1. 

   mike knaack

   April 6, 2018 at 3:50 pm

   i have a new f-150 supercab w/6.5ft box do i need a sliding hitch? plan on buying a volante 240rl,tw is 7000lbs plus 500lbs of stuff.
   1. 

      Jason

      April 11, 2018 at 9:42 pm

      Mike, You probably don’t need a sliding hitch. I have a 6.5′ bed Ram and use the Andersen Hitch. You can read my full review of the Andersen here. If you take a look at the comments of my short bed 5th wheel hitch guide I recommended a Curt manual slider as a great option for someone in a similar situation to you. You will not be able to turn the trailer 90 degrees without a slider, but in most situations you never need to get close to 90 degrees. If you think about towing with a conventional trail the sharpest you usually turn is probably around 70 degrees which is completely doable with the Andersen.
      Thanks,
      Jason
2. 

   Ron

   May 20, 2018 at 9:28 am

   We have a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 double cab truck and are getting a Cougar 25RES fifth wheel (shipping weight 7420). We live on a cul de sac where manoeuvring may be quite tight, and are also state park campers. For best manoeuvrability should we be looking at the Reese Sidewinder or the Pullrite autos Life? We are first time fifth wheelers so any advice would be most appreciated. – Thank you!
3. 

   Ron

   May 20, 2018 at 9:30 am

   That was supposed to read Pullrite auto slide. Please ignore the spell correct in the above question). Thanks!
   1. 

      Jason

      May 23, 2018 at 7:40 am

      Ron,
      The Pullrite hitches are great, but they weigh a ton. If you are planning on leaving the hitch in your truck all season then it’s a great choice. Another concern I have with the Pullrite is that you will be using a 1/2 ton truck. Check the payload capacity and then subtract out your trailer hitch weight, weight for passengers, any gear you will be putting in the truck, and any gear in the front of the camper that will increase the hitch weight. After you look at all those numbers, see what’s left for the hitch. The sidewinder will also add to the hitch weight, so it might be about even. If you aren’t going to leave the hitch installed all the time, I would go with the Sidewinder and a hitch like the Curt A16 that will be much easier to get in and out of the back of your truck. I hope that helps.
      Thanks,
      Jason
4. 

   Charlie

   September 8, 2018 at 11:45 pm

   Brand new at with fifth wheel and tv’s. We have 2014 F250 with an 80″ bed. Once the hitch is in it will not be removed. Do we need a slider, if not which is a good and economical one, doubled jaw vs single jaw input please
   Thanks
   Charlie
   1. 

      Jason

      September 10, 2018 at 12:08 pm

      Charlie,
      I really like the Curt A series hitches. Not sure what weight class you are looking at, so the A16 or A20 would be good options. They are dual jaw and have fully articulating heads. If you camp in RV parks with pull thru sites you probably don’n need a slider at all. If you stay in state parks and other campgrounds with more obstacles then a slider would be nice. I don’t think you need an expensive auto sliding hitch, but adding a set of rails to the curt hitch will give you some peace of mind that you won’t get stuck somewhere. Just filter the table by Curt and you should be able to find a link to check the hitch out on amazon.
      Thanks,
      Jason
5. 

   Charlie

   September 8, 2018 at 11:49 pm

   Sorry not used to typing with thumb
   Should read RV and fifth wheel

   Charlie
   1. 

      Jason

      September 10, 2018 at 12:08 pm

      No problem
6. 

   Michelle

   January 22, 2019 at 5:24 pm

   We have a 2019 F-250 4WD short bed truck with spray in bed liner (to be installed by Ford soon). Planning on pulling an Open Range UF2804RK fifth wheel with GVWR 9900 pounds. Fifth wheel is about 30 feet long. Truck doesn’t have any prep except the standard bumper receiver with 7-way plug and a 4-way plug. We want to be able to use the truck bed when not towing, so want an under the bed hitch. Need a fifth wheel hitch that is easy to take in and out of the bed. Friends have mentioned “bucking” that can occur while towing. There is so much information available we are overwhelmed. What do you recommend?
   1. 

