reese 5thw selection...

Hey all,

I'm looking into two different reese slider 5th wheels....

16k slider with the round bars
http://www.etrailer.com/multi-product.aspx?pc1=RP30075&pc2=RP50064-58&hhmake=Chevrolet&hhmodel=Silverado&hhyear=2005&vehicleid=2005642357&hunter=5w

16k slider with the flat bars

http://www.etrailer.com/multi-product.aspx?pc1=RP30051&pc2=RP50064-58&hhmake=Chevrolet&hhmodel=Silverado&hhyear=2005&vehicleid=2005642357&hunter=5w

both will have the double pivot, double jaw design but is the round bar really that much better when moving it back for turning???

Anyone have either of these and thanks for the input...

I had the flat bar slider, seldom used it and it rusted closed. Took me a while to get it unstuck. But then sprayed it often and it was fine, i could pust it with my foot with no problems.

I have the roundbar sliders and have yet to use it. Getting a comparison may be difficult. It would take someone who has owned both.

John

I have the 16K with flat bars and it has hung up a couple times but I have over 90K towing miles on the hitch. If I had a chance to have round bars for the slide I would go for it. The problem with manual slider hitches is you do not use them that much and forget to lube them.

With a 6.5 bed, why do you want a slider? I wouldn't think it necessary.

I have the round bar and have used it a couple times.I talked to a few fellas that had the flat bars,and they said they did not roll as good if the trailer was not straight in line with the truck.That's the reason I went with the round ones.Like Tom said,You have to keep it lubed well.

I have the flat bar slider hitch. I have made a practice of using the slide back when backing. The front of my WC will hit the back of my truck (6.5 foot bed). under some conditions!!! Don't ask how I know

I have the roundbar and used it often with our old 5er. It always moved freely. The square nose design and king pin placement of our old 5er made the slider mandatory.

The new rounder nose design and extended king pins of nearly all new 5er's make the slider uneeded for me. I've never used it or even came close to needing it with the Wildcat or a friends Challanger I often move for them.

BobnPi wrote:With a 6.5 bed, why do you want a slider? I wouldn't think it necessary.

Ditto. . .

I bought my slider used for what I could have got a Lil' Rocker for new so it was a no brainer. No way would I have spent the money on a new one. I have turned some pretty tight corners with my 6.5' bed on my chevy. The cab and camper get close, but never touch. But, if you want the option to go to a shorter bed down the road (Dodge I think is shorter) or if you have the money to spend on a seldom used "insurance" then go for it.

As for the round/flat. I have the flat. Didn't work worth a dang until this spring. I took it apart and degreased everything and lubed it back up, it now slides wiht the push of my hand whereas I used to have to sit on the bed of my truck and push with both feet before the cleaning/lube. My bet is both work just fine as long as you keep them clean and lubed.

I manged to get the WC to hit the back of my truck on some very uneven ground. I did not realize the truck was damaged untill later in the day. When I first got the WC, I went to a large parking area to see how much I could turn the truck both forward and backward. Thought it could not happen, but proved myself wrong. $700 later, all good

I have this one: http://www.etrailer.com/multi-product.aspx?pc1=RP30051&pc2=RP50064-58&hhmake=Chevrolet&hhmodel=Silverado&hhyear=2005&vehicleid=2005642357&hunter=5w
The installation kit is great, I didn't have to drill holes into the frame or weld anything.

This is the model I used:

Ok so it sounds like the concensus is with proper maintainance the flat bar will work fine it just may be hard to move back if it gets cruded up...
Hard to beleive that applying the trailer brakes and pulling forward wont overcome this but what do I know I havn't even picked up my rig yet...

Ok another question...it looks like the round tube bar has two more inches of throw...

Does that mean you can mount the hitch two inches farther forward for normal towing...or is the location predetermined by the custom mounts. That is what I am planning on purchasing BTW.

would the load being further ahead of the rear axl by two inches be better as far as weight distrubution front to rear axles or does it mean it will just slide back further for increased turning clearance...

I hope that question makes sense

Long Beds only way to go.

