A friend has a Chebby short box and wants to get into a 5ver. What kind and make of hitch are you short box guys using and any comments on them. Mine's a DSP and it can slide manually about 8 inches. I have never used the slide feature even when I had a short box. One RV dealer told him he will never be able to pull a 5ver with a short box.

 

I have a hijacker manually silde 16k. Been pulling fifth wheels with SB trucks since i don't remember when. More caution is needed when turning sharp, but that's usually in camp grd going slow. On the road never worried about it. Used my slider maybe a couple of times because I wanted to not that I had to. Depending on the trailer he is looking at the nose shape will determine to slide or not to slide. Having a slider is like having 4X4 you may not need it now, but it's there when you need it. And NO you don't need a expensive super slide whateveryoucallit.

 

I use a Reese 16K slider.

A lot will recommend the Pullrite Superglide Auto slider. If I had the xtra $2000 at the time, I would have one also.

 

I use a Husky 16K slider with my short bed, and slide my hitch EVERYTIME when backing into sites or yard when I could knock out the back window. DW stopped me one time only inches from having to replace the back window, so not worth the cost of attempting it. ALWAYS SLIDE IT..

 

Pullrite Superglide is pricy but the peace of mind is worth it IMO. It slides to the rear as much as 14 inches. Been towing 30ft 5er for 5 years with short bed and never a problem.

 

I use a 15K Reese slider. Always use the slide feature found out the hardway with my 2001 TV, forgot once to slide the hitch out. I was worried that the slider would not work with a Mega cab, but the pin box and hitch combo does work. My DW job is now to stand at the LH rear of the truck cab and watch, alwas back up from drivers side.

 

I have a non slide hitch and then put a sidewinder kingpin on the trailer. It now pivots at the trailer instead of at the hitch. I can turn 90degrees plus if needed. It wasn't as cheap as getting a manual slide, but I don't have to get out of the truck or even pay attention to it. It was $800, so about $650 more than a manual slide hitch and way less than the automatic superglide.

 

My dad just bought a 33ft 5th wheel and is looking for a truck. I found him a decent '96 CTD but its a SB. My dad is new to the RV scene and has very little towing experience, none with a 5th wheel.

The sidewinder hitch that you refered to, does it push the pin on the trailer farther forward? I noticed that on my dad trailer the pin box is mounted quite a bit more forarwrd than my neighbors 5th wheel.

Which is better for a SB, a sliding hitch of changing the hitch on the trialer. If you install an offset hitch on the trailer does it affect how it will tow with a long box?

 

I, too, have the Husky 16K slider. Like GreyTD said, it's like 4 wheel drive. Do you need it? Not always but when you do your up poop creek w/out it. I have -0- complaints about my hitch & couldn't justify the $$$$ for the higher end ones.

 

I also have the Husky Slider 16K and I am very happy with it.

 

I had a DSP hitch in my 93 half ton chevy short box with a gas 350 and it pulled just fine, never had any clearance issues with the shortbox with a fullsize propane tank in the back.

 

Just got back from a long weekend camping, thanks for all the replies, I'll print them out for him and he can decide for himself which one to buy. Thanks again.

 

I ordered the same hitch a few days ago. Hopefully I'm as happy with it as you are. It was a lot less expensive than some of the auto sliders.