Fifth Wheel Use on Short Bed

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What experiences have you had using fifth wheel trailers on SB RAMs? Has anyone used the SuperGlide (moves fore and aft automatically with turns) hitch from PullRite? Does it Work well, and how easy was the installation on your truck? Should the fifth wheel hitch be installed before or after a liner like the spray-in Rhino? Thanks for your experiences!

 

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Ron,the Superglide is supposed to be a high quality item. Its rated for 20000lbs and a 5000lb hitch weight. Trailerlife magazine did a small article on this hitch a few months ago. Its the only hitch that automatically rotates away from the cab without having to get out and release the hitch. As you probably know they arent cheap. As far as the liner,I have seen where the mounting brackets were installed and then sprayed around as being the most popular method. Id ask the liner company what they feel is best. Mounting the brackets first will give you a more solid base I my opinion. As far as a SWB pulling a fifth wheel,I feel they should do just as well as a LWB. I have a SWB4x4 pulling a 25ft trailer(28ft with the tongue). This trailer is just as long as some 5th wheels. The addtional length of a 5th wheel is over the axles which would give better stability.

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1999 2500 Cummins w/4spd auto,Quad Cab,SWB,4x4,Flame red ,all options less leather and radio controls on steering wheel,OEM color matched runningboards,DeeZee bedrails painted black,Power Vision Mirrors,OEM ventshades,Oem sill covers,OEM underrail bedliner

 

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When it come to opinions ... . we all have one
so here is mine. I had the holes for the 5er hitch drilled and then did the sprayed in bed thinking that the bedliner spray would cover the bare metal edges (ask to have it done) where the holes were drilled. The hitch was installed on top. So far so good w/ 13000 lb trailer. ya got my 0. 02



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Bear
98 2500 4x4 QC 5sp 4. 10 visor,moulded boards/flairs,roll top cover, gauges, TST kit

 

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I read somewhere that a fifth wheel isn't recommended with the short bed. Of course that was after I bought my SWB. I'm going to have to start calling around I guess no one here knows for sure either. I'll keep you posted on my search for info, hope you do the same. Mark

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2000, 2500, 24V, 5spd, 4X4, SWB, Driftwood, Leather, Fog Lights, Rear Anti Spin, Camp Spl, Trailer Tow, HD Transfer, No Res or Muff

 

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msb675,

The reason the short wheelbase trucks are not reccomended for a 5th wheel trailer is the hitch to back of cab clearance is too small when the hitch is mounted over the axle as it should be. When you make a short turn, the front of the trailer will hit the back of your cab. I have seen more than one truck with the back glass broken out and the cab damaged when this happens.

Reese and Pullrite make hitches to offset this problem. Also many of the 5er manufacturers have recognized that people are pulling with SWB trucks and have started offering extended hitches especially for the SWB trucks.

You can have a conventional hitch mounted in your truck to the rear of the rear axle but that defeats the reason to have a 5er in the first place. Don't be temped to do that because you put a lot of weight on the rear of the truck and at the same time you change the handling of the trailer(the tail is wagging the dog).

The easiest thing to do is shop for a 5er with an extended hitch for a SWB truck. At the same time you can purchase one modified at the factory especially for the 4x4 truck.

Bill

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97 3500CC,Auto,4. 10LSD,All Options incl Leather,Pyro,Boost,Trans. Temp Gauges, PacBrake, 3 pos TC Lockup Switch, RPM 40Gal. Aux. Fuel Tank, Reese 20K Hitch, Highway Products Tool Box, 80% Towing 12,100lb. HitchhikerII 5'er. 2000 3500QC 6 Speed,4. 10LSD,SLT+ on Order since 9-23-99,"D-1" Order Status, St. Louis Plant, Ship Date: 11-30-99

 

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Ron
I pull a 32' Cardinal triple slide with my long wheel base truck, but the trailer has an extended hitch so it could be pulled by a short box truck.
First 5er I had a chevy gas short box and the dealer installed a hitch with extender rails. When you got in close quarters you were suposed to stop, jack up the trailer, and move the hitch on the rails back to the rear slots (10" rearward). Then you could turn sharp without hitting the cab. WHAT A HASSLE!
Pullrite auto hitch does the same thing (automatically). Cost about $2500
Good luck

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97 2500,4X4,auto,3. 54,Jacobs RamBrake,BD torque lock,Horton fan

 

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The glide hitches are a work-around but are a pain since if you need to manuever refueling or while traveling you have to get in and out to set the hitch travel. If you forget; then crunch.

