slider short bed vs long bed questions - Montana Owners Club

uhftx · 08-25-2016, 02:15 PM

I currently have the short bed and a Husky short bed slider hitch.
Not the best of a setup. But I am wondering about the shorter turning radius with the short bed and slider vs the long bed and non slider. Does it make a difference? Once the hitch is slid back on a short bed does it equate to a overall and turning radius of a long bed.
I'm sure someone has researched this before I go Looking on google. Do you have an Opinion?

**DQDick** · 08-25-2016, 03:25 PM

You have an older Montana so if you have a short bed you need a slider. I have a short bed because I wanted the greater inside room of a Maxi Cab. The simple, but not cheap, answer for you is to go with a Pullrite hitch and never have to move a slider again.

jcurtis934 · 08-26-2016, 11:24 AM

Interesting question, chris. My "guess" is that with the slider back it is still not as far back as my long bed. Now if you've got that itch for a new rv, then you might as well bite the bullet and get a new truck as well. John

1retired06 · 08-26-2016, 12:01 PM

we prefer a long bed so we do not have to mess with a slider and the additional expense of that hitch setup.

stengels · 08-31-2016, 05:50 PM

I've got a short bed with Reese 20K slider. I'm certain that it doesn't put me back to where I'd be on a full sized bed, but with the Montana's nose, it gives me more than enough room.

**DQDick** · 09-01-2016, 02:37 AM

But you have a newer model Montana, the older ones will take your back window out, just ask Ozz.

Former StClairSailor · 09-01-2016, 04:05 AM

Remember to keep to your normal arrival routine and not let well meaning "assistants" distract you. Happened to me at the last fall rally. Forgot to move the hitch back and took out my back window. Never forgot that lesson.

egregg57 · 09-01-2016, 04:19 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by uhftx

I currently have the short bed and a Husky short bed slider hitch.
Not the best of a setup. But I am wondering about the shorter turning radius with the short bed and slider vs the long bed and non slider. Does it make a difference? Once the hitch is slid back on a short bed does it equate to a overall and turning radius of a long bed.
I'm sure someone has researched this before I go Looking on google. Do you have an Opinion?

Hello fellow Granite stater!

I have a 2013 F-350 short bed, but have a 2015 model Montana. I have about 85 degrees left and right travel. I had a 2005 F-350, CC Long Bed and had 90+ left and right. The placement of the king pin, more forward, and the rounded aerodynamic shape of the new Montanas are much more forgiving of short (or regular) bed trucks.

Honestly, I don't like cutting corners, turning tightly at all. I worry about the trailer tires and the forces put on the sidewalls from extreme turns.

So, if I understand your question correctly, the concern is turn radius with a sliding hitch in a short bed VS turn radius with a fixed hitch in a long bed.

The sliding hitch is going to get you close to where the pivot point is on a long bed. That measurement will vary a bit depending on brand of truck.

If i read the information correctly, it looks like the center of the hitch difference between the short bed and long bed of your year truck is about 16". So 16" or more rear travel of a sliding hitch will closely approximate the hitch placement on a long bed and afford you the maximum turning radius (assuming the long bed placement of the hitch in relation to the short bed only).

A sliding hitch may afford you more travel than having a long bed, depending on its rearward maximum travel.

Hope that made sense...

Sounded good to me anyway...

Here is a link to where i got the information.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/200...pecifications/

Eric

Mike117 · 09-01-2016, 10:00 AM

What DQDick said

Ddubya · 09-03-2016, 05:18 AM

I have a 16k Reese non slider in my 2500HD standard bed but plan to get a new Monty Fiver that will require going to a 20 K hitch. I have never had a problem in turning with the existing setup but wondering if a slider would be better. Also what brand hitch seems most popular.

rohrmann · 09-03-2016, 07:18 AM

Turning radius of the truck is dependent on the distance between the axles, when comparing like trucks. If talking about with the trailer, a fifth wheel cheats more than a trailer hitched to a bumper because the pivot point when bumper hitched is farther back from the rear axle and swings out when turning. It would make a little help with cheating with a slider hitch moved back, but will not be very noticeable because they only move about 14 inches, nowhere close to the bumper hitch location. Overall, it doesn't make much difference, as you are not talking more than maybe 18 inches longer for an 8 foot bed so not that big a deal. We had a manual Reese slider, had to use it a couple of times in bad locations, finally upgraded to a Pullrite auto slider. Never have to worry now, hitch travels back when turning and foward again when coming back straight. I think there are one or two other auto sliders on the market.

rohrmann · 09-03-2016, 07:24 AM

Turning radius of the truck is dependent on the distance between the axles, when comparing like trucks. If talking about with the trailer, a fifth wheel cheats more than a trailer hitched to a bumper because the pivot point when bumper hitched is farther back from the rear axle and swings out when turning. It would make a little help with cheating with a slider hitch moved back, but will not be very noticeable because they only move about 14 inches, nowhere close to the bumper hitch location. Overall, it doesn't make much difference, as you are not talking more than maybe 18 inches longer for an 8 foot bed so not that big a deal.

Ddubya · 09-03-2016, 09:49 AM

I am thinking of just staying with a non-slider as I have not had any issues backing my 30ft fiver. Just depends on what kind of a deal I can find on a 20k hitch. An automatic slider would be nice if we got caught in a jam I guess.

dfb · 09-08-2016, 02:10 AM

I have a 2015 Montana and a 2015 ram 3500 sb.. Used a non slider Andersen, hit the cab! Now have a superglide slider... Happy with it..

deanrd · 11-07-2017, 08:56 PM

Don't auto sliders have an angle restriction for hooking up? I have a seasonal site I pull in and out of and disconnect/hookup the trailer at about a 60-70 degree angle. I can't back it straight in to where it sits so a restriction wouldn't work for me.

**AZ Traveler** · 11-07-2017, 10:04 PM

deanrd,

You are correct at least with the pullrite slider - you need to be straight to connect or disconnect.

Montana3610 · 11-07-2017, 10:44 PM

I have a gmc short bed with a super glide hitch. Works awesome never gets close to the cab...

phillyg · 11-08-2017, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DQDick

But you have a newer model Montana, the older ones will take your back window out, just ask Ozz.

So will the newer ones.

bigred715 · 11-08-2017, 03:37 PM

I have the long box for resale and the few times every couple of years when I need to haul something around 8'. I also have a big toolbox in the bed and haul bark-o-mulch once in a while. The truck turns worse than a semi, but you just deal with it. Here in the Northwest 4x4 and long box seems to be the norm.

**AZ Traveler** · 11-08-2017, 04:04 PM

If towing is your primary use for your truck, long bed is definitely the way to go. If a long bed will not fit in your garage, you live in an urban area with tight parking spots or if you have other length restrictions a short bed can be a good option with an auto slider hitch. Your answers will depend upon your circumstances.

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