Do Extended Pin Boxes Allow Short Bed Trucks to Tow Fifth Wheel Hitch without a Slider

Updated 02/29/2016 | Published 02/26/2016

Question:

I hava a 2004 Dodge 3500 short box, with a bandw turn over gooseneck. The distance to the cab from center of ball is 30. My 5th wheel camper is 94-1/2inch wide with a 10 extension out to the center of the king pin. So that gives me 841/2 divided by 2 and you get 42-1/4. Will the curt adapter 16310 for the bandw, along with a curt 16516 slider hitch work? My math says its 1/4 inch short, will that matter? I have heard you need 4inch to spare so you dont hit the cab. Any other suggestions? Is the head connection of the 16516 directly over the in ball on the bandw, giving you 12inch back from the center of the flip ball socket?

asked by: Joe

Expert Reply:

Your extended pin box doesn't actually give you 10 more inches of offset since when the trailer turns the pin box swivels which puts the trailer the same distance from the truck cab. The only time you can use an offset's distance in the formula for determining clearance is when it is on the truck side.

Since you have a Turnover gooseneck hitch installed in your truck you are going to need to go with the Slider Companion part # BWRVK3400 so that you would have the clearance needed. This will slide back 12 inches for an additional 12 inches of clearance.

You are correct in that you do want 4 inches of clearance between the cab of the truck and the nose of the trailer

expert reply by: Jameson C