Slider in Short Box Chevy - Page 2 - Montana Owners Club

Cat320 · 08-10-2006, 01:52 PM

Hitch information:

Made by same companies...

-Super Fifth and Pull rite.

-Draw tite, Reese and Hidden.

-Valley and Husky.

tcorbitt · 08-10-2006, 03:21 PM

Most all Short Bed trucks will be stuck in the rear window by the 5th when making turns greater than about 70 degrees. There are those times when you want to be able to exceed this. Doing so without a slider will require a new rear window. I think most people will agree, you only need it occasionally, but when you do, it sure it nice to have.

At the end of the day, if you can pop out the window with the 5th, get a slider and plan to use it. I have seen three people pop windows over the past few years... One with a non-slider, two of them in the forward position (oh, I can make it without sliding back...) When parking, slide back, just in case...

BTW, we have a manual slider. To do it again, I would go with an automatic slider reducing the chance of hitting the cab to 0%!!

06 F350 4wd PSD Crew
06 Mountianeer 34PHT

Clyde n Deb · 08-11-2006, 05:53 AM

Had our rig for about 1 1/2 years now. Have never really had to use the slider yet, however started putting the 5er thru the back window at the lake the other day. Heard it making contact just in time. No blood. Went to slide my Reese.....wouldn't budge! Get the slide. Gotta keep 'em lubed.

'05 2955RL
'04.5 GMC D/A
SRW Short Bed Ext. Cab
16K Reese slider
Prodigy

sreigle · 08-11-2006, 01:36 PM

With the older nose cap I can turn more than 70 degrees without the slider simply because of the shape of the nose. But I also can crash a window if I turn too sharply without the slider. The new nose cap allows a much sharper turn without slider. I'm anxious to try this on a flat area to see just how sharp I can go, just so I'll know before I have to do it for real.

From the online 2007 Montana brochure...

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

bsmeaton · 08-13-2006, 07:26 AM

Used some penetrating oil on the rollers and my slider hitch freed right up. Slides easily by hand, but I haven't tried it with weight.

Montana Sky · 08-14-2006, 04:41 PM

Steve,
Did you notice the truck used in that picture???

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

gkbutler · 08-15-2006, 05:49 AM

We have used our slider a few times and like the others; wouldn't be without it.

Gary and Karen
SFC USAR Ret.
MOC (4049)
2006 2950RK
2005 Chev 2500HD Duramax/Allison SB
16K Pull rite Super Glide
Prodigy brake controller

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did, so throw off the bow lines, sail away from safe harbor and catch the trade winds in your sails." Mark Twain

Clyde n Deb · 08-15-2006, 06:29 AM

Whats the new opening on the nose cap for? It looks like an air intake, or window, or?????

'05 2955RL w. Onan 5.5 LP
'04.5 GMC D/A 4" exhaust, deep Allison pan, extra cap. rear diff. cover
SRW Short Bed Ext. Cab
16K Reese slider
Prodigy
and a smile this wide!

PowellsMonty · 08-15-2006, 07:16 AM

I have a short bed and slider and still dented my cab but didn't hurt the Montana.
I forgot to use the slide!
That Super Glide sure sounds great, but you will need a slide. You can't get along without them in a short bed. You only need to remember to use it.

Mike & Debbie
2003 3295RK,2002 F250 4x4 Supercab,7.3,

Montana Sky · 08-15-2006, 07:28 AM

Clyde,
That is a mirror on the front cap. It is used so you can see your hitch while backing up to the kingpin. I highly suggest the Superglide, that baby is worth every penny.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

dchafer · 08-15-2006, 03:24 PM

We have the manual slide, and like everyone says, you have to remember to watch your corners. I just know that the one time Dennis forgets to check corners, and we all know how easy it is to get distracted, that it will do some damage. Murphy's Law says it will.. I would have opted for the automatic myself, having a shortbox, and for peace of mind, it is worth it.. Only hurts once,, if you can afford it, get it... you won't regret it... then the pressure isn't on the driver all the time..
IMHO... thanks, Diane,,,,,,,, co-pilot..

Diane,Dennis & Taffy
3400RL
2003 Silverado 2500 HD D/A, Prodigy Control
Reese 16K Slider

sreigle · 08-15-2006, 03:39 PM

Dave, yes, I saw it! But, what you can't see is the Ford waiting over to the side to tow it back to the parking place!! They needed a white truck to match the Montana for the picture.

