Short Bed Hitch Blues

[SkiSmuggs]

The Revolution and the Sidewinder are the same product. The Revolution is the OEM product that is installed at the factory. I have a Sidewinder on my Reflection and am very happy with it. My camping buddy also has one on his Reflection 303 and another friend has one for his triple axle toy hauler. I have a Reese Pro-series hitch that easily removes and then I have my whole box available. I contacted Lippert and they informed that I do not void any warranties.

Do all of you have 6 1/2 to 6 3/4' bed or a 5'7" bed like the F150 Crew Cabs? I would like to hear from someone with a 6.5 or 6.75 bed that tows a GD with just a standard hitch and see if there are clearance issues. I believe these radiused caps and extended pins are enough for a 90 degree turn in a short bed (6.5 & up).

[pauliwalnutz]

My Ram bed is 5'6". No issues at all.

[SkiSmuggs]

My Ram bed is 5'6". No issues at all.

Extended pin or Sidewinder pin?

[pauliwalnutz]

Sidewinder Pin

[Cate&Rob]

@SkiSmuggs

At least for the Fords, you don't have to guess at this. (Maybe other truck manufacturers have this data available too ?)
https://www.fleet.ford.com/TRUCKBBAS...F-150_v1-0.pdf
In this info, you will find dimension L404 (back of cab to centerline of rear axle) at 38" for the 6.5 box and 26" for the 5.5 box.
So, with a tape measure from the pin, you can figure out where 26" and 38" would cause the cab and RV cap to meet.

I have a Reese Slider, which I use all the time because it is easy to use and I can see the hitch in the aft position for connecting and I have lots more room to work between the truck and the 5th, for getting at stuff in the front storage compartment, blocking up the landing gear, etc. Also, I don't have to have the truck exactly square to the trailer, to open the tailgate.

Another advantage is on an overnight stop where I don't want to unhook, if I slide the hitch back and empty the airlift bags I can get the 303 down to level on level ground.

Rob

[thompsons 369rl]

Do all of you have 6 1/2 to 6 3/4' bed or a 5'7" bed like the F150 Crew Cabs? I would like to hear from someone with a 6.5 or 6.75 bed that tows a GD with just a standard hitch and see if there are clearance issues. I believe these radiused caps and extended pins are enough for a 90 degree turn in a short bed (6.5 & up).

I tow our Solitude with a F350 with the 6 1/2 ft bed. I have a Husky slider. I can NOT make a full 90 degree turn with that setup when the hitch is in the normal towing position. I frankly have never been in a situation where I needed to use the slider nor have I ever measured to see just how sharp of a turn it can make but I can go pretty darn sharp. If I had to guess I would say it can go to about 85 degrees before the front cap would hit the cab with the hitch in the towing (forward) position.

[TucsonJim]

I'm not sure what degree I was at, but I was backing into a tight spot, and put a very slight crease on the back of my F350. I should have moved the slider, but I had about 10 cars stopped on a busy highway and was trying to hurry. I learned a lesson the hard way. Fortunately, the crease is pretty small, so I won't worry about having to fix it.

[Lingerlonger]

Jim, I have the same little crease in the cab of my F250.
It happened the third time I backed my 5W into my driveway. The first two times I did not slide the hitch back.
So I thought I could do it EVERY time. Not so. Got in a hurry, took the wrong approach and the rest is history.
I now think ahead and slide the hitch back OR I am very careful in making tight turns.

I recommend a slider for anyone with a short bed truck. When you need it, you need it.

K

[SkiSmuggs]

Maybe we could just tape bubble wrap to the back of the cab. When the bubbles start to pop, STOP!

I have the Sidewinder on my current fiver and will just move the Reese hitch from my F150 to the new F350 for the next couple of years. I won't have to worry about it until I replace the Cougar with, likely, a new Grand Design. Then I have to decide whether to move the Sidewinder to a new fiver. Being the 16K model, it would work with the Reflections, but too close to limits with the Solitude. By then, GD may have a Revolution option like Jayco does.

[JEMcAfee]

Late response….I have a 2013 F350 Diesel with a Pull Rite Hitch, it is completely removable (3 pieces). It is the glide model which allow the a 90 degree turn without hitting your truck cab. Total cost a little high but works great.