Earl E
Green Valley, AZ
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Joined: 04/16/2007
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I used to have a similar set-up and bought the slider. I think I may have used it once. Never had a problem going forward. If I jack-knifed the trailer I could have hit the cab but it would have taken a serious, hard jack-knife. It as a manual slider and it just wasn't worth the effort to get out and change it when parking.
2007 Northwoods Arctic Fox 32 5S Fifth Wheel
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel
Prodigy brake control
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mguay
Northern NH
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Joined: 09/09/2009
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I would go with a standard set of rails and a B&W Patriot. The bang for the buck is amazing andyou can adjust where you want the head to sit,forward or aft of the axle. My previous rig was a SB and I used a NON-Slider hitch. Just keep your eyes open!
Real Trucks wear Training Wheels!
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Snowman9000
IL
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Joined: 01/07/2009
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laknox wrote:
I'm a big B&W fan, and would recommend them. I do know that my truck can not hit my trailer going forward, in either direction. Backing up is a different story. B&W as a company is every bit as good as their products, too.
Lyle
Why is backing up different than going forward as far as trailer to cab clearance?
I just discovered in a tight parking lot that my trailer will not hit my cab on a forward turn. I was delighted by that and I am ready to buy a B&W Patriot and ditch my old slider. But I need to know why backing up might be a problem.
2004 Chevy D/A 2WD Crew Cab. Reese 15K slider hitch.
2004 Crossroads Cruiser 28RL 5er. Honda EU2000i.
1993 Jayco Eagle RKS 265 5er
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cwit
Upstate New York
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Joined: 07/20/2008
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You may not hit on leval ground but put the front of your truck a little higher then the 5er and see what happens. Or the back of 5er higher then truck.
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Snowman9000
IL
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Based on what I did the other day, I think mine will not hit when the truck turns down before the fiver. I got dead-ended in a gravel spot which terminated with a rise onto a little plateau. It looked like I could make the U turn up on top so I tried. I got up on top but couldn't be sure I wouldn't end up with the turned truck starting down the hill and the trailer still on top, and with a parked car blocking me from finishing the turn. I sure didn't want to get stopped in that position, especially with 2WD.
So I stopped just before turning back down over the edge. When I got out I saw my trailer was already past my cab. Yikes. I didn't think I was in any position at that point to move my manual slider. So I backed up a couple of times and then finished the turn. I got close to contacting the bed rails but I never hit the cab. Maybe I got real close to the cab but didn't know it. 
Looking back at it, maybe I should have moved the slider before proceeding into the turn-around area. It would have given me more clearance all the way around, but at the price of a wider turning radius. (Probably should have backed up, but I was foolhardy, I guess.)
* This post was
edited 01/29/12 07:06am by Snowman9000 *
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brinet
WNC
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Joined: 05/04/2005
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We have an F250 short bed and an electric slide by Valley Industries. The electric slide is out of production, but if it were still available, I would NOT recommend it. Ours has not worked for the past year or two. I just spent several hours Saturday and now have it working again.
I tell you this because for the last year, we have traveled a decent amount without the use of the slide. There have been many VERY close calls as well as times that we could have maneuvered much easier if we were able to slide. My suggestion is to have it available in case it is needed!
My opinion on the automatic vs. manual sliders: The automatic slides are great. They require no thought or planning and are therefore convenient. The manual slides can be a pain, but are available WHEN you need them. The automatic comes at a cost. They are HEAVY and therefore decrease the amount of tongue weight available for the 5ver. Consider this with your SuperCrew and check the rear axle weight limit. While you may be well within your GVWR, I can tell you by experience that there are many times we will be within our GVWR, our rear axle weight is way to high! (To bad we can't rest the kingpin even further forward... and sliding to the rear GREATLY increases rear axle weight!!!) If you are within a couple hundred pounds, the hitch alone will put you over.
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SailingOn
Central Texas
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Joined: 01/08/2011
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Going forward, turning radius is limited by the wheelbase of the truck, generally long before the trailer would touch the cab. Cutting corners and smashing mailboxes with the side of the trailer is the problem.
We have a 6.5' bed, trailer with a squarish front cap, and a manual slider never used.
Re: very close calls when backing: backing with a bike mount on the pin box, the bike tires hit the cab, and bounce off with a warning clunk, before the trailer itself would have.
Buck: 2004 Wilderness Yukon 8275S; 5800# dry, 7800# GVWR
AJ: 2010 F150 ExtCab, 2WD, 6.5' bed, 5.4L V8, 6A, Tow Pkg.
5900# ready to travel, GVWR 7500#.
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RDS33
Nebraska
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Joined: 01/16/2012
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I'll slide in with a few comments. I have 2500HD Chev with crew cab and standard 6.5 box. I have the B&W Companion hitch leading a 32RDTG HitchHiker II.
I do not have an extended pin box with the pin just a few inched ahead of the front of the RV. If I try to make a 180 U-Turn the front of the camper can hit the cab. I know it and I watch it. Has it ever been a problem? Not yet.
You are probably good to go with a little awareness and caution.
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Snowman9000
IL
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Joined: 01/07/2009
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SailingOn wrote:Going forward, turning radius is limited by the wheelbase of the truck, generally long before the trailer would touch the cab.
That's interesting. I guess I don't understand. On my rig, going forward I can turn until the trailer is past the cab. Probably 90ยบ if desired.
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Chiefcpo
Huntsville, Alabama
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Joined: 08/03/2009
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And I thought the OP was using a gooseneck adapter and now we are on sliders!!!
But should the OP want to convert back to a reese 15000 manual slider I have one from and also live in Huntsville, Al.
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