hitch for shortbed

[grandliving]

Looking to pair a hitch with the f350 shortbed crew cab ford oem hitch prep kit.




I would like something lightweight, easily removable. and maybe a autoslider if necessary. I dont think I would want a non auto sliding hitch. Is there anyone towing a 337 on a shortbed ford with factory hitch prep?

I was thinking a stationary hitch then the reese sidewinder. but recently found the b&W RVK3370 which seems like the best way but i dont think its autosliding.

 

[SouthTX]

I don't have the factory prep kit, but they are all going to be in about the same place. My B&W turnover gooseball is installed about an inch forward of the rear axle. I pull a 337 with an AUH and it adds just enough to the front axle that there is no change in handling. I'm 100 over the rear axle rating and very lightly loaded so I'm hunting a F350. SB's are difficult to find.

The AUH is certainly lightweight, easily removable and no slider is necessary. I've been on some rough roads and bucking and chucking is practically nothing - I couldn't ask for a better ride.

 

[Second Chance]

"Light weight" and "auto-slider" are mutually exclusive terms. The new front caps are well-designed and we did fine from a clearance perspective with an Andersen Ultimate in a 6.5' GM bed. PullRite now has the UltraLight which is very similar to the Andersen, too.

Rob

 

[warsw1]

I just installed a Sidewinder on my Solitude. I haven't had a change to tow it with the new pinbox yet but I did get it installed. This is kinda like closing the barn door after the horse got out. Last month, pulling out of a tight service station, I was watching so many other things I wasn't watching the trailer cab clearance close enough. I managed to put a pretty good crease in the driver side of the cab. It's going to cost $1300.00 to fix and $500.00 of that is up to me. That would have paid a good portion of the cost of the new pinbox.

 

[grandliving]

"Light weight" and "auto-slider" are mutually exclusive terms. The new front caps are well-designed and we did fine from a clearance perspective with an Andersen Ultimate in a 6.5' GM bed. PullRite now has the UltraLight which is very similar to the Andersen, too.

Rob

yea but i thought that voids the lippert frame warranty?

 

[Second Chance]

yea but i thought that voids the lippert frame warranty?

No - a gooseneck adapter will void the warranty (except for the Reese GooseBox - but that's another story). The Andersen and PullRite hitches are not goosenecks and do not put the torsional forces on the pin box and the front of the RV frame that a gooseneck adapter does (they don't have the "lever").

Rob

 

[grandliving]

No - a gooseneck adapter will void the warranty (except for the Reese GooseBox - but that's another story). The Andersen and PullRite hitches are not goosenecks and do not put the torsional forces on the pin box and the front of the RV frame that a gooseneck adapter does (they don't have the "lever").

Rob

o cool so how do you attach the AUH to the pin? do you have any pictures of your setup?

 

[Second Chance]

o cool so how do you attach the AUH to the pin? do you have any pictures of your setup?

We are not using an AUH any more - traded trucks and couldn't get the adapter for the Ford puck system in time. The hitch system comes with an adapter that attaches to the king pin and couples with the ball on the top of the hitch. The hitches come in various forms including a steel model that sits in industry standard rails in the truck bed and an aluminum version that sit on/attaches to the gooseneck ball in the truck bed (if you have one). There are many folks on the forum towing with the Andersen - just use the search function at the top.

Rob

 

[grandliving]

We are not using an AUH any more - traded trucks and couldn't get the adapter for the Ford puck system in time. The hitch system comes with an adapter that attaches to the king pin and couples with the ball on the top of the hitch. The hitches come in various forms including a steel model that sits in industry standard rails in the truck bed and an aluminum version that sit on/attaches to the gooseneck ball in the truck bed (if you have one). There are many folks on the forum towing with the Andersen - just use the search function at the top.

Rob

Yea just trying to see if maybe i should go with a regular hitch and then something like 5th Airborne Premium 5th Wheel Air Ride King Pin w/ Sidewinder and Turret - 16,000 lbs
Item # RP61452

 

[warsw1]

Yea just trying to see if maybe i should go with a regular hitch and then something like 5th Airborne Premium 5th Wheel Air Ride King Pin w/ Sidewinder and Turret - 16,000 lbs
Item # RP61452

The reason I chose the Sidewinder over an auto slider was that the Sidewinder didn't add any weight to the truck (an auto slider is a much heavier hitch) and I can still haul any 5th wheel that still has a conventional hitch. With an auto slider you can't. One thing I will add is that even with the newer design of the front caps you can still make contact with the trailer in a tight turn. One other thing I will add. Back in 2012 I had a standard bed Chevy and it had such a poor turning radius that it would not turn sharp enough, going forward, to allow contact. My 2016 Ram turns much sharper.

