In the past few months I have been reading lot of info about the 5th wheel hitch for my new short bed truck. I think I like the 18K signature series 5th wheel. I have reviewed a copy of instruction and apparently it is not that hard to install rails under the bed. So I am going to ask if you have experience doing that yourself? Yes I am aware the 5th wheel camper will hit the side of the crew cab. I plan to replace the 5th wheel pin box. I plan to install 5th airborne with sidewinder. So that should taken care of it. Thanks

Your statement installing rails under the bed is confusing. I don't see how you could hook up your hitch with the rails under the bed. Here is a link to a rail install on Classic body trucks that might help a little:
http://www.etrailer.com/tv-fifth_wheel_install_chevy_2500hd_2006.aspx

I've got the 18k signature series slider and it works great. I've got a short bed as well and so far haven't had to use the slider.

The install while time consuming (I did it alone on a Sat and I think it took me about 4-5hrs) was fairly simple, just take your time follow the directions and make sure you have all the tools you need before you get started. Only snag I ran into was the heatshield that you have to remove to do the install, the bolts were rusted on... So I just pulled out the plasma cutter... :)

Great system and the rails under the bed is a great feature if you use the back of your truck for hauling, etc...

X2 what BigMoose says. I've had the 18K hitch (non-slider) setup for 3 years now with a long bed and sure like it. Absolutely no issues with the rails under the bed, plus I can have an open bed in about 3 minutes. (2 minutes is for me huffin and puffin to lift the hitch out.)

I know what you mean on the huffin an puffin... :)

The signature series and sidewinder are not compatable. you need the in bed rails for the sidewinder (unless I misread somthing).

The signature series and sidewinder are not compatable. you need the in bed rails for the sidewinder (unless I misread somthing).

Are you sure signature series 18K 5th wheel hitch are not compatible with 5th airborne swinder? I am going to contact airborne to make sure before I buy the combo package. Funny I checked airborne web page and they have (I think three) wedges made such as for Holland, Reese and universal. Please do let me know if this info you said is correct. Thank you!

The signature series and sidewinder are not compatable. you need the in bed rails for the sidewinder (unless I misread somthing).

My vote is you misread something. It works fine with the Reese Signature series, but if you are using the hitch in a shortbed, you will need what they call a wedge to make sure the trailer doesn't hit the cab. Look here: http://www.etrailer.com/p-ST100-5AS02.htm

Ouch $1500 for that hitch? Try this if you can. Look under your 5'er and see if they have shock mounts. The shackles always have them but often the frames do not. Mine did and I put them on for ohh maybe $150. Monroe also has kits to add them.

Those fancy hitches work great for "isolating" the truck from the trailer but if you ask me they are the biggest and most expensive "band-aid" I have ever seen. Shocks on the trailer will improve the ride of the trailer. Those hitches just isolate the bumps that are transferred from the trailer to the truck and vice-versa. Nothing more. Spend away if you please but realize what your really spending on.

Not trying to rain on your parade but just educate you some. Those hitches will reduce the chucking as they say but ask yourself where does some of the chucking come from?

Not trying to rain on your parade, but that's a pin box, not a hitch. The hitch is the part that mounts in the bed.

Need to make sure we're all talking about the same thing!

Sorry, brainfart.. Was thinking of the automatic sliding hitches..
like this one..
http://www.hijacker.com/pages/fifthwheelhitches/24-AS-18.htm
The automatic hitches are not compatible with the signature series puck mounting system. The pinboxes are.

Sorry, brainfart.. Was thinking of the automatic sliding hitches..
like this one..
http://www.hijacker.com/pages/fifthwheelhitches/24-AS-18.htm
The automatic hitches are not compatible with the signature series puck mounting system. The pinboxes are.

Okay that explain --- I got an email from 5th airborne and said Reese signature series work well with 5th airborne sidewinder. :D