I have a short bed. I installed a slider hitch last year with anticipation of purchasing a 5th wheel soon but finding a used trailer that has the right trailer to cab clearance measurements is becoming far more challenging than I was led to believe. I understand that the slider will only be used for "maneuvering" but if I cant even turn a full lock in the forward direction then towing will result in constant fear of hitting the cab. Is there anyone who tows with their 5th wheel and a short bed that doesn't have this problem? As my hitch is mounted, the center of the kingpin to cab is 40.5 inches. Slider moves back about 11-12 inches.

 

katoom, i have the short bed and slider set up and hardly ever need it. The main thing you need is to make sure your trailer has a hitch that sticks forward of the trailer at least 13". If it is under the lip you still won't have good clearance in corners. With the extended type tongue you'll have no problems. They are plentiful out there. I can turn almost 80 degrees with the hitch in the tow position. I only pull it rearward when unhooking and hooking so I can see the pin at hookup.

 

I have a short bed without a slider hitch and have never had a problem. My 5th wheel was built by Heartland and is designed to allow 88 degree turns.

 

I have a Heartland with the molded front and was able to turn nearly 90 degrees with my 03 3500 short bed. Never had a slider or needed it. Now I have a long bed so no longer an issue I guess.

 

The Pullright Super Glide was the answer for me. It is an automatic slider that moves to the rear up to 14 inches. It is on a cam system and starts to move to the rear at 22 degrees of turn. They are pricy but the peace of mind was well worth it for me.

 

I bought a new SB truck and trailer this year and was concerned about cab clearance. I thought about a slider but really wanted a B&W so I wouldn't have any rails and B&W don't make a slider. After getting the 2012 trailer I was surprised at just how much clearance there is. In fact the hitch part of the pin box hits the inside of the truck box before the corner of the trailer will hit the cab. The trailer is a Crusader and has cut away corners to give more clearance.

 

I just had a Husky installed and it works well but if my towing becomes more regular I'll probably upgrade to the superglide and sell the Husky.
I'm towing so very little now that nothing becomes routine and we all know that those routine moments are what get you!!

 

I had a Reese 20k slider put in and it's OK, I want a pullrite some day. I slide it out when I get to the campsite and when I pull out to make sure. Also when I park it. But just driving you will not hit the window and you will be able to see how close you are out mirrors.

 

Thanks guys. So if I understood whiskers right, I need a pinbox far enough out to have the pin 13" from the front of the trailer? If thats the case then there is definitely hardly any trailers I'm going to be able to purchase.
I realize that an auto slider is the best way to go but thats simply not an option for me right now. I know that I will have to use the slider and thats OK since thats what I bought it for but I at least want to be able to drive and still make full lock turns in the forward direction without hitting the cab. Thats why I was looking for the magic cab to trailer clearance measurement numbers for 2nd gen short beds and 5th wheel hitches.

 

My king pin is about 18" back from the front of the trailer (not forward) and I can make some pretty tight turns. Just plan out your approach to corners, parking lots etc, and you should be fine. When you do turn tight, pay close attention to your RV and the cab of the truck. I don't think that you can turn tight enough at speed to get into your cab so it shouldn't be that difficult.

 

18" BACK????? That must mean that your trailer is about 20" from your cab. No? And you can make forward movement full lock to lock steering turns without touching? Like Walmart parking lot turns?

 

I don't know if you need the full 13" stick out. That's what my hitch manufacturer sugests. But i have so much room it amazing . i can do a u turn with the slider. Mine is a Reese type 15K clone off Ebay. about $300 for the slider type hitch.

 

I didn't measure the distance from cab to trailer so I couldn't tell you how close it was.
Full lock to lock???
I think the question you are really asking is can I put my trailer at 90 degrees to my truck. No not without releasing the slide. But can I maneuver through a Walmart parking lot? Yes. Pulling a trailer of any size always requires choosing your approach and that requirement is accented the larger and longer your trailers gets. Mine is a 36' Montana/Keystone. She's huge!
I have no problem in parking lots but when I go into one I'm looking the full length of the lot before going in to figure out where I want to be before I'm even close to my spot.
I can't imagine needing to turn "full lock" going forward for any amount of time. Especially not to the point of putting the trailer more than 75 degrees to the truck.
Since you have not purchased a trailer yet you should look for RVs that have tapered front corners. Mine tapers back about 10" or so from where the front center of the trailer is. I've seen some that literally look like they been cut out at the bottom front corners to make them short bed friendly.
This one is tapered but I've seen more extreme tapers than this.

 

Thanks but no, I wasn't asking if you could back into a 90* position. I was asking if you could drive forward and perform a full left or right steering wheel lock without out the slide and not contact the cab. Yes, that would probably mean a U turn but more what I'm getting at is being able to easily maneuver through a parking lot without needing to push the slider back. I fully understand the need for a slider and that the chances of ever having a trailer that can 90* with a short bed is slim to none but what I'm wanting is to just be able to drive without worrying about trailer to cab contact. Parking.....is a completely different subject. I "know" I wont be able to park without the slider and thats perfectly OK. Thats why I was shocked to read how far your pin is under the trailer. Most short bed friendly trailers are not only scalloped but the pin is 6" or more out in front of the trailer.

 

The picture Capt Ron posted is of a Crusader, the same make I bought just a different model but all their models use the same front. At the bottom of page 17 on this site is a picture of a SB truck hooked to a Crusader in what looks like 90Deg turn. Have a look you'll be surprised. NO slider. http://www.primetimerv.com/download/...thighlight.pdf