[prograde]

Can anyone tell me the distance fron the rear of your cab to the front of your fiver on your SHORTBOX Super Duty? I haven't got my fiver home this year. I have to bring it home w/ my 97 longbox first to replace the pin box with an extended one. I see a lot of shortbox SD pulling fivers but, either they have a slider (which I don't have or want) or they can't turn sharp. Thanks for your help.

 

[Down South]

[ QUOTE ]
Can anyone tell me the distance fron the rear of your cab to the front of your fiver on your SHORTBOX Super Duty? I haven't got my fiver home this year. I have to bring it home w/ my 97 longbox first to replace the pin box with an extended one. I see a lot of shortbox SD pulling fivers but, either they have a slider (which I don't have or want) or they can't turn sharp. Thanks for your help.

[/ QUOTE ]

Measure the distance from the back of the cab to the center of the fiver hitch in your truck. That distance should be greater than half of the width of the fiver. If it isn't then you are limited to shorter turns or the need to install a slider.

 

[CaptRon]

You can figure that the trailer is going to be at least 8' wide so the hitch needs to be at least 4.5' to 5' behind the cab in order to clear in tight turns.

 

[JimmyDee]

I've been towing with a short box with 2 different 5ers and only used my slider once or so a year. Last year not at all. The problem is grossly over stated and I towed the first year with no slider at all. I do have the 12" extended pin box and think the pin box that is not extended at all could cause you a problem but with a small amount of care you should be OK with a short box.
Jim

 

[prograde]

Thanks guys, I'm ordering an extended pinbox monday. It should give me enough room. The new one is an 11" extended pinbox. Right now the king pin is behind the front of the fiver. I'm also picking up my B&W Companion fifth wheel plate. I think there is a little bit of front to back adjustment on it. Do all you guys like your Companion plates? Thanks for your help.

 

[SmokeyWren]

My experience is different than JimmyDee's. I had a 5er with an extended pinbox, and a 5er hitch without a slider. When towing with my shorty pickup, I was terrified of having to jacknife at the end of a long crooked trail to get turned around. Simply no way to turn around if you have to jacknife. So I was worried every time I turned onto an unfamiliar road. I towed that rig for about a year before I finally gave up and bought a longbed tow vehicle. I'll never go back to a shorty pickup again.

But if I had a shorty pickup, I wouldn't even think about towing a 5er without a slider hitch - preferably the SuperGlide hitch by Pulliam Pullrite. http://www.pullrite.com/superglide.htm

The Companion by B&W is not a slider, so I wouldn't go that way. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif www.turnoverball.com