5th wheels and Goose Necks with a short bed?

[Grinder1]

OK gents, need some input on how well GN and 5ers get along with a shortbed. I've been told that the main thing to watch out for is not to jack knife to tight (there goes the cab quarter panel). Other than that is it no big deal using a SB to haul those rigs?

 

[ramlover14]

Hitch

Pull a 35 ft. 5th wheel, installed a Pull Rite super slider hitch in it. These go for 2k plus, found on craigslist for $650. 00 or about the same for a new one that does not slide, Love IT !! It automatticly slides up to 14" back for peace of mind. P. S. My brother damage his truck cab and camper by turning and forgetting to release is manual slide to the tune of $2100. 00 truck and camper. He drives a FURD, so no harm no foul.

 

[HBarlow]

Those who already own sb trucks then late buy and tow fifth wheel or gooseneck trailers claim their trucks are okay but if you are going to buy a truck buy one with a real bed and avoid the hassles.

LB trucks with 8' beds handle the load better and you won't need expensive bandaid hitches and won't risk striking the cab when backing and turning.

 

[Hoefler]

Also, the hitches are installed behind center of axle to allow more clearance for tight maneuvers. This causes a light front axle condition and can/will overload the rear axle. Like Harvey said, buy the long bed and save your money on the bandaid fixes.

 

[Scooby]

It all depends what your needs are. I've owned two long beds. I now have a Megacab because until recently Dodge couldn't get the whole cab-size thing right - and I have two young children in (large) carseats. Many 5th wheel owners only tow a few times per year and need to otherwise keep their truck in their garage. Most newer homes in suburbia have +/- 20 foot deep garages where a long bed extended cab won't fit. Since I have the length of a QC longbed, I can't fit in my garage - but I need the extra room in the cab. The solution for many of those who don't make a living with their trucks is a short bed.



I went with a Pullrite Superglide hitch as well and really like it. You can buy them online and install yourself for less money than mentioned above. It works. Most GN trailers do not seem to require a slider since their front caps seem to be smaller and often angled back (not sure if that's clear or not).



If you were buying a new truck right now and used it to make a living pulling trailers - then get a long bed or a flatbed like what Harvey has. If you aren't looking to replace a shortbed or simply don't want a long bed, don't feel ashamed! SB's will do the job fine when properly equiped.

 

[MChildress]

B&W also makes a GN offset that moves the ball back for the short box trucks. I know a couple folks that have got their 5er's into the corner of their cabs. The short box is the only thing that stopped me from getting a mega cab. Not only the trailer backing but need more than 4 ft of bed space with my toolbox. I have to have to have an 8 ft bed and never ride in the back seat anyhow.

 

[JoeLeonard]

I can also enthusiastically endorse the Pull-Rite Super Glide 24K hitch. We purchased one based on my neighbor's favorable experience with the hitch in his short bed Chevrolet. We pull a #9500 Toyhauler and the pin is approximately 1 inch behind the rear axle centerline when we are pulling straight. The hitch moves the pin 18 inches back AUTOMATICALLY when we turn. That is a huge plus for me, because forgetting to release the slide feature (which you have to do on some other hitches) and letting the cab and trailer collide will cost a lot more than the automatic hitch.

 

[Wingate]

Have no clue about the 5th wheels. . but I have NO issues with using my B&W GN hitch in my SB truck...

Maybe its the trailers that I use. . ??? I pull a 38+5' GN flatbed to haul hay and a 24' stock trailer when hauling horses and cattle. .

My GN hitch is IN FRONT of the rear axle... maybe the 5th wheels arent?? I had a 5th wheel in my last truck that was also a SB, I thought it was over the axle??? Maybe it wasnt!

 

[mhsmith57]

I have a Reese 18K manual slider hitch for my 29ft 15 Klbs(max) Excel 5er. Yes I have to get out and pull the pin, set brakes, repin, and off we go. It's all about being smart when you tow. I can get into some tight spaces with my short bed quad cab. Since I only tow maybe 30% of the time with the truck, the short bed works great, easy to park, takes up less parking space, and looks better. I looked at the power sliders but they were a little more $$ than I wanted to spend. Good luck in your choice.

