How to Tow a 5th Wheel with a 5-1/2 foot Truck Bed?
Updated 09/09/2019 | Published 09/05/2019
Question:
If I have a truck with a 5 and a half foot bed do I need a slider hitch with a sidewinder kingpin?
asked by: Jennifer T
Expert Reply:
Sliding hitches and Sidewinder kingpins are basically just different versions of products that are aiming to accomplish the same thing-allow for the towing of 5th wheel trailers by trucks with shorter beds. If you've got both a sliding hitch and a Sidewinder kingpin, you'll need to have the sliding hitch locked in the forward most position at all times since you can't have 2 moving pieces working at the same time - so they're not really meant to work together as much as they do the same thing in different manners. Also, sliding hitches usually won't provide enough clearance in 5-1/2' foot truck beds to be effectively used.
It looks like you've got an old PullRite 0800 Super 5th Wheel hitch, which will work just fine; but since it isn't a sliding hitch, in order to tow your 5th wheel with a short box truck you (would) need to install a Sidewinder King Pin like the # RP61410 to give you enough clearance to safely make turns without hitting the cab of the truck with the trailer. Use the formula below to ensure that there will be enough space between your truck cab and trailer when you are executing a 90-degree turn with the Sidewinder installed.
(A + B) - C = Clearance
A = Distance from center of 5th-wheel hitch jaw to truck cab in inches
B = Length of Sidewinder arm in inches (22")
C = Width of trailer in inches divided by 2
For example:
If you are using the 16,000-lb Sidewinder # RP61412 you were looking at, then B = 22"
If the distance from the center of your hitch to your truck's cab is 36", then A = 36"
And if your fifth-wheel trailer is 102" wide, then C = 51"
102/2 = 51
Therefore,
(36 + 22) - 51 = you'll have 7" of clearance between the cab of the truck and the closest point of your 5th wheel
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