Short bed & 5th wheel

[jLester]

I'm getting ready to take the plunge, and I found an

'01 TD HO 2500 4DR w/54k, 6 speed, (unknown gear right now),

and it has the factory towing package and 265 tires.

1. )I'm hearing that a 5er in a short bed is a bad idea? I have 25 years experience driving a large commercial rig, so trailer/cab interference does not bother me, except if it limits turning radius when, for example, manuevering @ a fuel stop.

2. )I'm considering a Four Winds 35SRV that has the bed slider in front, creating a hitch weight of 2500 lbs, and the gross is listed @ 14098 lbs. Is this too much for a 3/4 to handle?

Thanks for your help...

 

[Bug Out]

GCVW

Your GCVW i think would be over.



I loaded 3000#(1 unit of 3/4" BB plyform) in my 2000 4x4 QC s/b with a tow package and 30% of the load was past/ over the tailgate.



I think a centered load over the axle would be no problem.







Check this site



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/towing-charts.html

 

[klenger]

Here are a couple of pages from my web site that might help.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/towing-charts.html



http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/short-5er-towing.pdf



In summary, you can tow a 5er with a short box, but a slider hitch is a good idea. Also, that trailer is too big for a 3/4 ton IMHO, especially with the shorted wheelbase of the SB.

 

[rubberneck]

I tow a 32 ft triple slide that weighs 14K and the 3/4 ton handles it just fine. I do have a long bed though. I would think with that size of overhang in the bedroom, the slide stlye hitch would be a must to get max maneuverability in a short bed truck

 

[JThiessen]

Get a slider

Like the others have stated - get a slider hitch. I'd get one no matter if I had short or long box.

And yes, you'll be too heavy. Trust me, needing to put your camping trip on slim fast for every trip sucks (but then I love to be able to take "the kitchen sink").

 

[Dean Upson]

If you get a slider hitch, check out the PullRite.



Dean

 

[Fireman]

jLester,



I had the same truck as you have and I used the Pullrite Superglide 5w hitch. It is an automatic sliding hitch that moves the hitch head rearward as the angle between the truck and trailer increases. In normal driving and turning on the road the head stays centered over the axle. It is really slick and worth the extra expense. The 16K unit cost about $1800.



That is a little heavy and could take you over your GVW, but I never had any problems with mine at2200# hitch weight.



Fireman

 

[jkeyes]

I have had my rear end loaded to 7000 lb's before and I pull a 30' Gooseneck and have never had a problem with the short bed. Just mke sure you don't go over your tires weight rating and you will be fine. A slider is a good idea by the way.



Jason

 

[mgonske]

With my '98 short-bed 2500 I towed a 5th-wheel that went 12,000 lbs on the axles (I don't recall hitch weight) with a fixed hitch, and never had a problem pulling, stopping, or maneuvering it. I watched the corners when backing, but never felt like I was hurt by limited turn angle. The trailer has an extended pin-box (it sticks out in front), and I had to also extend it down as far as it would go, and set the 5th-wheel to max height, along with flipping the axles. to get good bedrail clearance



My '03's bed is 3 inches shorter in front of the axle, so I sprung for the Super-Glide automatic sliding hitch, and it works great. The hitch is a little lower below the bedrails, though, which has me back to marginal on bedrail clearance.



Here's the trailer on the new truck--see . sig for description:

#ad

 

[Dean Upson]

Nice outfit, Mark .



Dean

 

[mgonske]

Thanks, Dean--us silver trucks have to stick together



I still owe you and Casey a debt of gratitude for all the pathfinding last fall on the hitch

 

[Dean Upson]

I think I can speak for my friend Casey and say that you owe us nothing for whatever help we may have been, just glad the hitch worked out well for you. I really like my PullRite and I know that Casey and Fireman do too. Silver trucks are hard to beat



Dean