      Jason

      February 12, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      Michelle,

      The B&W turn over ball is a great gooseneck kit that completely removes from the bed when not in use. Then you would just need to decide on either using the matching B&W hitch or I prefer the Andersen Ultimate. The B&W hitch is a great product and shouldn’t give you much of a problem with bucking, but it is heavy event when taken apart. The Andersen Hitch uses a ball connector and is much lighter weight making it easy to get in and out of the bed. Here is a link to my review of the Andersen Ultimate Connection. https://weekendrvadventures.com/andersen-hitch-review/
      Thanks,
      Jason
7. 

   Howard Mosebar

   February 25, 2019 at 8:37 am

   Hi Jason. Just got a 2019 gmc short bed, puck system. B&W 3700 companion. Incredible how it just drops in. After having installed a couple 5W hitches in the past I can’t overstate how important it is to make sure your next Ford, GM or Dodge comes with the factory prep package. While shopping for trucks i noticed some dealers would have 40 trucks on the lot that were factory prep and others would have 2. When i asked why they said their mechanics didn’t like having holes drilled in the bed. You idiots. An aftermarket installation means not only will there be holes but there will be bolts in them to hold moisture.
   1. 

      Jason

      March 1, 2019 at 12:53 pm

      Howard,
      I agree the factory systems are the way to go. If there is even a chance you will ever tow a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer you should get a truck that has the prep package.
      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment,
      Jason
8. 

   Ptownhunter

   February 28, 2019 at 5:57 pm

   I’m looking for a auto sliding hitch. I would like to remove it from the truck when I’m not using it. I have a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel with a 6 foot bed. Which auto sliding hitch would you recommend?
   1. 

      Jason

      March 1, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      Ptownhunter,
      Do you have a factory 5th wheel prep package in your truck?
      Thanks,
      Jason
9. 

   David Smith

   March 3, 2019 at 1:43 am

   I am thinking of getting a used auto slider hitch to reduce costs. I have a f250 6 3/4 ft bed, it looks like someone had some kind of hitch in it before. I’ve found some older hitches like a superglide 3300 but am having trouble seeing if i can get the right parts for my fifth wheel and truck. Would i need a piece for the 2009 everest trailer to adapt? Would you go underbed or rails? What’s easier to install? Lots of information out there but not easy to tell what goes with what. Little help here?
   1. 

      Jason

      March 3, 2019 at 10:08 pm

      David,
      It sounds like need some help on what to do. If you haven’t already click hear to check out my short bed hitch article. Hopefully that will help with some of your questions. If you 2009 Everest has a the original 5th wheel pin box you shouldn’t need any adapters.
      Underbed hitches are more difficult to install initially, but once the underbed system is installed they hitch itself is easy to install and remove and keeps you bed clean.
      The B&W Companion series of hitches can use a gooseneck ball to attach to the truck, this is another option you might want to look at.
      Lastly, I love my Andersen Ultimate hitch. It also uses a gooseneck ball to connect to the truck and is very light weight, which might be a good thing since the payload capacity of your F250 probably isn’t super high. Click here to check out the Andersen Hitch Article.
      After you have a chance to check out the articles I mentioned and think about it, let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll be happy to try and help.
      Thanks,
      Jason
10. 

    Don

    June 19, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    We have a 2015 Chevy 2500 HD with crew cab and short bed. We are looking to pull a Cougar 25RES (weight 7688, carrying capacity 2312, hitch weight 1630). We’d like a clean bed system and an auto slide ( so we don’t have to worry about very tight turns during maneuvering. What would you recommend for a hitch?

    Also can you define carry capacity? Does that include full tanks ( water, etc) and all the personal items in the trailer?

    Is the weight listed, the dry weight or with full tanks?

    Thanks for your help.

    Don
    1. 

       Jason

       April 26, 2020 at 8:54 am

       Don, The cargo carrying capacity (CCC) already accounts for the weight of a full fresh water tank including the water heater as well as full propane tanks. The waste tanks are not included in the CCC, so if your black and gray tanks are full that takes away from you capacity.
       I hope that helps,
       Jason

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