Portagie1968 wrote: Long Beds only way to go.

No thanks.

I much prefer a 6.5' bed.

Roadrash - Is your bed 6.5' or only 6' being a quad cab?

I prefer a long bed as I don't use it to tow just the fiver. I've used it for hauling whatever fits into bed and believe me I have had it fully loaded being a one ton you can put quite a bit into it. I didn't buy it to just recreate but to use it......

My bed measures 6 foot 8 inches. I was on some very rough ground and backing hard when the front cap of the WC contacted the cab on the passenger side. The damage to the front cap was just a brush mark and a slight dent about 3 inches in diameter on the truck cab. It could have been alot worse!! The Reese hitch was installed according to Reese's instructions slightly ahead of the rear axle. The truck is a crew cab and is long enough with the short bed.!!

I hear ya on being long enough! Thats one reason I don't like long bed pickups. I prefer the looks of a short bed as well.

I didn't know about Fords but GM's (at least 05 - 07 classics) with the quad cab only have a 6' bed where the extended cab trucks have 6.5' beds. The inside of my bed actually measures 69".

I came in contact with the cab backing our old 5er but did no damage to either truck or camper. (Pure luck as I wasn't paying attention.)

I have the new body style 07 2500 Chev, 2 wheel drive. Inside length of my bed is 6'7". From my rear window to the center of my kingpin measures approx. 42". So far I've had no problems with tight turns, but I've always been on relatively level surfaces.

Since placement of the hitch differs with make/model/installer, I'm wondering what distance others have from their rear window to kingpin center.

Bob -Is your truck extended cab or quad cab? Just wondering if the new body styles still have the same bed/cab configurations as previous.

I'll measure my pin from window but I'll bet its within an inch of yours since our beds are the same length.

Edit - Just measured and mine is also right at 42".

Earl - According to the installer who installed mine; All hitches are placed and inch or two in front of the rear axle regardless of bed length.

Mopar_Earl wrote:

Portagie1968 wrote: Long Beds only way to go.

I also only go long bed.


Earl

MY CC maybe 22 feet plus long but the long bed is a plus. Have not seen to many plywood sheets that are 6 feet long coming out of Home Depot.

Bob -Is your truck extended cab or quad cab? Just wondering if the new body styles still have the same bed/cab configurations as previous.

It's a crew cab. 4 full size doors.

well I am probabaly going to order the round tube slider, not so much for the fact of round tubes and less binding, cause it sounds like if you maintain the rectangular tube it will be fine... the main reason it offers 12'' of movment versus 10''

I assume that means two inches more room between the front of the FW and the back of the cab...

I hope thats the case and not the pin being two inches further forward of the axle than the rectangle tube hitch...
I assume that the normal tow location is the same between the two based on the custom frame mounts but i'm just assuming... And yes I know the definition of assume!

Tomorrows the big day I pick up my WC311THX...my kids have already put dibs in for a sleepover with their friends!

I will be using my dadinlaws 1 ton dually for the tow home and that will give me time to work on the set up of my TV...stay tuned for more questions next week

Speaking of questions I dont see much here about pullrite? are they all that... they seem niffty but is all the technology and moving parts a good thing?

Most people who have a Pullrite love them. I had a bad experience with one and probably will never have another one. It doesn't mean they are all bad, I just got a bad one.

Hitches are like TVs. Everone has an idea of which is best.

Tim, If I had a do over, I would get the round tube. I did not do my homework well enough. I now use the rear position to back my WC and find the trailer turns quicker. I think the additional 2 inches would work better.

YEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAW here she is....



I cheeted and backed my truck under her just to see how it looked

I used my dadinlaws truck for the trip home, I have NEVER hauled a fifth wheel before and after 15 miles i'm alredy in love...now my truck is a 3/4 ton and not a dually but I'm hoping its still a good combo and I keep the rubberside down on this one...Funny, every body says that when I pull off on my harley....never thought it would pertain to a travel trailer...

Road rash I have decided to take your advice and go with the round tube...

Thanks so much

Nice looking rig.

Good looking setup Tim.