Hi

I have a long bed and it is cumbersom to drive on a every day basis.

I am looking at a 05 2500 Larame and would like your suggestions and opinions.

Pros and cons of long bed vs short bed when towing with a
5th wheel

Are the adjustable 5th wheel is too dificult to use.

Thank you all
Carl

 

No big deal w/ a shortbed, just get a slider hitch. I have had both and I really don't have a preferance either way. I didn't buy a new hitch when I got the new truck w/ the longbed so I have a sliderhitch in there now. I never used that feature even w/ the shortbed. You just get used to not being able to cut it real sharp backing up!


Tony

 

I would go wit the long bed, They are not much harder to turn and the ride with the longer wheelbase is better.

 

Right on Chubby

 

The first thing you should consider is the weight of the 5VR you are going to be carrying
You may need to go with the 3500 if the hitch weight is up there.
As far as the Long bed verses the Short bed, yes the Long bed is easier to equipe with a 5VR hitch and you don't have to get a slider, however the Short bed is easier to drive around town but you will pay extra for the slider hitch.
I would test drive them both on the exact same roads on the same day if possible to see what the difference feels like to you.
Also dirve the both the 2500 & 3500 of both trucks there is a difference in the feel of them. Check the air pressure on the tires prior to the test drive because how much air there is in the rear tires will make both, exspecially the 3500 ride rough when empty.
I only run 50# in the rear when empty but 75 when loaded, the fronts I run 55 empty and 65 loaded as jper the tire info guide that is in the glove compartment.
If yo decide to go Shortbed then get a good slider hitch, the SuperGlide is the one of the best, however it does come with at a premeium price but I think it is worth the extra money.
As I said earlier check your 5VR hitch weight thentake into consideration passengers and other junk in the truck and add atleast 500# to that. This will determine what truck 2500 or 3500 SRW or DRW setup you need.

 

I've towed two different 5ers with a short bed and no slider hitch due to the fact that both 5ers had pin-boxes that stuck out in front of the nose of the 5er. I don't have any problems going in the forward direction, but as mentioned earlier, you must pay attention when backing up. I've always said that "If I've got to jack-knife the trailer hard enough to make contact with the cab,,,,,, I'm trying to put the trailer somewhere it doesn't need to be"
When I back into my driveway, I have the rig jacked harder than I ever do normally. I'm still about 6-8" from cab contact but it bothers me to think about how much stress I'm putting on the hitch, pin box and trailer suspension when you see one set of wheels being dragged almost sideways.
One thing to remember is that I have a 99 and I also remind folks that this set-up works fine for me with my type hitch and trailer. If I had a 5er where the pin was under the nose, I would have to come up with something different. You are going to have to take into consideration that the 2005 has a shorter bed (I think,,,, someone correct me if I'm wrong).
I do like the short bed when I'm not towing because it's a little less truck to navigate with.

 

I've had a 03 2500, and now a 04.5 3500, both short boxes. I do have a slider hitch, but have not yet had to run it out to move the 5er around. As Rattlinram says, I get way more side loading on the trailer than I want, long before getting the cab near the trailer. (Actually, with the current 5th wheel, I can get over 90 degrees, without moving the slider.