6-3/4' Bed w/5th Wheel?

[txboy79]

I am looking to get my first tow vehicle, and I am looking at an f250 diesel, but my challenge is finding the 8' bed. My question is, is it possible to tow a 5th wheel w/the short 6-3/4' bed w/out using a slider hitch?

Also, my first post, just joined today. Thank you for all your input

[450Donn]

Possible? Yes. There are two fa tors that might allow you to use a short bed. One is trailer design. Specificslly the nose design. Some fivers have undercut joses which allow safe towing. The other concern is of course cut angle.
So as a final thought, I have to ask, why a 250/2500? Why not get a 3500 series truck. More load carrying capacity for virtually the same cost.

[MTK46]

If your looking at Fords I don't think they make a F-250 crew cab long bed. Get a F-350 that's what I have. Yes like Don posted with quite a few of the new 5th wheels you can tow with a short bed.

[txboy79]

Thanks for the input guys. I will look at the F350's.

[Fishalaska1]

I struggled to find a long bed CC f350. The dealers dont stock them around here. Finally found a King Ranch 2012 with 30k on it for a good price and scooped it up.

[JIMNLIN]

Originally Posted by txboy79

I am looking to get my first tow vehicle, and I am looking at an f250 diesel, but my challenge is finding the 8' bed. My question is, is it possible to tow a 5th wheel w/the short 6-3/4' bed w/out using a slider hitch?

Also, my first post, just joined today. Thank you for all your input

Welcome to the forum where you can get a multitude of answers. That way you can pick your favorite.

Anyhow the short bed 3/4 and one ton trucks are probably the most popular with 5th wheel owners on the road.
As was mentioned the new notched/rounded profile 5th wheel trailer are made for short bed towing.

Also pin placement. Most short bed owners have the pin zero over the trucks rear axle for max CA (cab to axle) distance.

The F250 Ford has a 6100 rawr and is good for around 2800-3200 lb payload in the bed.
A regular cab 2wd short bed gas truck can have more payload than a crew cab 4x4 long bed 6.7 diesel.

If you go with a F350 SRW be aware some of them can have a 10000 gvwr just like the F250. Look for the F350 SRW 11500 GVWR and 7000 rawr for around 3800-3900 lb payload in the bed.

If you need more payload for a big trailers hitch weight and all the necessary junk we all can carry the F350 DRW has a 14000 gvwr and those big 9650 rawr with over 6000 lb payloads.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by MTK46

If your looking at Fords I don't think they make a F-250 crew cab long bed.

Yes, Ford still makes them, but they're not very popular with city dudes because they won't fit in most garages with the door closed.

Get a F-350 that's what I have.

F-350 with single rear wheels (SRW) with regular, SuperCab or CrewCab body can also be ordered with either 6.75' or 8' bed. But just like the F-250, the F-350 with the shorty bed is a lot more popular in the city and suburbs.

I drove an F-250 CrewCab with 8' bed for over 10 years. But I custom-built my house with a 24' deep garage. That CrewCab with 8' bed was over 22 feet long, so I needed that 24' deep garage to close the garage door when the pickup was inside.

I'm more particular than most about my new vehicles. I want what I want, and dealers often don't stock what I want. So I end up special-ordering the new vehicle. My first special order new vehicle was a 1965 Corvette Stingray coupe. My last one was a 2017 Ford Flex, 52 years after I ordered the 'Vette. But after being on order for over 6 weeks, Ford had still not scheduled my Flex for production, so I cancelled the order and ordered a 2017 Toyota Highlander that was not in stock either, but the Toy dealer found one in-transit that was exactly what I want, and it will be here before the end of December.

[mtofell]

Having owned two 6.5' bed trucks and 5th wheels I couldn't imagine not having a slider hitch. You're just asking for trouble without it. Wait until spring and you'll see several threads with pictures of bashed up cabs and broken windows. It's like watching people walk off a plank.... it happens every year.

[RichR]

I like towing with the longest wheelbase possible,, therefore 8ft bed. To me much more comfortable

[Fishalaska1]

Originally Posted by RichR

I like towing with the longest wheelbase possible,, therefore 8ft bed. To me much more comfortable

I agree.

[tuffr2]

Agree with possible yes, and depending on the front cap of the 5th wheel if it is designed for a short bed then a strong possible.

The problem will be backing at an extreme angle. Believe me, it will happen. Got to be extra careful in that situation. The clearance you see will disappear fast and bam, you got a dent in the corner of the cab.

[powderman]

Another option not mentioned is a revolution or sidewinder pin box.

[monkey]

Our 6'4" bed with fixed B&W hitch works perfect "for us" .... (with our Cougar that has a friendly nose)
Monkey

[dayle1]

I have used 6-1/2 ft bed trucks for towing fifth wheels since 1989, over 27 years. Guess what, in 1989 slider hitches didn't exist and fifth wheels did not have notched front caps. I've never had a problem and I still use a fixed hitch. So absolutely it is possible.