5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Recommendation for a 2004 F-250 Super Duty Short Bed and Heartland Sundance  

Question:

Expert Reply:

In this situation I recommend going with the best hitch for the truck rather than for the trailer if for no other reason than you might one day pull a different trailer with your 2004 Ford F-250, and because it is better to error on the side of caution as the saying goes.

You can take some measurements to ensure there will be enough clearance. On your truck, the center of the hitch jaw will be 36 inches from the back of the truck cab. Using this information we can plug it into a formula to determine clearance.

Take 36 inches (measurement A) and add the travel distance of the slider (measurement B). Round tube sliders travel 12 inches. 36 plus 12 (A + B) equals 48. Next, measure the width of the trailer and divide by 2 to get half (measurement C). For example, if your trailer is 88 inches wide, divide by 2 to get 44. Next, take the 48 inches (A + B)) from earlier and subtract 44 (C). 48 minus 44 equals 4 inches of clearance (A + B = X. X - C = clearance). You need at least 4 inches of clearance to make 90 degree turns without the trailer coming into contact with truck cab.

The Reese round tube sliders offer the most clearance (12 inches). I recommend the Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Round Tube Slider, # RP30075, and installation kit # RP50082-58. I have included a link to the installation details below.

You might also be interested in Curt 5th Wheel and Gooseneck Wiring Harness with 7-Pole, # C56000.

expert reply by: Michael H

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