Can a Sliding Fifth Wheel Hitch Be Used in a 2003 Ford F150 Supercrew with the 5 Foot 5 Inch Bed?

Expert Reply:

If you were to use a fifth wheel hitch with a slider in a truck with a bed that short, you would almost certainly damage the truck or trailer when making a turn. Even when fully slid to the rear, you still will not have enough clearance between the truck cab and the front of the trailer. Your best bet would be to use a non-sliding fifth wheel hitch with a Sidewinder. The Sidewinder will relocate the pivot point from where the king pin locks into the hitch 22 inches to the rear, to the point where the pin box attaches to the trailer. The Sidewinder is specific to the part number on your existing pin box, so you will need that number to select the correct model Sidewinder. You will also need to choose a fifth wheel hitch whose capacity is equal to or greater than the fully loaded weight of your trailer.

expert reply by: Mike L