How to Determine If Narrow Nose Trailer Could be Towed with 5.5 ft Bed Truck without Slider

Published 02/08/2017

Question:

Hi im about to purchase a 2004 crew cab silverado with short bed boc 5.7ft. i dont pull rvs but rather pull a car hauler trailer mounted on the fifth wheel coupler. do i need alisder since this trailer is not wide where it mounts to my trucks fifth wheel coupler? the A-shaped front end of the trailer is very narrow and i think i could use a standard fifth wheel coupler in the bed of the truck, provided it is properly mounted, do you happen to know where the center of each rails is suppose to be if measured from the rend end of the box? thanks in advance

asked by: Mike D

Expert Reply:

If your truck bed is really 5-1/2 feet in length you are going to have to use the one slider hitch we offer that can slide back 22-1/2 inches, # DM8550040, or replace the pin box of the trailer with a Sidewinder. However there is a formula you can use that will tell you the final answer on whether or not you can use a stationary hitch. But it requires you taking a few measurements.

You'll need to know the distance from the axle center of your truck (that's where the king pin will be) to the cab of your truck and then the width of the nose of your trailer.

(A + B) - C = Clearance
A = Distance from the fifth wheel jaw center to the truck cab
B = Offset used (slider clearance or Sidewinder offset)
C = Width of the nose of the trailer divided by 2.

You'll want at least 4 inches of clearance to be safe.

expert reply by: Jameson C