Another Newbie ?

by hvlm on 11/27/2010, 3:28 pm

I cannot thank you all enough for your suggestions earlier. Admiral and I have found a real nice FR Sierra that we will likely make an offer. Unit plate reads total weight approximately 14k pounds. We have a 2004 F250 Super Crew with a bed length of 82 inches.

I have absolutely no idea what hitch to purchase. We are first time RV owners and expect to travel within a 500 to 700 mile radius of our home. I do not need something that communicates with the USS Enterprise but also want something safe for entire family. All suggestions truly appreciated.

Hank

by bsmall2800 on 11/27/2010, 3:47 pm

to the forum hope everything works out for you on your new Sierra.
This is the hitch that I use, seems to work very well. I have not had any problems yet with it. You will see in your search for a hitch there are many different kinds. I am sure you will get a bunch of replys on hitche's from the members here, great bunch of members here....

Reese 18K Signature Series 5th Fifth Wheel Slider Hitch (#30085)

by Mopar_Earl on 11/27/2010, 6:11 pm

I also use the 18K signature but without the slider. I'm a long bed guy.

Earl

by Frank on 11/27/2010, 6:25 pm

I have a 16k Reese Little Rocker Slider Hitch and we are happy with it. The Reese Signature hitches had not come out when I Purchase ours. If they would have been on the market at the time I would have purchased that one. I like the idea of not having the rails in the bed of the truck which I have now.
There are many types out there. Check the following:
RV Supply Warehouse

Etrailer.com

by Mopar_Earl on 11/27/2010, 7:29 pm

Bill,
Where is your break-away cable hooked?

Earl

by Sean on 11/27/2010, 10:25 pm

to the forum from the U.K.
I use a 18K pullrite superglide (short bed)
Sean

by bsmall2800 on 11/28/2010, 4:55 am

Mopar_Earl wrote:Bill,
Where is your break-away cable hooked?

Earl

Earl, I added to length to the cable and hook it around the pull handle that opens the jaws of the hitch. The photo doesn't show it very well. I found that with the standard length cabel hooked to anything in the bed, it was too short while making some sharp turning manuvers. So I added an extra cable to it and seems to work out better. I remember I originally hooked it near the bumper hitch, but found that the cable was beating my tailgate to death while towing. So I moved it inside the bed...

by TeamPlumlee on 11/28/2010, 7:54 am

from Ft. Worth!

by etrailer on 11/29/2010, 4:51 am

With that bed length, you will want either a slider or a Sidewinder. A Sidewinder locks the kingpin in the hitch and moves the pivot point from the hitch to the pin box on the trailer. Moving the pivot point back 22" allows for great maneuvering of the trailer and doesn't require getting out of the truck to unlock the slider.

by Glen Schumann on 11/29/2010, 1:30 pm

From Winona and Ft. Knox

by BobnPi on 11/29/2010, 3:46 pm

With that bed length, you will want either a slider or a Sidewinder.

Ok, I may be wrong, but 82" bed is over 6 feet. Why would he need a slider for that length bed? I was under the impression that less than 6 feet would require that sort of hitch to protect the cab, but was told that over 6 feet would be ok. Dealer did not say this, just someone I know whose word I do NOT consider final. Wink

Oh, and

to the forum. Lots of great information and people here.

by etrailer on 11/30/2010, 4:29 am

BobnPi wrote:
With that bed length, you will want either a slider or a Sidewinder.

Ok, I may be wrong, but 82" bed is over 6 feet. Why would he need a slider for that length bed? I was under the impression that less than 6 feet would require that sort of hitch to protect the cab, but was told that over 6 feet would be ok. Dealer did not say this, just someone I know whose word I do NOT consider final.

Oh, and to the forum. Lots of great information and people here.

It's a rule of thumb that a lot of the hitch manufacturers, including Reese, go by and we use when helping our customers put together a setup. There are lots of 6 feet and some change bed trucks around and though sometimes people can get away with fixed hitches, it's not always the case. If you're pulling a wider trailer or may upgrade in the future, you could run into trouble without a slider. It can be really frustrating to set up a fixed hitch in your 6'6" only to realize that you need a couple inches more clearance with the trailer hitched and then have to find a slider when all you want to do is hit the road.

The general rule of thumb is:

Full 8ft - No Slider/Sidewinder Needed
6ft+ Bed - Slider or Sidewinder
Less than 6ft - Sidewinder but MEASURE FIRST

There are some trucks with less than 6 foot bed that can use a Sidewinder, some can't. It depends on the nose of the trailer and shape of the cab.

It's not a hard and fast rule, but it works pretty well.

by etrailer on 11/30/2010, 4:32 am

Here's the formula for calculating Sidewinder clearance.

Clearance Formula for Sidewider:
Use the formula below to ensure there will be enough space between your truck cab and trailer when executing a 90-degree turn.

(A + B) - C = Clearance

A = Distance from center of fifth wheel hitch jaw to truck cab
B = Length of Sidewinder arm (16K = 22", 19K = 22", 19.5K = 22")
C = Width of trailer divided by 2 (to get half)

For example: With the 16K arm, if the distance from the center of the hitch to the cab is 36", 36" + 22" = 58". If your fifth wheel trailer is 102" wide, take half (51"), then plug in: 58" - 51" = 7" of clearance.

by Admin on 11/30/2010, 4:40 am

I've got the short bed and have never needed the slider, but am glad I do have it " just in Case ". You never know when that day may hit you.

by BobnPi on 11/30/2010, 8:32 am

Good stuff here. Thanks all.

by Mopar_Earl on 11/30/2010, 5:52 pm

bsmall2800 wrote:
Mopar_Earl wrote:Bill,
Where is your break-away cable hooked?

Earl

Earl, I added to length to the cable and hook it around the pull handle that opens the jaws of the hitch. The photo doesn't show it very well. I found that with the standard length cabel hooked to anything in the bed, it was too short while making some sharp turning manuvers. So I added an extra cable to it and seems to work out better. I remember I originally hooked it near the bumper hitch, but found that the cable was beating my tailgate to death while towing. So I moved it inside the bed...

Thanks Bill! I thought you had the cable hooked to the bed/stake pocket.

Earl

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