Do You Regret Having a SWB with a Pullrite Slider?

traveldawg · 05-18-2005, 04:23 AM

If you own a short bed truck and have a Pullrite slider hitch:
1. do you have any regrets about the combination of the two;
2. do you ever been in a situation where you couldn't align the truck and trailer to 16% or less angle to connect or disconnect?

I just ordered a Sunnbybrook 32BWKS. Over all it is 33'4". It has an extended pin box and, by all indications, I should be OK with a F350 SRW SB. I'd prefer the SB over the Long Bed for convenience sake when not towing.

traveldawg · 05-18-2005, 04:23 AM

If you own a short bed truck and have a Pullrite slider hitch:
1. do you have any regrets about the combination of the two;
2. do you ever been in a situation where you couldn't align the truck and trailer to 16% or less angle to connect or disconnect?

I just ordered a Sunnbybrook 32BWKS. Over all it is 33'4". It has an extended pin box and, by all indications, I should be OK with a F350 SRW SB. I'd prefer the SB over the Long Bed for convenience sake when not towing.

RustyJC · 05-18-2005, 04:31 AM

Just a suggestion. It wasn't absolutely clear to me whether or not you will be installing a slider hitch (Pullrite or otherwise). If you don't, when the new 5th wheel comes in, I would try backing into a 90* situation under carefully observed and controlled conditions before taking it into an unknown campground at night. Extended pinboxes do not change the clearance between 5th wheel and truck cab at 90* relative angle. Ken Lenger (klenger) has some useful spreadsheets and illustrations linked in his signature that demonstrate this.

In the famous words of Dirty Harry, "A man has to know his limitations." Better to find out under controlled conditions than out in the real world.

Rusty

traveldawg · 05-18-2005, 05:28 AM

RutyJC, if I get a short bed, I'll put a Pullrite slider in it. I'll also be vewwry, vewwry careful (in the words of Elmer Fud) that I check out all the clearances prior to 'taking flight'.

I just realized my signature also says I have an F-250. It is correct - but not for long. Hence the question about any regretts.

FatDog · 05-18-2005, 05:29 AM

[ F350 short bed; Husky 16K slider hitch; LE3305 5'r ]
Based upon already having a shortbed when i bought my first 5'r, I have no regrets about the combination at all. (Would i do it differently in retrospect if absolutely no other constraints made a shortbed the desireable option might be a different question.) My current 5'r is about the same size as the one you just ordered.
A good percentage of my camping is offroad, so i don't as often run into tight spots as some people, but I do camp at our local county parks and i do store my trailer in a storage yard, and NO storage yard in SoCal is generous with space, so i do have opportunity to push the trailer back at sharp angles.
My hitch is a manual hitch. The only thing i have to be aware of, is that it can be difficult to switch the slider to and from the extended position once you have started to engage a sharp turn. If you are entering a park with tight corners or are going to back into a tricky spot, it is best if you anticipate it while on a straighter path. Then i hop out of the truck, easily push the lever that allows the slider to extend and am backing up or negotiating sharp turns within 15 seconds.
These slider hitches are built very stout and are very easy to operate. After operating one a few times you also get very smooth at transitioning the trailer back and forth without jarring the truck. You will do fine.

tschwab · 05-18-2005, 05:29 AM

I considered the Pullrite 16K slider and decided against it for the following reason. You have to have their special adapter plate mounted (drilled w/ nuts & boltes or welded) onto your kingpin.

If you should breakdown, now your 5th wheel cannot be towed by a conventional 5th wheel hitch, reverse the situation, if your buddy breaks down and does not have the same Pullrite slider hitch/adapter, you cannot tow his 5th wheel.

Thanks but NO THANKS Pullrite. As far as Pullrites quality, they do make a nice quality product, but because of the reason mentioned above, I stayed away from it.