Help me with some measurement figures. I was told towing a 5th wheel with a short bed would be fine with a slider but I think I was lied to. Sure I can tow any 5th wheel.....as long as I only go straight. My current 5th wheel hitch has the kingpin 41" from the cab and the slider moves back about 12" or so for tight maneuvers. Trying to find a 5th wheel that will allow normal daily driving is proving to be far more difficult that I was led to believe.

I don't know if you can see the nose section of my gooseneck is tapered.

I'm old school I guess...

Take your time. I just appreciate the help.

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. He is a pain to get ahold of when you need to, . The only measurement we could get since he didn't have the actual hitch head with him. The rails for his hitch are mounted by the instructions with the hitch. They have you measure from the rear of the bed forward. Open the tailgate and hook the tape measure on the bed and measure 28 5/8" forward, the back edge of the rear rail gets set there, then he used the hitch itself to mark for the front rail. His hitch is a slider hitch but he said he never worried about releasing it to slide. He did however put a small dent on hid old truck when he slid a little turning around once after he got caught in the rain. Hopefully this helps you out, if you need more info I'll see if I can talk him into getting his hitch and get some more measurements for you just not sure how long it will take.

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. He is a pain to get ahold of when you need to, . The only measurement we could get since he didn't have the actual hitch head with him. The rails for his hitch are mounted by the instructions with the hitch. They have you measure from the rear of the bed forward. Open the tailgate and hook the tape measure on the bed and measure 28 5/8" forward, the back edge of the rear rail gets set there, then he used the hitch itself to mark for the front rail. His hitch is a slider hitch but he said he never worried about releasing it to slide. He did however put a small dent on hid old truck when he slid a little turning around once after he got caught in the rain. Hopefully this helps you out, if you need more info I'll see if I can talk him into getting his hitch and get some more measurements for you just not sure how long it will take.

As long as his hitch sits what I think is to be normal, where his kingpin should be setting right in the middle of the rails. If that's the case then I can take his measurements and compare with mine. Thank you very much for the effort.

Mine places the king pin directly over the center of the axle when towing forward and then slides (automatically) toward the rear of the bed when making turns.

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. He is a pain to get ahold of when you need to, . The only measurement we could get since he didn't have the actual hitch head with him. The rails for his hitch are mounted by the instructions with the hitch. They have you measure from the rear of the bed forward. Open the tailgate and hook the tape measure on the bed and measure 28 5/8" forward, the back edge of the rear rail gets set there, then he used the hitch itself to mark for the front rail. His hitch is a slider hitch but he said he never worried about releasing it to slide. He did however put a small dent on hid old truck when he slid a little turning around once after he got caught in the rain. Hopefully this helps you out, if you need more info I'll see if I can talk him into getting his hitch and get some more measurements for you just not sure how long it will take.

I just measured the rear edge of my rail to the end of the bed and it was 24 7/8". Strange that my rails would be farther back than your friends. Its a standard install too. My kingpin sit just about right over the axle. Maybe I'm more OK than I think.

Katoom a suggestion... You might throw some pics up of what you trying to haul and then pics of the hitch assembly too.

Katoom a suggestion... You might throw some pics up of what you trying to haul and then pics of the hitch assembly too.

Thanks Mike. I may just do that.

I just measured the rear edge of my rail to the end of the bed and it was 24 7/8". Strange that my rails would be farther back than your friends. Its a standard install too. My kingpin sit just about right over the axle. Maybe I'm more OK than I think.

Yeah that is strange. I was always told before that the best place for any hitch like that was slightly in front of the rear axle which really isn't possible with a shortbed. I personally have never had any experience with a fifth wheel/gooseneck setup in a pickup truck, just semi's. It does make it seem like you are ok though. I agree with Mike, pictures would be helpful.

Yeah that is strange. I was always told before that the best place for any hitch like that was slightly in front of the rear axle which really isn't possible with a shortbed. I personally have never had any experience with a fifth wheel/gooseneck setup in a pickup truck, just semi's. It does make it seem like you are ok though. I agree with Mike, pictures would be helpful.

Yea, I understand that to be the case too, although the more I research this the more I hear of guys installing their hitches a couple inches back from the axle. Mine is, I believe, just about right over the axle. I plan on taking pictures of the trailer I'm interested since it doesnt seem like pictures of the truck hitch wold help since everyone knows my kingpin to cab measurement is 41", but the problem here is that I'm looking for newer used trailers so this isnt as easy as talking to a dealer. Most trailer sellers dont really care to help since they'd rather you just buy it and deal with the problem yourself. The problem compounds considerably when dealing with someone who has a trailer thats 300+ miles from me. There is/was a trailer that a dealer has/had in town but I've given up on that one since I think the kingpin measurements are to far off.