Folks - I'm going up in the moutains this next weekend and going to be on some small twisty dirt roads going very slow. You think it would be ok to slide the #16 Reese slider hitch all the way to manuvering position with out hurting anything? Thanks

 

You might try posting this in the Towing/RV forum if you don't receive an answer here. Good luck!

 

Depending on your trailer weight it could/might effect your steering, maybe making it too light for good control of the truck. You should have good clearance up to 75 degrees or so with normal turning. If you are going to be negotiatating turns even approaching that tight and at those degrees then keeping the trailer on the road might be more of a concern to you. I tow a 12000 lb 5er, with a short bed and no slider and as long as I am careful I have not had any problem under some steep gas station drives and congested, tight turn campgrounds.

Not sure how the hitch is designed when towing long distances either in the rear position. You might want to ask that question of your hitch manufacturer also prior to doing same.

 

If driving on a normal road, even if it has lots of twist and turns, means you cant turn as sharp as you would need to, your trailer is way too close to the cab. I have never needed to use my slider except when backing into a tight parking spot. As for the hitch it puts a lot more stress on all the mounting hardware and if you hit a large hole in the road, and it sounds like you will, it could break the mounting bolts on the hitch. In normal position the hitch sits on the trucks frame, and the bolts just keep it from sliding around, in the rear postion the front bolts are holding most of the pin weight from pulling the hitch mount up off the frame.

 

This is the best info in this thread. Contact the manufacturer.