Mark

 

[Wertles]

I also have a Mega Cab (4 kids and 2 car seats) and therefore the short bed. In 2006, the quad cab back seat just couldn't cut it although I wanted a long bed. It will do the job. I have the same Reese manual slider which requires me to get out of the truck to move backwards and forwards. The Super Glide is awesome but more money and a bear to get in and out of the bed from what I have heard. One thing to consider is the 5th wheel itself. The older and heavier 5th wheels have a flat front end and had their pins directly underneath the front of the trailer and will hit your cab much sooner than the newer 5th wheels that have an extended pin box and tapered front ends. Just google Mobile Suite trailers and you can see what I mean. I can't say that I have ever seen a slider for a GN. It might not be a big deal as many GN have tapered front ends unless you are looking at a car hauler GN.

If you are in the market for a new truck and plan on towing a lot, I would personally go with a long bed. It just gives you one less thing to worry about and gives you some space in the bed once loaded for those nice little extra things. If you already have the short bed and love your truck that fits into the garage and parking spot in Wal-Mart, you can certainly outfit your truck to do the job nicely. Short answer is yes, you can tow JUST about anything in a short bed that a long bed can. It just takes more vigilance. That being said, my next truck will be a long bed crew cab. Thanks Dodge for finally figuring out a back seat. I

 

[Dieselnerd]

I was thinking of replacing my '05 with a new truck this Spring. I found that the longbed would not fit in my garage by about 8 inches. My '05 just fits.



I do tow a 5th wheel and my trailer has the extended pin that can be towed by a shortbed. The shortbed will fit in my garage just fine.



Here are the problems: The shortbed has a much smaller fuel tank so when I tow to AZ every winter I would have to stop more often. I have a small pickup camper that I use in the summer when I tow my boat or motorcycle. The camper needs a longbed.



I could leave the new truck outside but we get a lot of hail in the early summer season and we don't go to AZ until December so the truck would be outside buried in the snow when it's time to leave.



I don't understand why they have to keep making these trucks bigger every year. I can just barely make a U turn now.



I guess I'll just keep my '05 and rebuild it when needed.

 

[HBarlow]

I was thinking of replacing my '05 with a new truck this Spring. I found that the longbed would not fit in my garage by about 8 inches. My '05 just fits.

... ..... <SNIP ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... >snip ... ... ... ... ... ...

I could leave the new truck outside but we get a lot of hail in the early summer season and we don't go to AZ until December so the truck would be outside buried in the snow when it's time to leave.

... ... ... ... ... ... .

When I lived in Lubbock with a typical two car garage my duallies wouldn't fit either. I had a 20' by 20' steel carport built in front of and almost touching the front wall of the garage. The truck was parked under the carport to protect it from hot sun, rain, snow, or hail. Now that I live out in the country I have a large steel barn where the truck and my fifthwheel are parked inside.

 

[Wertles]

A lower cost option which I used for a year was one of those portable garages from harbor freight or tractor supply company. For about 200 dollars, you can set it up and have some protection from the elements. I would suggest that if you go that route, drill and screw all the poles together so they don't come apart in the wind.

 

[Scooby]

I feel your pain as I have to leave my megacab parked outside and we live on a golf course. It has been hit a number of times and even had the sunroof broken - which was immediately followed by three days of torrential rain! I got in the truck several days later (not knowing the sunroof was in a million pieces) and noticed water in the cup holder, on the floor mats... and as I panned up, I saw water dripping from the overhead computer, the DVD player, etc... . It was a bad day... . and it keeps me from plunking down over $50K for a new one... . because I fear the golfers are getting worse.



Eventually I'd like to move to some larger property where I can set up "the barn"... . a space big enough to park my 5th wheel, a decent shop and a few cars..... heck, put a urinal and a hot plate in there and I won't even need the house!

 

[Jim W]

I was thinking of replacing my '05 with a new truck this Spring. I found that the longbed would not fit in my garage by about 8 inches. My '05 just fits.



I do tow a 5th wheel and my trailer has the extended pin that can be towed by a shortbed. The shortbed will fit in my garage just fine.



