Slider Hitch Thoughts, Auto-Slide or Manual, Sought

Dugoutnut

Member
Joined
May 27, 2020
Messages
19
Location
Houston Frakin' Texas (Not a fan)
I have a 2018 Ram 2500 short bed, factory OEM puck system. I also have a 2006 Dodge 2500 long bed tow vehicle. I am in the process of switching trucks for towing. I am a cheap, penny pinching miser (just ask my kids). I have spent hours talking myself out of the auto-slide due to cost and weight. Change my mind if you can.

I am now stuck on which manual slider brand to purchase, I really like the idea of being able to remove the hitch when not in use. The manual slider's weight is attractive both for removal and total weight when towing. There are several I am considering. Curt, B&W Companion and Reese. I prefer a unit built for the puck system and not one that requires a separately purchased "OEM frame" that you install a standard sliding hitch to. Adds weight and hassle. On the other hand, why shouldn't I spend the big bucks and go with the PullRite Super-Glide, damn the expense and extra weight?

So ladies and gentleman, what say you?
 
I have a 2018 Ram 2500 short bed, factory OEM puck system. I also have a 2006 Dodge 2500 long bed tow vehicle. I am in the process of switching trucks for towing. I am a cheap, penny pinching miser (just ask my kids). I have spent hours talking myself out of the auto-slide due to cost and weight. Change my mind if you can.

I am now stuck on which manual slider brand to purchase, I really like the idea of being able to remove the hitch when not in use. The manual slider's weight is attractive both for removal and total weight when towing. There are several I am considering. Curt, B&W Companion and Reese. I prefer a unit built for the puck system and not one that requires a separately purchased "OEM frame" that you install a standard sliding hitch to. Adds weight and hassle. On the other hand, why shouldn't I spend the big bucks and go with the PullRite Super-Glide, damn the expense and extra weight?

So ladies and gentleman, what say you?

I’ll vote for the Pullrite, I had a manual slide before and forgot to pull the lever ONE time, $800 damage to the cab.
 
Personally I prefer the Curt manual. I have the A16 - it's a slider that I have only used twice. Once to test it, and once thinking it would help me when backing into the driveway (It didn't help. Actually damaged my tailgate). Easy to take in and out as it can be broken down to 2 pieces. Very solid unit.
 
I really liked the B&W manual slider for Ford pucks. The design of the jaws just made the hitch a joy to use. You can easily check for high-pinning as you can see the pin and jaws clearly from behind.
 
This right here might sway you one way or another......

We all have those "duh" moments - you know, the ones that wish we thought through or regret too late....

I vote for the slider. I've always used an automatic one. I'm lazy and now when I have one of those "duh" moments at least I can make a tight turn (U_turn usually) and have one less worry. Ya spent thousands on your rig and truck(s) so maybe another grand isn't such a bad thing.

I'd vote for a hitch with a wrap-around jaw. That comment will set off some replies. But I just like seeing that something is wrapped around and locked.

I'll support you which ever way you go.
 
not to get too far off topic here but...... I just had to chuckle a bit when I read your signature... wife: Canadian..... just never saw that before....

in case my DW ever reads this forum I'd have to put: wife: always pleasant... or is it always present? :cool: anyhow.... nice sig line!
 
I have a 2018 Ram 2500 short bed, factory OEM puck system. I also have a 2006 Dodge 2500 long bed tow vehicle. I am in the process of switching trucks for towing. I am a cheap, penny pinching miser (just ask my kids). I have spent hours talking myself out of the auto-slide due to cost and weight. Change my mind if you can.

I am now stuck on which manual slider brand to purchase, I really like the idea of being able to remove the hitch when not in use. The manual slider's weight is attractive both for removal and total weight when towing. There are several I am considering. Curt, B&W Companion and Reese. I prefer a unit built for the puck system and not one that requires a separately purchased "OEM frame" that you install a standard sliding hitch to. Adds weight and hassle. On the other hand, why shouldn't I spend the big bucks and go with the PullRite Super-Glide, damn the expense and extra weight?

So ladies and gentleman, what say you?

I wont attempt to change your mind at all. Hike your own hike, pull your own rig. ;) Our tow vehicle is a 2011 F-250 6 3/4' bed. We chose a PullRite Superglide for the following reasons:

Pros:
As a 1st time 5th wheel owner I wanted peace of mind in tight turns or backing to avoid contact with the truck cab.
I live on a dead end street with a cul de sac which requires a very tight turn radius to turn around
Absolute peace of mind when backing .
Wife can jump in and back the rig without having to worry about getting out and manually having to release anything.
When hitching, there is not doubt when the hitch locks in.