Nice try, Dave.

Clyde n Deb, that's a "mirror" so you more easily line up pin with hitch while looking in the mirror. It's angled so you'll not get reflections from the sun or headlights while driving. I do not know how well it works.

What scares me about turning without the slider on our older Montana.... I know pretty well just how sharply I can turn on flat land but... if I'm very close to the window and any wheel on truck or trailer hits a pothole it could quickly put the Montana into the window. So I rarely turn that sharply unless I am positive it is flat.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

fc5v · 08-15-2006, 03:50 PM

We have a 2004 GMC Short box. Just got a 2006 3475RL. I have to use my Reese Slide when turning tight corners or trying to back in to most camping spots. My old trailer 2003 3255RL I never had to use the slide!! The first time I back up under the 2006 I noticed how much closer the trailer was to my back window! I'm glad I had the slider!

Floyd & Carol Fyvie
Birch Run, Mi.
2006 Montana 3475
2004 GMC 2005HD Crewcab
4X4 - Duramax/Allison

fc5v · 08-15-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Glenn and Lorraine

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by fc5v

Hi. We have a 2004 Sierra crew cab/shot box. Use a Reese 16k slider,
To tow a 2003 3255RL. Have not found a need to use the slide yet! I might just try it to make sure it still works.

Iffn ya come to Avalon you will be needin that slider.

I have it all oiled up and ready to slide!! Dec.1, I'll be using it!

Floyd & Carol Fyvie
Birch Run, Mi.
2006 Montana 3475
2004 GMC 2005HD Crewcab
4X4 - Duramax/Allison

c5racer · 08-16-2006, 04:07 PM

The Montana looks like it has the extended pin box on it, could be wrong. If it has then the longer models would come closer to the back window, they do have a shorter pin box don't they.

04 Silver Dodge Laramie QC 3500 DRW, HO Diesel, 2wd, 6spd, LB, 4.10, Sport pkg, Bun warmers, Jake.

2004 Big Sky 3670RL, Fireplace, Sat Dish/Dig Readout, Cent Vac, Big Sky & Value Pkg, 2 Fantastic Fans, Basement Tray, Safety Glass, 2 Batts, Pressure Pro

sreigle · 08-17-2006, 05:35 AM

The new 3400RL we looked at recently has the extended pinbox but it does not come clear out to the edge of the nose. The extension is a bit shorter than on our 2003 3295RK. So the nose will be a bit closer to the truck to start with. I'll see if the new nose cap more than makes up the difference. We have a very good turn radius without the slider with this 3295RK.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

montanaman · 08-27-2006, 04:51 PM

I have a 2002 Chevy 2500 8100 big block 4x4 and pull a 2006 3475 w/3slides. Have firestone airbags and find no problems at all. Haul back and forth from NY to Florida, and plan to do it again in Oct. The airbags do make the difference.

frank

montanaman · 08-27-2006, 04:54 PM

Oh, I forgot to add that I have the 16K reese hitch with a short box. The hitch is set up pretty close to the rear wheels on truck. I have not had t use the slider yet and I have gone around some sharp corners. But for comfort and ease of mind, some folks opt for the pull-rite. Since I bought this hitch from a friend who had the same set up without problems, I thought I'd be ok and have been.

frank

Montana_6210 · 08-27-2006, 05:03 PM

We have the Superglide 16 K automatic slider with a 2004 Silvarado short box. We can make 90 degree U-turns on narrow roads, but we have had the (standard) Montana pin box strike the truck side rails and damage them when we pull onto the sloped shoulder (which tilts the Montana with respect to the truck). Check adjustments to make sure you have at least 3" of clearance between the extended pin box and the rails when turned 90 degrees in a level parking lot. Adjust the hitch and pin box for adequate clearance. Then have happy no worries travel, even if you have to make an unplanned U-turn on a crowned road!

If you get a manual slider, you might have to block traffic while you release it before you can make the U-turn.

labouttejr · 08-27-2006, 07:01 PM

My 2006 3400RL has the extened pin box and it stick out past the front cap. I do not have a slider and have made very tight turns backing up with no problems. That being said, I just for the first time back up a slope with a tight turn and it seemed that the 5vr was going to hit the cab I was sweeting bullets when I saw how close it was, but it was fine.

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