my first 5er. I'll never go back. I'm on my 3rd 5er and love it. My 5er is a Montana 30' 5er. Good luck. Also check at www.goodsamclub.com (http://www.goodsamclub.com) forum.

I pull a 323 Jayco 5th wheel with my EC/SB. no problems so far, you just have to watch everything so you don't end up crunching anything. I would recomend a slider hitch, keep an eye out for others with short boxes and ask them what their set up is. I have to take my tailgate off when the slider hitch is all the way back, as there is not enough clearance back there. But I have only had to do that once in a tight situation, the other positions are fine. If you can afford it, buy a 4 point hitch.

I tow the same rig as AKMuddy.I would recommend the slider hitch also.You mite also consider air bags and a tailgate with a lower center section.

You may want to look at the PullRite SuperGlide (http://www.pullrite.com/superglide.htm). The 16K SuperGlide automatically slides back 14 inches while turning; the 24K SuperGlide slides back 18 inches. It is expensive, but it will save you from worries about hitting the cab with the trailer.

I personally like the B&W with the Companion fifth wheel hitch.


BTW, Only D*dge builds a Quad cab. The CC in your signature is the proper term.

I personally like the B&W with the Companion fifth wheel hitch.


BTW, Only D*dge builds a Quad cab. The CC in your signature is the proper term.


Thanks for the correction. I am a recovering Dodge owner, so I am used to the terminology. I have a crew cab now!!

I pull a 35' 5er with my shortbed truck...No problems, but learn your limitations...Right after picking up our new 5er, I went across to a parking lot and with my Wife watching I "Tried to hit" the cab..My wife stopped me when I got close and the truck and trailer were almost at a 45 degrees. To the best of my memory I have never gotten into a situation where I ever had to turn that sharp...Good luck and yes I do recommend a slider hitch...I ordered one, but the dumba** installer put in the wrong one and I didn't have the time to have it redone, plus more holes to worry about.

If you are going the 5th wheel route...check the pin weight vs the cargo capacity of your truck. As noted above, many 3/4s are over GVWR when loaded down with the pin weight, hitch weight, cargo, passengers, etc. If you want to determine the actual cargo capacity for a specific truck, look at the sticker that is located on the pillar between the front and rear doors on the driver's side. It's called "Tire and Loading Information." It has all the data on the OEM tires as well as a section that says "The combined weight of cargo and personnel should never exceed____pounds." That figure is the cargo capacity for that truck. From that figure, subtract anything you put in the truck such as a fifth wheel hitch, tool box, passengers, etc to determine the actual cargo capacity.

Also tow a 3712 raptor, is 8.5 ft. wide, have longbed truck and was in a very tight situation and broke the back window, trying to watch to many sides at once, as one person already said make sure you know how far you can turn. Slider hitch in a shortbed would be best.

As mentioned by others: Good idea to at least get a slider hitch. I have one and have not used the slide in over 4 years of towing with it - BUT there is always that one time when you could use it to get yourself into - or out of - a tough situation.

I'd also highly recommend that any hitch you get has a side to side rocker. It can be very frustrating and time consuming to find yourself wanting to hook or unhook in a spot where the trailer is on a different angle from your truck!

By the way, that side to side motion can also be a potential interference problem if you are turning real tight and carefully watching cab clearance and one of the wheels drops suddenly - OOPS!

As mentioned also, I agree the Superglide is the best overall solution - if money is not an issue.

One other final comment, as also previously mentioned: It is very easy to go over GVWR or rear GAWR with any 3/4 ton and even easier on the rear GAWR with a SB where the hitch is usually mounted directly above or only slightly in front of the rear axle.

I love the way my 4WD SB turns vs my old (94) 4WD LB. I use the truck primarily for towing a 5th wheel which weighs near 12k (actual weight). I am right on the edge with truck GVWR and sometimes keep extra fresh water in the trailer (tank is at the very rear) to help pin weight.

Check the sig.

As mentioned by others: Good idea to at least get a slider hitch. I have one and have not used the slide in over 4 years of towing with it - BUT there is always that one time when you could use it to get yourself into - or out of - a tough situation.

I'd also highly recommend that any hitch you get has a side to side rocker. It can be very frustrating and time consuming to find yourself wanting to hook or unhook in a spot where the trailer is on a different angle from your truck!

By the way, that side to side motion can also be a potential interference problem if you are turning real tight and carefully watching cab clearance and one of the wheels drops suddenly - OOPS!

As mentioned also, I agree the Superglide is the best overall solution - if money is not an issue.

One other final comment, as also previously mentioned: It is very easy to go over GVWR or rear GAWR with any 3/4 ton and even easier on the rear GAWR with a SB where the hitch is usually mounted directly above or only slightly in front of the rear axle.

