Anyone ever try to use a fifth wheeler in their shortbed? I was curious if clearance is a problem with them and do the hitches bolt to the bed bolts?

 

You need a sliding hitch for those time that you need to make tight turns, mainly while backing etc. It slides farther back, behind the axle so the camper will not hit the back of the cab.

 

What I have read on the forms here,a 5th wheel should be used on a long bed truck.I talked to a guy one time at wal-mart that had a dodge ext cab short bed and a 5th wheel on it and he wished that he had gotten a long bed truck for pulling his 5th wheel trailer.

 

I got a slider and never use it. It's alot easier backing with the slider in the forward position. My kingpin is lined up with my axle. A lot of folks reccomend mounting a little forward of the axle. Mine tows fine as is.

 

Yep, 2 horse gooseneck, works great. Previous owner had welded brackets to the frame and mounted a 5th wheel setup. I used the brackets and made a gooseneck plate and bolted it in. Total package with camping gear, hay, water, 2 horses (750lbs & 950lbs), 2 people = 12,200lbs on a CAT scale.

 

You do not always need a slider hitch, some fw have extended pin boxes or they are avail. Many times you can get away with one of them instead of the slider.

I have never seen a fw hitch that used the bed bolt location for mounting. You should mount the hitch where the directions say to (not where other people tell you to) If something breaks or malfunctions and someone gets killed, the hitch manufacturer will not stand behind the product it it is not installed properly.

Check out pull-rite superglide, fully automatic slider, pricey but nice!

 

Nothing personal to anyone, but I'm always amused to see anybody towing anykind of a gooseneck/fifthwheel trailer with a half ton. From my personal experience of growing up on a farm you shouldn't tow anything bigger than a 16' car hauler with a half ton pickup. Just my 2 cents.

 

Haha..I saw a DAKOTA pulling a fifth wheel like the Rick's the other day. Talk about scary. I haven't towed a fifth wheel before with a short bed, but have ridden in them (including 1/2 tons) and they did fine. If I needed to, I would pull a gooseneck trailer with my truck. However, I'd make sure that it would be no longer than about 20', and I'd be watching the weight also.

 

My fw is 21 footer and does have a kingpin extention. I lived near Silverton, CO for 3 years and pulled (slowly) over 12,000 ft passes about a dozen times. Rear sway bar and LT tires helped on the highway. This is with full tank of gas.

 

That, right there, is a perfect load!! Nothing overloaded, well under GVWR, GAWR front and rear.... Great info!

Wish everyone was as responsible (cough-cough-Chester-cough-ahem...).

-Joe

 

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4704 i use mine a lot, it has a slider

 

Hey nightranger,

When you get a chance, toss a pic of your slider on here.

Nice rig.

Love the fastback.

 

soon as i look up my pic's i'll post them
dirt cars my baby the fast back the wifes, she wanted a 67/69 camaro, i convinced her to change her mind..i'll have to take some more i cant find them..but i'll get that done asap