5th Wheel Hitch Solution for Short Bed Truck that Doesn't Require Getting Out to Slide Hitch

Question:

I have a 2011 f250 6.5ft bed I have a -9 offset on my pin box kingpin to the front of my fifth wheel. I have a 8 foot wide camper. And I have 41inchs from my center of my gooseneck ball to the cab of my truck. Or whats my best options I dont wont to get out of my truck to slide my hitch. I rather go gooseneck if I can. Thank you

asked by: Chris D

Expert Reply:

Best option would be a Sidewinder pin box as they allow you turning clearance without having to get out of the vehicle in tight turns.

You will need to remove the pin box of the trailer and replace it with a Sidewinder pin box. Sidewinders are pin box specific so you will first need to know what pin box you have now in order to pick out the correct one.

There should be a sticker or a stamping on the OEM pin box of the trailer that will list the pin box number that is on the trailer.

Once you figure out which pin box you have you can check the FAQ I attached that has a chart that shows the correct Sidewinder to get based on which pin box you have.

The other option is an automatic sliding hitch like the Demco Hijacker Autoslide # DM8550037 which as the head of the hitch turns around corners it slides it back so that you have turning clearance.

There's no good way to use a gooseneck hitch with a short bed truck. That's the big advantage fifth wheel setups have over gooseneck hitches.

expert reply by: Jameson C