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msgtedret · 08-09-2018, 07:37 PM

We have a 3500 diesel with crew cab and short bed. Just recently, we purchased a slide hitch. My question: would it be safe to pull the fiver for about .8 miles with the hitch extended? I need to make a turn that might be too tight with the hitch in the normal position and the turn is onto a drive from a 2 lane state highway.

Skip426 · 08-09-2018, 08:07 PM

Given the short distance ( 0.8 mile) and I'm hoping low speed you should not have issues.

My sliders moved 8" , taking the pin load from 2" ahead of the rear axle to 6" behind , lifting weight from the steering axle instead of adding weight, so be aware steering WILL be different. Adjust your speed; in a straight line; and plan your turn accordingly.

jimcumminsw · 08-10-2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgtedret

We have a 3500 diesel with crew cab and short bed. Just recently, we purchased a slide hitch. My question: would it be safe to pull the fiver for about .8 miles with the hitch extended? I need to make a turn that might be too tight with the hitch in the normal position and the turn is onto a drive from a 2 lane state highway.

Do you have a manual slider or is this and Auto sliding hitch?

If this is a manual sliding hitch you can pull with this in the maneuver position. Depending on your truck and the weight of the pin on the rear axle you may or may not notice any lightness in steering.
I once forgot to place the hitch in the tow position of my old manual hitch and drove home from the storage lot a distance of 25 miles this way. I got out of the truck when o got home to position the hitch into the maneuver position and the hitch was already in the maneuver position. I did not notice any handling difference at all.

With and auto slider the hitch will move when you turn to provide more clearance with the cab and than reposition it's self when towing straight ahead.

mrgrayaz · 08-12-2018, 05:08 PM

We do it on occasion - but never on the highway. The truck seriously squats more and the front end gets a little light. Takes bumps nuch harder, etc. It's really not pleasant. That said I'm at max payload on our SRW so very possible that a lighter trailer won't affect the truck so much.

dayle1 · 08-15-2018, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgtedret

We have a 3500 diesel with crew cab and short bed. Just recently, we purchased a slide hitch. My question: would it be safe to pull the fiver for about .8 miles with the hitch extended? I need to make a turn that might be too tight with the hitch in the normal position and the turn is onto a drive from a 2 lane state highway.

If you are making a roughly 90 turn into a driveway, then hitch position won't matter. Unless you have a Ford with the optional wide track front axle, you can't turn the steer wheels any sharper than 36-37 degrees anyway. And while making a 90 degree turn, the max angle between truck and fiver will only get to about 45 degrees.

However, if you misjudge the turn, stop and back up to change position of the truck and/or fiver, you then can easily get into trouble. Even with the hitch in the rear position or with an 8' bed, you will still have the potential for problems once you start backing up.

But towing at low speed for short distances with the hitch in the rear position will not be a problem other than a slighter lighter front axle.

SmokeyWren · 08-15-2018, 09:03 AM

↑ ↑ ↑

What dayle1 said. As long as you are going forward, you probably cannot turn sharp enough to result in trailer to cab contact, even without the hitch slid back. Go to an empty parking lot and turn as sharp as the tow vehicle will turn. Go very slow with a spotter walking next to the back of the cab and watching for trailer to cab contact.

That assumes your tow vehicle is not a shorty short with less than 6.5' bed.

But put that tow vehicle in reverse gear and you can have trailer to cab contact before you can holler "OH NO!!!"

msgtedret · 08-16-2018, 05:30 AM

Thanks to all for the advice. I think we’ll make it, now.

charliez · 08-16-2018, 06:23 AM

If it feels uncomfortable, just stop and put it back into the normal position.

mtofell · 08-17-2018, 12:09 AM

Shouldn't be a problem at all. I have to slide mine back and drive around my neighborhood a bit before backing in beside my house. This is due to sloping streets close to my house and not having a great place to get out and perform the sliding any closer to my place. I don't think I've ever gotten over about 30MPH and have never noticed any handling difference or excess sagging.