Short bed & 5W

[M36]

Thought I would ask this question in a new thread. I ordered a short bed QC that went in on the 20th. I sold a 2001 SB ex. cab in three days. I used a 15K Reece for my 24' 5W without the slider. Since reading the "Shortbox and TT" thread I didn't know the short bed was 3" shorter. I was always able to manuever in tight places without the slide, but sure paid attention to those sharp turns.



For you guys that do have the SB and 5W, which hitch are you using and is it a slider? I found out that I can order the sliding base of the Reece hitch and still use the connecting part of the hitch that I have now.



Thanks,

Jim

 

[mgonske]

M36,



I went from a '98 QC shortbed to my '03 QC shortbed, and tow a 14,000 lb 30' 5th-wheel. I had an RBW Lil Rocker in the '98, but due to the 3" shorter box in the '03, went with a Pull-Rite Super-Glide automatic sliding hitch.



(As an aside about the other thread, the truck is my daily driver, and I know my requirements very well (I haven't put less than 30,000 miles a year on a tow vehicle in the last 12 years)--a short-bed works for towing and hauling ranch supplies, and is only a little bit of a pain to park in tight parking lots every day, and they are a fact of life. As for difficulty in selling--my purchase of my '03 got moved up because a coworker came to me wanting to buy my '98 to tow his new boat. )



TDR members Casey Balvert and Dean Upson did a lot of homework in identifying hitch-makers who meet DC's no-weld/no-drill hitch mounting requirements, and based on their leg-work, I went with the Pull-Rite. Another factor for me was that the mounting system lets everything in the bed be removed, leaving only four holes in the bed. I can put my Bedrug in and topper on, and you'd never know I had a 5th-wheel hitch. If it weren't for that, I might have considered a less expensive manual slider.



I've only done a test tow around the block and some parking maneuvering with it at home so far, but I believe it's going to be a good solution.



The one drawback to the Pull-Rite? It and its installation cost more than I paid for my first truck--new!

 

[Dean Upson]

Jim,



I don't have the sliding hitch, but have seen how it works. It is automatic in it's operation and it would seem that is a plus. I will give highest marks to the quality of the PullRite that is on my truck. I have never dealt with a company that was as dedicated to the quality of their product and customer satisfaction than PullRite, they gave me straight answers and lived up to their word. I have absolutely no involvement with the company, I just have a big mouth and like to spread the word when I hit gold . Give them a call, ask for Lynda in Customer Service, I think they have a video on the sliding hitch. good luck.



Dean

 

[bmoeller]

My boss' grandpa has a '02 Dodge 1500(new style) with a sb and he reused his reese (non slider) from his '01 1500 sb. He did have to get new rails. Has a 24' 5er with a rear hitch to pull his fishing boat behind.