Can a 2009 Ford F-150 Supercrew with a 5.5 Foot Bed Tow a 5th Wheel Trailer

Question:

Trying to find a sliding/glider 5th wheel hitch for a pickup with short short bed. I was told there are some sliding back 12+ inches for cab clearance. Can u help?

asked by: Buehner

Expert Reply:

Since you have a bed that is less than 6 feet long, you will need to use a standard, stationary 5th wheel trailer hitch with a Sidewinder instead of a sliding hitch like # RP30051. The Sidewinder will provide 22 inches of clearance over the 12 inches of clearance of a slider hitch. There are some measurements you will need to take in order to determine if a Sidewinder will offer enough clearance to safely make 90 degree turns.

Use the formula below to ensure there will be enough space between your truck cab and trailer when executing a 90-degree turn.

(A + B) - C = Clearance

A = Distance from center of fifth wheel hitch jaw to truck cab
B = Length of Sidewinder arm (22 inches)
C = Width of trailer divided by 2 (to get half)

For example: With the Sidewinder, if the distance from the center of the hitch jaws to the cab is 36 inches, 36 + 22 = 58. If your fifth wheel trailer is 102 inches wide, take half (51 inches), then plug in: 58 - 51 = 7 inches of clearance. You need at least 4 inches of clearance to safely make 90 degree turns.

On your truck, the center of the hitch jaw will be approximately 1.5 inches forward of the rear axle center line using custom installation kit # RP50081-58. Measure from that point to the back of the cab to get measurement A in the formula above. Plug in the rest of the numbers to determine if the sidewinder will work.

I have included a link to an FAQ article explaining how a Sidewinder works and the formula. At the bottom of the FAQ is our pin box to Sidewinder conversion matrix. You will need to know the make and model number of the trailer pin box to check if there is a compatible Sidewinder.