Slider 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch or Sidewinder Needed to Tow a 2009 Palomino Sabre w/2012 Ford F-250

Question:

I have a 2012 f250 king ranch with a 6-3/4 foot bed. I have the reese 30142 hitch for it but need extra clearance. Do you reccomend a slider for my hitch #30070, or a sidewinder? If I turn the center section of my hitch for extra clearance, what would that hurt ? My fifth wheel camper is 2009 Palomino Sabre 31 RLDS. Pin box is lippert #1621.

asked by: Barry

Expert Reply:

Because you have a 6-3/4 foot bed, using a slider, # BWRVK3370, would be a good option and cost less than a Sidewinder.

The hitch you have is designed to hold the king pin of the trailer in the proper place relative to the rear axle of the vehicle. The hitch is not designed nor should it be used with the center section turned. You also would not gain enough additional clearance.

The use of the slider may not provide enough clearance either. I did some research and found that the 5th wheel is 96 inches wide. If you were to add the slider, measure from the center of the hitch jaws (in your fixed hitch you have now) forward to the back of the truck cab. Then add 10 inches. The total will need to be at least 4 inches more than half the width of the trailer (48 inches) in order for you to make tight turns without hitting the truck and trailer together.

If you do the measurements and will not have enough clearance with the slider then you will need to go with a Sidewinder. For the Lippert 1621 pin box, for a 20k capacity use # RP34FR and for 16k use # RP61422.

expert reply by: Michael H