The other option is an extended hitch (longer neck) on 5er. That's probably the way to go BUT ask specific questions about the trailer you buy (if you don't already have it) as the longer neck cannot be used over certain hitch weights and over certain trailer weights.

I had a SWB for about three months... then went back to a LWB Duallie (for more reasons than just the bed length -- but the LWB duallie pulls the 5er a lot better -- more stable).



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Big MAK
98. 5 ISB 5spd 4x4 Quad Cab 3500, 4" Exhaust elbow down, PowerMax1, dang near everything else
https://www.turbodieseltrucks.com

 

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Hey guy's, thanks for all the information, saved me alot of time and money making long distance phone calls. Now that I know what to look for and ask about I'm going shopping for truck stuff. I can't think of a better way to spend the week-end. Thanks, Mark

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2000, 2500, 24V, 5spd, 4X4, SWB, Driftwood, Leather, Fog Lights, Rear Anti Spin, Camp Spl, Trailer Tow, HD Transfer, No Res or Muff

 

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I pull a 34' 5'ver with my SWB all the time!
I opted for a gooseneck hitch vs. the rocking 5th wheel.
This way I have nothing in the bed of my truck when not in use (Hide-a-ball)
I also extended the tongue of the trailer about 1. 5' so it would miss the cab.
(built it myself)

SWB trucks look better, and most of all... A LWB won't fit in my garage!!




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MorepowerthanU

 

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Greg,
Did you say you have a gooseneck to 5th wheel adapter of some sort? I have a GN ball in the bed of my truck. Is there some easy/inexpensve way to adapt to pull a 5th wheel? Thanks.

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99 3500 QC 4X4 5sp 3. 54 K&N air filter, high hp injectors

 

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Nothing against SWB. I was lured into getting one due to the fact that I work downtown and parking the LWB duallie can be a real adventure. Most city parking lots have lanes too narrow to turn in.

Now I have a reserved lot, basement parking with 8'2" clearance (!), and a plug in on the pole in front of me to keep the baby warm in the winter #ad
$50 per month!

But 8 blocks from the office. #ad
It'll be a really cold walk this winter.

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Big MAK
98. 5 ISB 5spd 4x4 Quad Cab 3500, 4" Exhaust elbow down, PowerMax1, dang near everything else
https://www.turbodieseltrucks.com

 

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I tow a 29ft 5th wheel with a factory extended pin box. I don't have any problems unless I make a very sharp turn (jacknife) and then the trailer could hit the cab. I've been able to get buy without moving the hitch in about 95% of my parking. If I have to make a real tight turn while trying to get into a tight spot, I simply pull the pins that allow the hitch to slide, apply the trailer brakes while I carefully pull ahead. The spring loaded pins in the hitch pop into the next holes on the hitch rails and I have another 6 inches of clearance. After I have finished the move I reverse the procedure with the hitch pins. It sounds like a hassle but after practicing a few times it only takes a few seconds to do. If the co-pilot is tall enough to reach the pins, it's even easier.

 

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ninearrow Reese makes a goose neck mount that mounts to there 5th wheel rails you need the rails tho That's what I have.

 

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ninearrow , not sure if this answers your question, but; A 5th wheel trailer can be changed to a gooseneck trailer, unbolt the fifth wheel plate and bolt in the gooseneck. Most trailer manufacturers sell both.

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99QC,5sp,3. 54,stock,24,500 miles-11-25-99--EX phord owner
15-16. 5 MPG hwy ,14-15 city , 10-12 with 4,000lb TT