Pulling a 5'r with a SWB

[Deezal Man]

Does anyone pull a 5th wheel RV with a 6' bed? To make a long story short... I LOVE my 6' bed, but intend to get a 5th wheel camper in the near future.

What's the good or bad? I know you need a slider hitch, but what about an extended pindle... (is that the right term?)

Additionally, I'm looking to replace my 98. 5 4x4 SWB with a 2001 or 2002 HO 4x4 SWB. So now would be the time to figure all this out.

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98. 5' 24v 2500 Auto/3. 54 4x4 SB QC 285-75-16's on Alcoa's. Everything but leather. PIAA 1200's, AMSOIL dual filter relocation system, Smittybuilt Stainless Steel Nerfs, Rhino Liner(Junk), K&N air filter(For Sale)15 year AMSOIL dealer. Time permitting, Soon to include Ultra-lite Pyro,0-50lbs boost, Trans temp in the pillar. Rancho 9000's with in cab adjustment.

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Best bet would be a sliding 5th wheel hitch, you will want to be able to "jack-knife" the trailer when parking it. Not to mention if you ever get in a tight spot, being able to make a sharp turn around. A SWB truck may be easer to park, but having an 8 foot box just can't be beat, better ride as well as much larger load cap. , that is one of the main reasons I converted a 2X4 to 4X4(Dodge never made a 4X4 Crew Cab with a 8 foot box) Otherwise a 5th wheel is the only way to tow #ad
. And of course I am still looking to build a garage big enough to park my truck,I think they call it a pole barn.

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1985 DODGE 1 ton Crew Cab(imported from California with no rust) W/8' box converted to 4X4 in 1999. Converted to a non-intercooled 1991 Cummins Turbo diesel & rebuilt 5 speed Getrag in 2001(wife can't drive a stick . Freshly rebuilt and Balanced Cummins, Rebuilt NP205, Rebuilt Injector pump and tweaked, Matched Injectors, 3" New Mandrel Bent Exhaust,no muffler, Borgeson Steering Shaft, K&N Air Filter, 4:10 gears, limited slip rear end, 16" Goodyear GSA Wranglers, 16K Reese 5th Wheel Hitch,and LE Package and a Sony CD Stereo. Next add-on some “Banks” toys ! If you want to know why I did all of this, 2 kids, one on the way and I can't stand F**d and Ch**y. Kyle Hoover ,Fruitport, MI.

 

[Guest00]

If you wanted a automobile ride you would not have purchased a 4x4
Love to take the sb off road and make the tight switch backs and also make the 3 lane U turns ( darn tourists ). Have Rancho 9000 shocks and leave the fronts on 3, rears: I set em soft (1) for chaufering the wife and set em super stiff for towing. I have a Reese 15K 4 way with slider ($650 installed at rv dealer). I have slid it several times just in case but never need it, better safe than sorry.
Yes you will need an extended pin on the trailer but most come that way now. The other thing to check is bed clearance. Some trailers sit too low to clear a 4x4 bed and the axels must be flipped on the trailer: Some trailers end up too high to be stable on the road.
I purchased my trailer to go off road and winter use. It is high enough to clear the bed and not need to have the axles flipped or have longer spring shackels and equalizer beams beams installed.
I have about 8,000 mi on my 5th in the last year and enjoy the heck out of it.
SB-4X4's rule

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2K, 2500, Quad, SB, 4x4, 3:54LSD, A/T, reese 15k 5th slider, EASLEY BULL BAR, WESTIN NERFS, TA's, 9000's, stealth DD2's, Bully Dog Boost & elbow, ISSPRO pyro, boost & transmission, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", DTT VB,TC,TC SAVER and AUX COOLER, PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, AFE filter onboard. Taylor Wing and Gear Vendors on order
pullee #1 26' Arctic Fox 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA-LIFE, VFW-LIFE, SoCSA-LIFE, SASS

 

[klenger]

Thanks for posting this question. I'll be watching this thread myself.

