Is a Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch Needed to Tow with a 2007 Ford F-350 Diesel with Short Bed

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Question:

I have a 2004 Forest River Cedar Creek silver series 28 foot with a GVWR of 11,430 lbs. I am towing with a 2007 F350 Diesel 6.0 Short bed. 2 questions. #1 Do i need a slider hitch to tow this trailer? #2 If i do need a slider which models are compatible? is there a universal capture plate, or is it specific to each king pin? My Measurements on the King pin are A - 12- 3/4 B - 3- 1/2 C - 9 Thanks!

asked by: Will F

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Expert Reply:

Although some people can make it work, for any pickup with a bed less than 8' we always recommend going with a sliding 5th wheel hitch. This allows you to safely make sharp turns without your 2004 Forest River Cedar Creek making contact with the cab of your 2007 Ford F-350.

You actually don't need a capture plate unless your pin box has a rotating turret, like a Sidewinder, or you have an automatic sliding 5th wheel hitch. If you have a normal pin box then no special capture plate is required.

If you would like to go with a manual 5th wheel slider then I highly recommend using the B&W Companion # BWRVK3400-5W. This installs in the B&W Gooseneck Hitch # BWGNRK1108-5W so that you have a clean bed when you aren't towing, plus it gives you the option to tow a gooseneck trailer if the need arises.

For an automatic sliding 5th wheel hitch (which keeps you from having to leave your cab for tight turns) we have the Demco Hijacker. You can use part # DM8550034 with the base rail kit # DM8552002-71 for a standard mounting option or you can go with part # DM8550022 and the base rail kit # DM8551000 if you like the idea of having a clean bed when you aren't towing.

You don't need a capture plate for the Hijacker if you have a standard pin box that is 12" - 14" wide but you will need a capture plate if you have a Glide Ride, Mor Ryde, Trailair Tri Glide, Trailair Flexair, Rota Flex, and 5th Airborne pin box. Let me know if this is the case and I can let you know which capture plate you need.

I have attached some installation and review videos for you to reference as well.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

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Answer 2

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

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Answer 3

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 4

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

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Answer 5

You do not have to use a sliding 5th wheel hitch in a short bed truck. In many cases, truck beds shorter than 8 ft do not have enough clearance between the trailer and truck to execute sharp turns. This is why sliding hitches were invented. Due to…

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Answer 6

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 7

Lance does have a proprietary plug, but many customers see a standard 6-way or 7-way round and notice it doesn't fit their factory 7-way as well. I've attached an article to help if you have one of the 7-way or 6-way round connectors which we…

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Answer 8

Hey Jay. It sounds like you are on the right track here because a sidewinder pin box will be your only option for pulling your 5th wheel since you have a short bed truck with the Rambox. That said, you are right that the Reese Sidewinder cannot be…

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Answer 9

Hey Jason, thanks for reaching out! We have a TorkLift tie-down kit for your 2022 Ford F-350 just as long as the electric running boards aren't wheel-to-wheel (I don't believe they are). The kit you referenced is for newer Super Duty pickups,…

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Answer 10

I spoke with my contact at Trailair and from your serial number we were able to determine that your trailer came with a 1621 HD pin box which is a long pin box style. I was unable to obtain the exact part number for your Trailair pin box but from the…

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Answer 11

Great questions! Reese actually makes the OEM puck system for Ford so if the 2022 F-250 is cheaper by a lot then I recommend going that route and installing the Under-Bed Rail and Installation Kit #RP87FR. The only thing you'll really be missing…

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Answer 12

The Hellwig Adjustable Big Wig Rear Anti-Sway Bar #HE94FR is only going to leave a few inches between it and the spare tire, as you can see in the attached picture. Depending on how far forward you have the tire it could potentially interfere with…

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Is a Sliding 5th Wheel Hitch Needed to Tow with a 2007 Ford F-350 Diesel with Short Bed

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