 

[Cate&Rob]

One other thing I will add. Back in 2012 I had a standard bed Chevy and it had such a poor turning radius that it would not turn sharp enough, going forward, to allow contact. My Ram turns much sharper.

This will be a "game changer" if the newest trucks can turn sharp enough going forward to make contact between the cap and the cab.

Rob

 

[WhittleBurner]

Our 2015 GMC turns a lot sharper than our 2003 Ford did. The GMC will turn sharp enough to be a problem for a trailer if it was a short bed.

 

[Andrepdx]

I don't know if you looked into the Anderson set up. But it is the bees knees.
I have a ram with 6'4" bed. works like a charm with my 5th wheel.
It is lite and I can carry it with one Hand. In have my full bed back in about 5 minutes.
https://andersenhitches.com/uploads/Ultimate GN Manual (3220, 3221, 3225) 2016 (lo-res).pdf

 

[MtnGuy]

I have a B&W slider for the Ford 5th wheel prep package. It seems to be a well made unit, and so far has worked great. Even thought I can get about a 75 degree angle between the truck and camper, I slide the hitch back when the wife goes to check into a campground, and it stays that way until we leave. I also slide the hitch back when backing into my driveway. I have never encountered a sharp enough turn on the road to cause alarm. If I should see "space" between the rear of the truck and the opposite side of the camper in my mirrors during a sharp turn, then I know I need to back off a bit, as I am approaching that 75 degree angle.

 

[grandliving]

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up getting a sidewinder 19k king pin and then the comfort ride model 184. I haven't taken it on a shakedown yet but I will keep everyone posted as to how the combo pulls.

 

[kengeers]

My Demco Highjacker is over 200 pounds to maneuver it without the head attached. The complete hitch as listed weighs over 240 pounds.
All autoslides are going to be heavy. The nice thing about the Demco is that they sent me the lift attachment to pick it up with a engine hoist or overhead crane from the head.
To minimize the weight in your truck go with the sidewinder.

 

[burgpath]

I have a B&W slider for the Ford 5th wheel prep package. It seems to be a well made unit, and so far has worked great. Even thought I can get about a 75 degree angle between the truck and camper, I slide the hitch back when the wife goes to check into a campground, and it stays that way until we leave. I also slide the hitch back when backing into my driveway. I have never encountered a sharp enough turn on the road to cause alarm. If I should see "space" between the rear of the truck and the opposite side of the camper in my mirrors during a sharp turn, then I know I need to back off a bit, as I am approaching that 75 degree angle.

Hi, to make Sure I understand you. So if you see the driver side bed corner go past the passenger side of the camper?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[MtnGuy]

Hi, to make Sure I understand you. So if you see the driver side bed corner go past the passenger side of the camper?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Yes, that is my reference. Also if I keep from turning my steering wheel from full lock (maybe backed off about 1/4 turn) it will not happen when going forward.

 

[burgpath]

Yes, that is my reference. Also if I keep from turning my steering wheel from full lock lock (maybe backed off about 1/4 turn) it will not happen when going forward.

The owner of dealership we are buying from tells me I won't need a slider so we didn't order one. Now I'm left feeling a bit nervous with out one.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[MtnGuy]

The owner of dealership we are buying from tells me I won't need a slider so we didn't order one. Now I'm left feeling a bit nervous with out one.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

You might be OK without a slider. I am not 1 to take chances, and decided on the slider as a safety measure. Other then backing into my driveway, I didn’t think I have encountered a situation where I actually needed the slider.....I have a sharp turn into my driveway plus I have to go across a swell where my truck and trailer are on different planes.

1 other advantage of the slider is if I might get into a situation where I have to back up to the trailer at an angle to hook up. At a straight on angle, my tailgate in the down position is about 1’ from the front of the trailer before latching. If I would need to come in from an angle then I would need to get the pin close to the hitch, then close the tailgate to keep from hitting the front of the camper, then complete the hitching process. Hooking up the umbilical cord would also probably be best done with the tailgate down if the Bargman plug is in the bed of the truck.