Swb Or Lwb

[PHerder]

I pull a 5 th wheel camper weighing around 12000 lbs loaded.

and am looking to buy a new 03 or 04 SWB 2500. has anybody

install a fith wheel hitch in the SWB box? I am told that they

are about 3" shorter cab to axle than a comparable chev or

ford. Does this create a problem when turning. and what

have you people done to correct it. I see lots of people pulling

5th wheels with SWB chev's and Ford how about the new

gereration Dodge?

 

[abledog]

I called PullRite about using one of there SuperGlide Hitches in a SWB Dodge and they didn't recommend pulling a 5th wheel with the dimensions I gave them.

If you go to www.pullrite.com they have a web page describing how to measure your trailer to determine if you will have enough cab to trailer clearance.



Terry

 

[SilverFox]

Two things to consider: the long wheel base will ride better and when towing, the long wheel base gives added safety, everything else being equal.

 

[DPKetchum]

MY OPINION. S/B are about useless except to haul pinstraw. Also will hit much easier on a back/jackknife and turn situation if you know what I mean

 

[mgonske]

Paul,



I tow a 5th-wheel of similar weight with a short-bed, using Pull-Rite's 16K SuperGlide, and it works great! The discouraging answer Terry got might have been based on a trailer without an extended pin box (one where the kingpin is directly under the front of the trailer, rather than extending out to the front), but even so, the SuperGlide should work fine with it--I'm not sure why Pull-Rite would try to not sell their product.



I pulled this same trailer with my '98 short-bed with a standard hitch and no problem (I was always very careful about my turn angle when backing; it wasn't an issue going forward). However, the three inches you mentioned is how much shorter the '03 is compared to the second-gen truck in the cab to axle distance--that's why I went with the SuperGlide this time.



All that being said, recognize that you'll pay a hefty price, in the cost of the SuperGlide hitch, for the privelege of having a short-bed.



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[Rosco]

Since I plan on purchasing a fifth wheel RV within the next year I myself have researched this topic. I visited a few RV sites that have forums like the TDR and rest assured their are quite a few 3rd gen short bed's hauling fifth wheels out there. Like mgonske said, use a extended pin box and a sliding hitch and you will be fine.

 

[Tony T.]

I believe with a extended pin box (factory installed) and a good slider hitch you will be fine to go with a swb if thats what your looking for. Each have there places according to how a person use's there truck, buy what you want, there's always someone looking to buy a swb or a lwb if you decide to sell later on down the road. Oo.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have a long bed and a PullRite (non-sliding) hitch. I think the hitch is better than anything else around, albeit a bit pricey. I have also seen the slider work and it is a very slick operation. You do not have to get out and pull a release handle because the slide action is automatic when you need it. I would call PullRite up and talk to customer service/technical service (Lynda) and see what they recommend. They great folks to deal with.



Dean

 

[PHerder]

Thanks a lot all those who have replyed. another reason for

wanting a SWB is these 3rd generation are a lot longer,therefore

do not fit into garage as good. SWB is as long as my 99 LWB.

once again thank a lot for the good information.

 

[CROW]

I tow a 100" wide fifth wheel with my 2003 3500 short bed. It has an extended pin on the trailer and a 24K Pull Rite automatic slider hitch. Works just fine and it will fit in my garage. Long bed is 22" longer and for some that is a problem. The Pull Rite Automatic slider will cost you quite a bit more than a regular hitch so might check out the prices as part of your purchase decision. Also, some fifth wheel manufacturers will void your frame warranty if you put an extended pin on the trailer. I personally would not want a manual slider hitch, too much going on while you are towing to have to worry about stopping and pulling pins and all that (just my opinion). Have seen a truck where a fella hit the cab with the trailer, not pretty.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by CROW

Have seen a truck where a fella hit the cab with the trailer, not pretty.

Off topic, but worth mentioning. I have seen a bunch of trucks with the side rails caved in because the hitch was not closed and the fiver came down on the rails when the truck attempted to tow it. The nose of the fiver wasn't very pretty, either.



I always eyeball the hitch (a bit of white paint on the jaws helps old eyes) to see if it is closed and give the trailer a gentle tug while the wheels are blocked and the front jacks are on the ground.



Dean

 

[mgonske]

One More Thing...

