5th Wheel Trailer Hitch Recommendations for a 2011 Ford F-250 Short Bed With Factory Under-Bed Rails  

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A sliding fifth wheel hitch is strongly recommended when towing a fifth wheel trailer with a short bed truck, including your 2011 Ford F-250 with 6-3/4 ft bed. The sliding legs create additional turning clearance between the trailer and the cab of your truck when making turns. It is not absolutely required that you use a slider hitch, but if you don't, then there is always a chance that you will hit the cab of your truck with your trailer when turning.

The fifth-wheel hitch should be installed directly over or slightly forward of the rear axle. With short-bed trucks, the distance between the cab and the rear axle is reduced. With a sliding hitch you have the ability to slide the hitch closer to the tailgate when making sharp turns so you do not hit your truck.

Reese, Curt and B&W all make fifth wheel hitches that are directly compatible with the Ford fifth wheel prep package, but only Reese makes a sliding hitch option, # RP30144. All of the hitches from Curt and B&W are fixed hitches. Reese also makes a rail adapter, # RP30156, which allows you to use any fifth wheel hitch that uses the standard above-bed base rails.

If you use a fixed hitch like the B&W Companion, # BWRVK3300, then I strongly recommend switching the pin box on your trailer with a Sidewinder. A Sidewinder changes the pivot point between the truck and trailer to create more turning clearance. Sidewinders are pin box specific, so I would need to know the manufacturer and model number of the pin box on your trailer to recommend the correct Sidewinder for you.

expert reply by: John H

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