Turning Wheel RV center has just set a temporary tent sale about 1/4 mile away from my house at the entrance to my neighborhood. Supervisor on the lot told me that with my 4x4 megacab that it was too tall and bed too short for (safely and without hitting the cab) towing a 5th wheel. I'm new to this arena but having a camper has been a dream of mine for a long time and we're at a point where we can afford it. I liked the idea of having a goose neck hitch put in then the bolt on gizmo to the 5th wheel. Any help would be appreciated. Until then I'm going to keep searching and reading.

Thanks Jamie

 

I pull a travel trailer with my short bed quad cab, I like the idea of haveing the back of the truck for moutain bikes and golf clubs, etc. they do have them fancy fiver hitches that slide when turning, ive heard they work pretty good, I know people in Montana that pull a 34 foot fiver with a short box crew cab durimax, they seem to do okay, try finding people that pull and see what they use, most RV`s will gladly yak at ya about there set ups.

 

I borrowed these from the "Pics of rigs and trailers" thread. All of these have the same bed yours does. Someone needs to tell them they can't pull those 5th wheels...






Here's a pic of JuzPlaneKrazy's monster and the hitch he used...

 

I pull a fifth wheel with my short bed 98 2wd. Although I have a fifth wheel hitch that would slide if I needed to, I have NEVER needed to. Simple smart driving will allow you to plan for tight turns and backups so that the cab hitting the front will never be an issue.

 

thanks a lot guys... this website is the greatest thing since sliced bread!!!

Jamie

 

On the subject...my father and I BOTH have shortbeds and we pull goosenecks religiously...no problems.

 

What about the height of the bed. The guy at the sales lot said that my truck was simply too high???
Jamie

 

That guy is an idiot. Your truck bed is no different than everyone else's and they seem to be doing just fine.

 

Ask the sales guy what kind of truck brings the campers into his lot. Im gunna bet that more than one of those 5th wheels has been brought in with a Ram 4X4.

 

I have a quad-cab 4X4 with a Reese 16K sliding hitch. Works like a drream.

 

I pull GN's without a problem. My horse trailer has a tapered nose, so a little less of a cab clearance issue. I also have a small 21.5ft 5er that I installed a 5er to GN adapter, works just fine. I have a 2" KORE HD Leveling kit and 35" tires which raised the rails 2" over the stock height, that DID present a problem with the 5er. I added a piece of 8" channel iron to the 5er frame. Plenty of clearance now, even for off roading. Many of the new 5ers have adjustable air suspension when you get into the larger models, so you can adjust for rail height. Many of them also offer a GN hitch if you are ordering from the factory. You can check out some hitch extensions AND adapters here - www.popuphitch.com/index.htm That is where I got my stuff. Their equipment works perfectly as advertised, is of high quality.

The salesman needs a little education, certainly NOT GOOD for his companies business with the advice you are getting from him.

CD

 

gotcha.
thanks Jamie

 

Bed height CAN be a serious issue with these new(er) 4X4 Dodge trucks.
I had a deposit on a camper last spring, went down to take a third look and happened to be in my truck, backed up, NO WAY! I had negative 5", no chance of flipping the axles, deal over.
I have noticed that most of the new and few year old 5'ers are pretty high up front, I guess they realize the trucks aren't getting any smaller.
A blessing in disguise though, cause I ended up with a MUCH nicer unit.

I am still out of whack though, I need to pick up about 2.5" somewhere to level it out. I have about 7" of clearance as it is.