... to consider along with the cost of the hitch (which, with installation, was more than I paid (new!) for my first pickup truck )



The SuperGlide hitch requires the addition of a wedge piece (hard to describe) to the trailer half of the hitch to activate the sliding motion (cams which slide the 5th-wheel back when the turning trailer rotates the 5th-wheel). This makes the trailer incompatible with a standard 5th-wheel, so if you need the trailer towed by someone else in a contingency, you'd be SOL (mine is bolted on with 10 allen-head, countersunk flat-head machine screws--I used blue Loc-Tite, but I don't know if I'd ever be able to get them out in an emergency).

 

[SilverFox]

I suspect your mind is already made up on the SWB truck but maybe you could remodel the garage for slightly more than it would cost to buy and install the sliding hitch. The cost of the garage remodel might be recovered when you sell the house but the truck and hitch will continue to deprecate.



What if you should break down on the road and have to get the trailer towed. From the information in the above post, will that be a problem... Will the dealer have any trouble moving the trailer when it is in for warranty work or repair... Will there be a problem with an in bed fuel tank or tool box... Hauling a load of wood for that campfire...



I have never seen anyone sorry they bought a LWB but have seen at least one unhappy with the SWB. Others I know tell me they are glad they didn't get a SWB after initially wanting one.



After considering everything in this thread I know you will make the right decision for your particular likes and situation. Good luck with your new truck.

 

[abledog]

Silverfox makes a good point. If your slider hitch requires an additional piece be added to your pinbox, will this interfear with different/nonslider hitches?



Terry

 

[DPKetchum]

WHO parks trucks inside a garage. Not being funny or a smarty but the garage thing was never a issue on any kind of vehicles purchase for my wife and I. NEVER. I park my dually in Downtown Athens regularly. I drive it sometimes in Atlanta traffic and park where ever. I just think a lot of the S/B owners on resale are going to get hurt. I do consider resale on about everything I buy. Homes,vehicles,farm equipment,horses,cattle,wifes etc.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by DPKetchum

WHO parks trucks inside a garage. Not being funny or a smarty but the garage thing was never a issue on any kind of vehicles purchase for my wife and I.

Our vehicles are garaged every night and the best part of that is no dew, frost or snow or especially ice to contend with first thing in the morning . I never had a garage until 1987 and luckily I had a dually at the time and I changed the plans just in time and made one door wider than the other. I agree about the long bed being the more practical truck, but if I had to give up the garage, I would either modify the garage or get a short bed .



Dean

 

[DPKetchum]

WOW! Honestly The most money I'd spend to accommodate the dew,ice thing is a long handled widow scrapper. The ice thing not a big issue here in the south. But when it does happen we just kinda use a little lukewarm water and push it off with the long handled window cleaner thing. I do like a garage for rainy weather late after grocery shopping etc. But modify or buy a certain vehicle because of it no way.

 

[Dean Upson]

A couple of winters here in Yankeeland might change your mind . When I had my black 98. 5, I sure appreciated how much easier it was to keep clean by having it garaged. That truck did not need much excuse to get dirty.



Most folks up here (at least in the country) have a garage, although many use it for everything else than to store vehicles . I think that climate has much to do with needs. Carports up here are, imo, pretty useless up here, but they certainly useful in warmer climes.



Dean

 

[SilverFox]

OK, stand back, I'm about to put my 2 cents worth in here. I've spent many (too many) years living in the north and Dean is definitely right about the garage thing. A garage will even prolong the start of salt induced rust. If you go far enough north, diesel engines run 24 hours a day unless they can be put in a heated garage. Sure looks pretty to see all that exhaust condensation rising 50 feet in the air at truck stops.



On the other hand, in certain areas of the South we have sun damage and dreaded hail damage that is just as depressing as seeing northern rust. I always park under a shed of some sort.



DPKetchum is justified in thinking that under cover is no big deal in his location. I spent 4 years living in Athens, GA and can really see no real need for a garage in that part of this great country.



I know PHerder is tired of this thread and would like to see it die but we are keeping it alive for others. One last suggestion to him is to take an equity loan on his house, improve his garage, buy the truck, and then make payments larger than is necessary for the next 3-5 years to make up for the truck payments. That would give him the best of all worlds.

 

[DPKetchum]

COOL I keep vehicles ten years plus. Never saw any reason to shelter. They look almost as good as when I purchased. Wax a couple times a year etc. New interiors,dash's etc are not any where as prone to sun damage as years past. My 1985 Chevy Caprice the interior is in good to fair shape,top of seats,under back glass etc and dash WAS until someone at a car wash put the shinny,slime silicone junk on it and it cracked in a matter of days. Now has a $35. 00 dash cover on it.