Short bed vs. long bed?

[Texas Diesel]

I have a SB 2500 ( see sig ) and want to know if I can tow a 32'+ 5th wheel TT. I am only worried about the short bed hitting the TT, I plan to convert the TT to a gooseneck.
Any comments welcome.

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2001. 5 SLT QC SB 4X4, 6 speed, HO, LSD, 241HD, 3. 54, camper special, power everything, trip thingy, REAL bumpers, green/silver, Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, trailer tow pkg

 

[DennyDay]

If you set your trailer up as a goose neck, and keep the width to the same as the trailer frame you shouldn't have a problem. It is the full body width fifth wheel trailers that get into the back of the cab in turns that cause the problem. I re-read ypur post. If this trailer is now a 5er changing to a goose neck hitch won't do you any good unless you set the hitch post about 4 feet out in front of the trailer. Good luck!

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Denny
'99 2500 4X4 White short Q cab to much added to put here
On Order- Mom's Ram 2001 Qcab CTD with auto trans and all the bells and whistles

[This message has been edited by C. D. Day (edited 05-18-2001). ]

 

[mlockner]

I've got a slider hitch setup on my short bed and it works great. My camper does have the king pin mount setting out in front of the 5er though. Don't really know how it would work if the king pin was under the 5er like most I have seen. I've heard that with a SB truck you have to be selective on the 5er you tow because of the SB.

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2000 2500 Sport 2wd QC SB Auto 3. 54 Heated Leather and all options
2000 Fleetwood Prowler 275J

 

[RustyJC]

I would be extremely careful in converting a 5th wheel to a gooseneck without totally reworking the front frame of the 5ver. Check the RV boards - there are lots of instances of 5vers being severely damaged by these conversions.

Adding the gooseneck adapter to the 5ver introduces a large moment arm that produces huge torques under braking, acceleration, driving across uneven surfaces, etc. Proper gooseneck trailer frames are sized and gusseted to take these torques - 5ver frames are not.

I'd hate to see you damage your 5ver or even risk an accident as the hitch area of the 5ver frame pulls away. If clearance is a problem, go with a proven solution - the sliding 5ver hitch. #ad


Rusty


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96 4x2 Driftwood 3500 Club Cab SLT V-10, automatic, 3. 54 axle, trailer & camper groups, all the 96 goodies, factory CD changer, Reese 14K 5ver hitch, B&M auxiliary trans cooler, 205* fan clutch, Smittybilt side step tubes

Towing a 13,500 lb 36' triple slide 2000 Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS 5th wheel.

Looking for 2001. 5/waiting to order 2002 bright white/tan leather 4x2 Quad Cab 3500 SLT+ Sport ETH/DEE, 4. 10LS axle

2000 Durango SLT+ 5. 9L, bright white/tan leather, all the goodies (wife's ride)

 

[Texas Diesel]

Thanks for all the advice. Now I'm worried about the gooseneck conversion but I will look into it carefully before I do it. Thanks for the heads-up.

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2001. 5 SLT QC SB 4X4, 6 speed, HO, LSD, 241HD, 3. 54, camper special, power everything, trip thingy, REAL bumpers, green/silver, Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, trailer tow pkg

 

[Loren]

I have a Super Glide sliding fifth wheel hitch in my short bed pickup. It's made by Pulliam Enterprises, the same company that makes the PullRite hitches. It was expensive but I love it.
It's automatic. You mount a plate to the bottom of the trailer hitch. That plate mates with the sliding hitch in the truck. As the trailer turns, relative to the truck, the whole thing cams the hitch rearward. The trailer misses the truck, even when 90 degrees to the side.
Mine was installed by Dan's Service Center in Elkhart, Indiana. They do excellent work for a fair price.
I know it's a long drive from Texas, but if you have a trailer you owe it to yourself to see Elkhart. It is RV Mecca. You won't believe the trailers, accessories, hitches, and everything else under the sun that you can get in Elkhart. Dan's had a couple of three inch hitch balls on the shelf. The only others I have ever seen were in El Cajon, CA, thirty years ago. I don't know what they're used for, but if you can walk in and buy them, you know the dealer is well stocked.

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2000 Quad Cab, 4x4, short bed, six-speed: U. S. Gear exhaust brake, MileMarker Select Drive viscous coupling, Velvet-Ride spring shackles, Painless Wiring circuit box, Optima yellow-top batteries, Super-Glide 5th wheel hitch, Reese folding ball gooseneck hitch, Drawtite front hitch receiver, Tekonsha Sentinel brake controller, Westin nerf bars, Clarion sound system
1995 Standard Cab, 4x4, long bed, automatic: Firestone Ride-Rite air springs, torque converter lock-up switch, 4" cat-back exhaust, Reese 20K 5th wheel hitch, Reese gooseneck hitch, Hayes Micro Control trailer brake controller, 100 gallon bed-mounted fuel tank with 12 volt electric pump & fill nozzle, Swiss Cap fiberglass cap

 

[Guest00]

save yourself all the grief and aggrivation...
install an extended pin on the 5th, get a reese sliding fifth wheel ( about $600 installed, cheaper if you install, if you already have the rails installed about $400 ) and you have not modified or home brewed any thing ( liability ). one afternoon and it is all done.

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2K, 2500, Quad, SB, 4x4, 3:54LSD, A/T w/ DTT VB, TC, TC SAVER and AUX COOLER , REESE 15k 5th slider, EASLEY BULL BAR, MAAP NERFS, BFG-TA's, 9000's,STAINLESS BRADED 6an FUEL LINES, stealth DD2's, Bully Dog Boost & elbow, ISSPRO pyro, boost & transmission, Turbo Lifesaver, JARDINE 4", PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP& DC, AFE filter, GEAR VENDORS OD, TAYLOR WING, MAGNA MIRRORS onboard.

pullees:
#1 y2k ARTIC FOX 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA-LIFE, VFW-LIFE, SoCSA-LIFE, SASS