Here are the problems: The shortbed has a much smaller fuel tank so when I tow to AZ every winter I would have to stop more often. I have a small pickup camper that I use in the summer when I tow my boat or motorcycle. The camper needs a longbed.



I could leave the new truck outside but we get a lot of hail in the early summer season and we don't go to AZ until December so the truck would be outside buried in the snow when it's time to leave.



I don't understand why they have to keep making these trucks bigger every year. I can just barely make a U turn now.



I guess I'll just keep my '05 and rebuild it when needed.

One gallon is going to make that much of a difference? Per Dodge's build specs all 2500-3500 HD pick-up trucks, the long bed has a 35 gallon fuel tank and the short bed has a 34 gallon fuel tank.

See attached link. http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2008/docs/dr/fc.pdf



By the way my "MEGA Cab" fits in my attached garage with room to spare. It is no longer then a "58" Cadillac or "57" Chrysler.

What I have found on the newer homes built from the mid-90's and on. Is that must home designers and builders are building the garages for the smaller over all length cars now. When my house was built in 96, I reviewed the house plans and required the builder to have a 26 foot long garage. Most of his plans showed a 20 or 21 foot long garage and I know this was to short for my needs.

Jim W.

 

[AWeiman]

Have no clue about the 5th wheels. . but I have NO issues with using my B&W GN hitch in my SB truck...

Maybe its the trailers that I use. . ??? I pull a 38+5' GN flatbed to haul hay and a 24' stock trailer when hauling horses and cattle. .

My GN hitch is IN FRONT of the rear axle... maybe the 5th wheels arent?? I had a 5th wheel in my last truck that was also a SB, I thought it was over the axle??? Maybe it wasnt!

i agree never had any problems either, pull a stock trailer and a flatbed too. the hitch is in front of the axle. i've got a b&w gooseneck extender as well and even with that the ball is directly over the axle. if you dont need the bed to haul stuff, why haul around the extra 2ft of sheet metal. :-laf

 

[Dieselnerd]

One gallon is going to make that much of a difference? Per Dodge's build specs all 2500-3500 HD pick-up trucks, the long bed has a 35 gallon fuel tank and the short bed has a 34 gallon fuel tank.

See attached link. http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2008/docs/dr/fc.pdf



By the way my "MEGA Cab" fits in my attached garage with room to spare. It is no longer then a "58" Cadillac or "57" Chrysler.

What I have found on the newer homes built from the mid-90's and on. Is that must home designers and builders are building the garages for the smaller over all length cars now. When my house was built in 96, I reviewed the house plans and required the builder to have a 26 foot long garage. Most of his plans showed a 20 or 21 foot long garage and I know this was to short for my needs.

Jim W.

When I used the Dodge site to build a truck, it showed the 2011 short bed as having a 26 gallon tank. If it was 34 gallons, I agree, no problem.

 

[Jim W]

When I used the Dodge site to build a truck, it showed the 2011 short bed as having a 26 gallon tank. If it was 34 gallons, I agree, no problem.

That could be a 1500 Style of truck or one with a gas engine with a short bed. I know ny 2001 Chevy was that way.

I checked the 2011 Dodge Body Builders . Com Web site and they show a 34/35 gallon fuel tank for the 2500HD and 3500HD trucks. See attached link.

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2011/docs/ram/ramts.pdf

Jim W.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I used the Dodge site to build a pickup truck. I specified diesel, 3500, 4x4 short bed and it came out in the specs with a 26 gallon tank.



If a 34 gallon tank is available my problem is solved. I'm going to check with my dealer too, they usualy have a short bed 4x4 diesel on the lot and I'll check the window sheet.



Are you sure the 34 gallon isn't for a 2 wheel drive only? I have to have a 4x4 here in snow country.

 

[TMax]

Even in a SB 3/4 ton, the 5th wheel hitch can be installed OVER the axle and not behind. If your hitch is behind the axle... need to reinstal it right away. My 20k slider works great and does not weigh a ton. On the occasion that I have to manuver very tightly, then I get out and pull the lever to slide the hitch back but you never drive that way!