Recommended 5th Wheel Hitch for a 2005 Ford F-150 5-1/2 Foot Bed

Updated 07/11/2016 | Published 07/09/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Demco 5th Wheel/Gooseneck 90-Degree Wiring Harness with 7-Pole Plug - 10' Long

(71)

$113.65

Demco Autoslide 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider - Single Jaw - Under Bed - 13,000 lbs

(711)

$2349.00

Underbed Rail and Installation Kit for Demco UMS 5th Wheel and Gooseneck Trailer Hitches

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$609.95

Question:

I have a 2005 F150 w/5 1/2 ft bed. I understand that the sidewinder is needed. But your article was written in 2008. So now a new 5th wheel I am looking at, has a long hitch pin extender built in. It seems in 2016, this pin extender replaces the sidewinder. Am I correct in this assumption?

asked by: David M

Helpful Expert Reply:

I can help explain this evolution to you to help you better understand.

The reason short bed trucks like your 5-1/2 foot Ford F-150 needed the sidewinder was because of clearance. A sliding hitch alone wouldn't give the camper/rv enough room when turning to not impact the truck cab. Due to popular demand the Sidewinder was born and allowed many short bed truck customers to tow because it moved the pivot point from a standard non-sliding hitch back 22 inches. The Sidewinder essentially extended the pin box of the trailer to work with a standard non-sliding hitch or a sliding hitch lock into position to transfer that pivot point back, but was expensive due to needing the two pieces and fit a variety of pinboxes but not all. These two parts worked well for most customers but to be sure you always want to check using the Clearance Formula.

(A + B) - C = Clearance
A = Distance from the fifth wheel jaw center to the truck cab
B = Offset used (slider clearance or Sidewinder offset) 22 inches for the Sidewinder
C = Width of the nose of the trailer divided by 2
At least 4 inches of clearance is recommended to safely execute a 90 degree turn.

Until very recently this was the only way for a short bed truck customer to tow. Then Demco came out with their Demco Hijacker AutoSlide 13K # DM8550041. With this Autoslide technology the Demco 5th wheel hitch slides automatically as you drive to give you 22-1/2 inches of additional clearance for tight turns. It no longer makes you get in and out of the truck to operate a manual slider, which is a great perk for the frequent tower. This technology has given the short bed owner a second option for towing that camper/rv.

The underbed mounted installation rails you will need for this hitch that are confirmed to fit your 2005 Ford F-150 5-1/2 foot bed are the # DM8551001.

If you could tell me what pin extender you are referring to, I'd be happy to look into it. Your best bet is to use the Clearance formula to determine if the trailer your looking at can accommodate your truck's short bed.

I have linked the above mentioned products to this page for your purchasing convenience.