Need More Clearance Between Bumper on 1989 Ford F-250 and 5th Wheel Trailer

Updated 10/15/2013 | Published 10/11/2013

Question:

I have never owned a 5th wheel camper before. I have a 1989 coachman catalina 27foot trailer and a 1989 f250 4x4 long bed. I just installed the rails i bought from etrailer as described in the instructions. My hitch is a 15k pro series from cequin with a slider it came with the camper. When i hook the trailer up I can turn to a point of jackifing but looked at the clearance when turning and there is less than an inch of clearance between the bumper and the trailer. It doesnt look right and i am worried about hitting the trailer when towing. Is my pin box to short? if so what can i do to add a few more inches to it?

asked by: William F

Expert Reply:

If you are able to turn without hitting anything then you are set. But if you wanted a few more inches then there are a couple of options. First, if your current slider is a square tube, that offers 10 inches of travel. Round tube sliders offer another inch or 2 of clearance. Since a round tube slider that will fit the hitch head you have is not available, you would need to replace the entire hitch including the slider part. The slider that offers the most travel, 12 inches, is # RP30083.

The other option is to retrieve the pin box manufacturer and model number off of the pin box on a sticker or plate somewhere. Then use the Sidewinder FAQ article I have linked and the chart at the bottom to determine if there is a Sidewinder that fits that pin box. A Sidewinder will give you 22 inches more clearance, 10 more inches than the slider.

If you believe that contact is imminent then I do recommend going ahead with one of these options. The cost of repairing the truck and/or trailer may far exceed the one-time cost of a device that will give you more clearance.

expert reply by: Michael H