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Ken Lenger
On Order - 2001. 5 2500 QC 4X4 SWB SLT, ETC/DDX 5 Speed, 3. 55 (no antispin), camper group, trailer folding mirrors, RBR CD/Radio, LT265/75R16E AT OWL tires, trailer tow group, Patroit Blue / Agate,
Replaces 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 which is for sale.
Trailite 21' Travel Trailer, ~4000 lbs loaded.

 

[DWyatt]

Would someone explain what a slider is?? I've got the short bed with a Reese swivel hitch but I do not think I have a slider.

 

[Tagalong]

Darin, I believe a "slider" refers to what RBW Ind. hitch Co. calls a Universal hitch.
(Other hitch manufacturers make similar hitch assemblies for short beds. ) It allows the driver to pull a pin(s) where the 5er hitch rests on the bed rails that permits the hitch assemble to "slide" rearward about 9" for tight turns without hitting the cab.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Reese makes a "slider".

Flip lever - while stopped, engage brake on trailer and pull forward. Hitch will slide back 9". Only use while moving slow (according to Reese).

My son customized my SWB rear glass 1st time he backed my 5th wheel up. Ever heard a rear glass explode? Scared I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER out of him!I've been towing 5th wheel with SWB for 4 years and never, never broke out the rear glass or dented the cab (knock on wood!). For $100 insurance deductible, I got a rear sliding glass.

I'm saving my $$ for a slider. Looked at one at my RV dealer Saturday. About $700 for the complete deal if you don't already have a Reese hitch and rails. About $400 if you have Reese hitch and rails.

 

[JohnB]

I pull a 27' 5th wheel with a short bed 4x2. The truck handles the 9000# trailer easily. A long bed may ride a little better, I don't know, but I'm not unhappy with the ride with the short bed. As for the hitch, I have a Reese slider but have never had to slide it yet, although it's peace of mind to be able to jacknife the rig 90 degrees if needed. You must use an extended pin box on your trailer in order to have clearance for normal manuvering without sliding the hitch. The long bed truck does have more cargo space but I wouldn't sell a good short bed just for that. I like the short bed for around town and I didn't care for the looks of a 2wd long bed. JMO

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01 2500,SB, Club Cab, 5spd,3. 54 LS, Bright White, Camel Leather. 01 Sunnybrook 27' 5ver--All Stock

 

[Steve M]

How long of an extended pin are you using? My 25' Jayco came with a 9" extended pin and I opted for an 18" extended pin before I tried it out. I can turn lock to lock forward without contact and plenty of room. I'd like to have a 9" pin if I can get away with it. The 18" pin makes me wonder how much stress it's putting on the front of the trailer on rough roads. I'm using a 15k Reese Classic non-rocker without a slide on my shortbed.

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98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel, single slide

 

[ARARAR]

Hey, I'm not a vendor, but the answer is the Pullrite hitch by Pulliam Inc.

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98. 5 2500 QC,SB W/ camper shell, whitw w/driftwood lower, 2wd,3. 54, loaded w/o leather,chrome Westin step bars, BD tc/vb and pressureloc,w/trans temp,4" BD exhaust from turbo back, firestone airbags, heavy duty pullrite hitch, Bug sheilds, 4x4 type mud flaps front and back, Amsoil bypass & air filter. Dual pyro-boost gauge,pillar mount, PS boost mod and elbow,
VA cpc and fuel pressure gauge, Pac-Brake.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Pullrite 5th Wheel Hitch????

From their Web page:

Sugg. Retail Price: $2,995
(above price reflects cost of brackets and hitch)

The above only comes with a gasoline engine. They haven't chosen a diesel engine supplier yet!

Have you ever seen so many high priced accessories for the towing public?

Where does someone get off thinking a little bit of pressed steel and a few welds is worth nearly $ 3,000. And, it DOESN'T come with an engine - gas or diesel.

My first 5th wheel hitch cost $ 700 installed. Two weeks later, I could've picked up a 1/2 dozen used ones just like it for no more than $250.

Who's Pulling who?