fifth wheeling with short bed

[jryan11518]

I have never 5th wheeled, only trailer. What are the pros and cons of short bed vs. long bed for fifth wheeling.

 

[Wolfgang]

I have towed with both and currently have a short bed. From the stand point of towing the only difference I noticed was the trailer can be to close to the cab of the truck. I bought a sliding hitch that alleviates this problem. Because of other factors such as use with out the 5th wheel next time (20 years from now) I will go back to a long bed. What I do like about the short bed is the ease of getting around in traffic when solo

 

[klenger]

I've had both. The short bed works, but you should get a slider hitch. I have the LB now, and never have to worry about hitting. I've been moving stuff a lot lately, and the LB sure holds a lot more. I also have an in-box tool box, and with the SB, there was no bed left with the hitch and tool box installed. Driving around town with the LB is not big deal, as long as you don't want to make a U turn. The LB won't fit in a lot of garages where the SB will. All in all, I like the LB better.

 

[otis]

I agree, although my trailer would never hit my cab it was too close when making tight turns, it was uncomfortable. The slider hitch would be the way to go with a short box. I have a long box now and do alot of city driving and find that the S/B was a little easier in tight parking lots etc. . But I feel the L/B is much more useful for everything else, I will never change back.

 

[FAllen]

5er Shortbed

I tow mine (see photo link below "My 2500") with a standard hitch with no slider and no problem at all. Have had the cab 90 degrees to the front of the 5er and still had a couple of inches left.



Very important to make sure hitch installer has measured correctly. Friend of mine with same truck had a muffler shop install his hitch and when we compared and measured his hitch was installed 6 inches closer to the back of the cab than mine. Needless to say he crunched the back of his cab with his set up.



Mine was installed at a shop than does a lot of dealer hitch installs.



Fred

 

[Wolfgang]

There is a difference in trailers. My trailer before my current one could be turned inside the cab but the new can not. I would not use a SB truck with out a slider. You don't want to buy a hitch you can't use

 

[jryan11518]

Thanks everyone for the advise.



I wanted the SB it looks better.

Think I will go with LB it sounds like a lot less hastle and worry.

Much more functional for a forgetful guy like me.

Besides I always have to much junk. If I may need it, I want it in the truck. I had forgotten about the Quad. , nice to close gate.

 

[ldillon]

Johnryan,

You want to take into account the distance from the 5er pin and the front of the 5er. Some are of different lengths. I pulled a 5er with a short box and long. Prefer the long. Now pull TT, but that's another story... Lee

 

[RATTLINRAM]

Another Short-Bed Fan

I tow my rig and do not have a slider hitch. I don't have any problems when moving forward, I can make turns lock to lock and no worries of hitting the cab. It may hit if I jack-knifed it hard enough backing up,,,,,, but I've never had the truck that crossed up before. IMO, if I will have to jack-knife the truck that bad,,,, I don't need to be there. I think it puts too much strain on not only the hitch, but it surely can't do the 5er tires and suspension any good. This is just my way of thinking.

My Dad pulls a Cougar almost identical to ours with his LB standard cab because he likes the 8' bed and didn't need the extra cab room. Two each his own I guess!

#ad

 

[Steve M]

We traded our '98 club cab SB for our quad cab long bed so we could stop worrying about cab contact. When we go see my parents or my wife's parents we have to make a u-turn at the end of a long no outlet drive between the trees that requires a sharp turn and a back into a sharp as I can jacknife my rig to clear the trees and get turned around. We used to back up the long drive with the SB so we could pull out. A slider would have worked but I didn't want to have to get out in the pouring rain to fiddle with moving my hitch around. That and I got to buy a new truck!

The con is, boy is it long in a parking lot. No more slipping into a parking space. It's easier to back in but then I can't see the little car behind me as I back over it's hood. And no more quick u-turns on the four lane roads. It makes WIDE turns.