I love the way my 4WD SB turns vs my old (94) 4WD LB. I use the truck primarily for towing a 5th wheel which weighs near 12k (actual weight). I am right on the edge with truck GVWR and sometimes keep extra fresh water in the trailer (tank is at the very rear) to help pin weight.

X2....take all others valuable advise as well.

I tow with a SB extracab and have a Reese 16k DUAL pivot slider, only used the slider once in three years (just to try it out)

Dual pivot is a must (trust me) as our first 5th wheel rental experience was a nightmare with a regular single pivot hitch in a very common unlevel state park. Unhitching was not the problem...it was getting hooked back up again.

Most accidents happen because the owner/driver was never aware of the potential damage situation....but with this info provided you will always be aware and carefull of these situations.

Happy camping !!

I have installed several of the pullrite hitches, they work great, the only problem is they are heavy to get out

I also have a slider in my extend cab sb. Would highly recommand it as well.
I have used several 5er from an RV dealership I used to work at. My plan in the future after I save enough to buy my rig is to leave the 5th hitch locked onto the camper, pull my pins and raise the hitch up off of my bed and leave it hang on the front of the camper. This way I am not breaking my back. Any other pros or cons to this idea?

I've used my slider once that I remember - just to check it out. . .

Recently left the hitch connected to the trailer, removed the pins holding the hitch in the bed. . . then jacked up the trailer and let the air out of the air-bags and drove off. Left the hitch connected to the trailer and stored it there.

If the trailer can support me in my bed and support the weight of my trailer when connected, it can surely support the hitch when left connected.

I have a 32 foot 5th wheel and had a pull rite hitch installed. It has worked perefectly, no trying to remember when it's raining, snowing, or whatever that I have to stop and slide hitch back, it just does it automatically. Also the trailer tracks better on turns. It was extra money, but one rear window blown out and you've paid for the extra cost without all the grief.

03 shortbox

Little Roundman

I have pulled a 5th wheel RV over 7years with a short bed truck. Have a slider hitch, have never needed it. I am not sure that it even slides any more. Haven't tried it in over 5 years.:rolleyes: But if I were to get a new hitch I would probley get a slider just to be sure.:think:

Check my sig, as you can see we have a 37' Montana. I also have a SuperGlide. I wouldn't buy the 5'er without it. And yes I did my research before I bought it. I also install hitches and like what has been said, short bed trucks have a definite learning curve. On my particular unit I would not be able to manuever the way I usually do without a slider. Even with the slider there have been a few times when the 5'er was really close to the window. The hitch is a pivot style also.

Here are a few shots just to give you an idea what it does...


http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/rescue1/244253.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:history.back();)
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90 degree turn, hitch is all the way back.


http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/rescue1/244252.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:history.back();)
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(Image has been resized. Click it for full size.)


close ups of hitch...


http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/rescue1/244255.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:history.back();)
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(Image has been resized. Click it for full size.)

forward in travel position (not turning)


http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/rescue1/244254.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:history.back();)
(Image has been resized. Click it for full size.)

(Image has been resized. Click it for full size.)

90 degree turn (all the way back)

I also tow a 39'+ Montana and have the Superglide made by PullRite. Love the hitch. I would suggest at least getting a manual sliding hitch if the Superglide is out of your budget. The additional cost of the sliding hitch will be much cheaper than the repair bill would be if you were to ever hit the truck and rv together.

Our 34' SB 28000# tongue weight .We camp about 18 times a year.Don' have the slider,but you just have to watch your self. Stay at state parks in Mi. Just takes me longer to park.

2800# pin weight.

When I towed the 5th wheel with my shortbed, I used the Hijacker 4 way pivot, 16K hitch with slider rails. I was about 300lbs over pin weight and GVW. The lashup always felt well controlled, but the back end dropped about 2 1/2 inches without airbags in back. Only problem was headlight alignment. Went to a dually longbed in anticipation of a large slide in truck camper. The driving experience in the dually is a bit different. Backing into camping spots is now a little tougher due to the additional length and parking 35' of 5th wheel and 23' of truck in the same spot can be a problem. In 17,000 miles of towing I only used the slider once ( well twice if you count the time I practiced in a parking lot ). But the one time I did need it, there was no other option. With a short bed, I would not have a fixed hitch, but would not spring for the pullrite auto slider.

I pull a 25.5ft without a slider can turn to 90 with no problem. If it were on unlevel ground it would probably be a different story. Hope that helps.

Well if you have not purchased yet I would suggest you look at the Fifth Airborne website and check out there sidewinder pinbox ..... it is what I am waiting for..... sliders on the pin box which makes for a lighter hitch to remove when not in use... My combo will be a Reese Signature series 18K hitch with 4 way pivot head and the Fifth Airborne sidewinder pin box ...

I have a sbcc with the B&W under bed hitch with a compionion 5th wheel attachment and have no problems at all. one you get a 5er you will not want a bumper pull again, almost like going from a gaser to a Dmax.