Cons
You need to be within 10 degrees to hitch or unhitch
Heavy
Can be noisy, creaks a little.



Overall:
I have found the hitch performs as advertised. I knew it was heavy when I did the research. Hitching and unhitching is easy and I absolutely enjoy not having to worry about cab contact. For us the PullRite was the right choice. Absolutely no regrets. YYMV

Edited to add. Everyone has bad days but I wanted to avoid this https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/showthread.php/36319-Took-out-rear-window
 
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"Wife can jump in and back the rig without having to worry about getting out and manually having to release anything."

Heh, heh, heh... That isn't going to happen anyway. Lol. I've suggested my wife learn to use the dump station and she suggested I find another wife.
 
"Wife can jump in and back the rig without having to worry about getting out and manually having to release anything."

Heh, heh, heh... That isn't going to happen anyway. Lol. I've suggested my wife learn to use the dump station and she suggested I find another wife.

My wife didn't suggest I find another wife for the dump station thing. She has dealt with that kind of thing for years - Nurse. She wants nothing to do with anything other than when we set up, doing the interior stuff - slides, awning, etc.
 
My wife loves doing the tank emptying, pushing the leveling buttons, dunno station, slides in and out, turning on propane, hooking up and unhooking utilities. What she won't do? Drive the truck towing. Any distance. I can't say please, just two feet forward while I hold this, her answer, "I'll hold that, you drive".

Reason: if anything bad happens, I can't blame her.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk
 
To think about it, or not have to worry about it. Just takes one split second to wish you had the autoslider. I had a Demco Autoslide in the 17 F350CCSB. It was a great hitch - quiet and just did what I needed it to do when it was supposed to do it. They are heavier for sure - I could get it out by myself and a HF cherry picker in about 10min if needed though. If you do go non-auto... then highly recommend the B&W. I have the B&W 25K# fixed hitch in my F450 and love it.
 
I went autoslider for all the above reasons.

A trick for brief removal is to use the trailer. Stay hitched but release the mounting, run front legs out and up it goes. I do this when I want the full bed for hauling. Since repositioning can't be precise, you do have to wrestle the hitch a few inches. (I built a garage ceiling hoist for winter.)

Me wife declared she won't back any trailer. We've had several smaller trailers and she hated backing, so no more!
 
I agree with Geoff...... I'm on my second PullRite SuperGlide (had a 16K got a new-bigger rig, bought the 18K) and the piece of mind of not worrying about remembering to slide the hitch back is well worth the price.
Only down side is the weight of the hitch....about 240#. I purchased a cheap engine hoist at Harbor Freight put a longer lift arm on it and use it to lift the hitch assembly out and set it on a rolling stand that I made. I can pull it out of the truck by myself in about 5-10 minutes. hitchlift.jpg
 
I am a cheap, penny pinching miser (just ask my kids). I have spent hours talking myself out of the auto-slide due to cost and weight.

I am the epitome of penny pinching also just out of habit & being a former business owner! Your question mirrored mine when we got our (new to us) 2017 Reflection. The original owner showed me how he used his manual slider, reaching over the side of the bed rail, unlock, pull lever, etc. & the very first thing to enter my mind was, I'm 5'6ish (Ha Ha, and shrinking) PLUS, living & camping a lot in the state of "Wait 10 minutes the weather will change" Michigan. I don't cherish the thought of getting out of the truck, grabbing a foot stool to be able to reach over the side of the truck, getting rain,snow, hailed on etc. Once you have made that decision, in which I see you have, it's done. You spent the money, & now you can sit back and enjoy the trip! We have a Demco Auto that (I know) I can pull it out of our F250 with my front end loader, but we also have another truck if we need to haul something. So it stays there covered with a roll-up tonneau. Happy camping!
 
We went for the auto-slide (Pullrite Superglide), and never looked back. The biggest Con is it eats up a lot of your truck bed. You'll be finding creative ways to store stuff in the bed. The biggest Pro is that it's set it and forget it. All worries gone. Need to make that turn? Just make it.
 
[ So it stays there covered with a roll-up tonneau. Happy camping!

Not to hijack the thread, but I'm in the market for an inexpensive tonneau. Would you mind sharing which one you went with, and how you like it?

TIA!
 
Have the pullrite too, it's been a real frustration saver. Getting off the interstate for fuel and getting surprised by tight spots and traffic congestion and then needing to make tight turns forward or even having to back up, you will appreciate not having to worry about also unlocking a hitch to slide. I take mine out by myself, just remove the head firs to lighten a little, then loosen it from the factory puck system via the simple handles, use two two planks to slide it rearward in and off the bed to a heavy duty rolling table I made, with also makes a great place to service/clean/store. Good luck with your decision I am really happy with mine.
 

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