Will Slider Hitch Or Sidewinder Work On A 2011 Ford F-250 With 6-3/4 Foot Bed Towing A Cyclone 300C

Question:

I have a 6 and 3/4 bed 2011 f250 and just ordered a Cyclone 300c witht the titanium front fifth wheel. What would be the best hitch? I really like the way the sidewinder works do not want to take any chances hitting cab or camper.

asked by: Keith W

Expert Reply:

I would recommend using a fifth wheel hitch with a slider on your 2011 Ford F-250 with a 6-3/4 foot bed. Failure to do so can result in the front of the trailer loft on your Cyclone 300C fifth wheel striking the rear of the truck cab during sharp turns and causing damage.

The hitch you are looking at, the Reese 16K 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch with Round Tube Slider, part # RP30075, is a great choice. I really like the round tube slider, as sometimes the square tube model sliders can bind, making the hitch difficult to slide back and forth. The round tube slider hitch will give you an extra 12 inches of travel towards the tailgate.

If you are needing more than the extra 12 inches that the slider hitch will give you or you want to make sure you have enough clearance, I would recommend to use a Sidewinder. A Sidewinder will relocate the pivot point from the hitch-king pin connection 22 inches rearward to the point where the pin box attaches to the trailer, gaining additional clearance between the trailer and the rear of the truck cab.

You would need to get a Sidewinder that is compatible with the pin box on your trailer. Find the pin box manufacturer and model number to determine if there is a sidewinder that will fit using our pin box to sidewinder matrix in the link I have included. The link will also include a clearance formula you can use to ensure you will have enough clearance between your truck cab and trailer when making a 90 degree turn. You will need at least 4 inches of clearance.

When using a Sidewinder you would use a standard fixed leg hitch like the Reese Fifth Wheel Hitch, part # RP30047.

The Reese Quick-Install Custom Base Rails and Installation Kit, part # RP50026-58, will be the correct installation kit for your 2011 Ford F-250 with the 6-3/4 foot bed. It is a custom kit which means it will use vehicle specific brackets that mount to existing holes on your frame and it minimizes drilling and measuring. The custom kit will install in half the time of the universal kit. I am including a link to a video of the Reese rails and brackets being installed on a 2011 Ford F-250.