Towing A 2013 Montana With A Short Bed

[johncamtravel]

Is anyone towing a 2013 Montana with a short bed 3500 truck?? Do you need a slider hitch?? I was wondering since it is so rounded in the
front will it clear without the slider hitch.
Also how does it handle with a single rear wheel truck??
Any help would be appreciated.

[DQDick]

Have an older rig, but just as big and heavy. I never needed a slider until last summer. You may never need one, but if you do get into a really tight spot on uneven ground there is no substitute and you can balance the cost of a slider or Pullrite against the grand or more it costs to replace a rear window with an electric small window in it. As you can see, we've pulled for 5 years and about 50,000 miles with a SRW in Kansas and New Mexico winds. My personal feeling is that we never would go dually. Of course we also take our truck off road.

[1retired06]

I would feel more comfortable with a slider. For us, DRW is the right truck. Others prefer a SRW.

[Art-n-Marge]

If you have a short bed truck then plan and drive accordingly. You might want to go to a large empty parking lot and practice making the tightest turns you can to visualize what's possible with your rig combination. I've heard the rounded cap makes for a better turning radius, but don't have any idea how much or how much better.

Same thing with dually versus SRW. I hear a dually truck makes for a more stable tow, but I use an SRW and don't have any issues and try to stay away from any potential instability issues. With over 10 years of my towing my Monty, I am very cautious and try to stay under the limits of my experience and tow combination.

[maximo]

Pulling a 2011 Big Sky with a 2015 F250 short bed SRW and a B & W Companion hitch. Never a problem and many tight spots in older RV parks.

[mjammersc]

I have a SRW ShortBed 3500 with a slider but haven't needed it yet (was close and should have a once or twice). For the couple hundred extra it was worth it just in case. A lot of it depends on where you are planning on camping. If it is nice roomy newer resort RV parks, you may never need it. If it is in some older state/national parks, you may need it on occasion.

[bethandkevin]

Towing with a 6-1/2' bed 2500HD. Have not encountered ANY problem without a slider hitch. I've cramped it pretty tight and short of a 90* hook up, I don't think I will encounter a problem in the future.

[stengels]

Pulling the same unit as you are with a shortbed 2500 HD. I've never had a problem pulling the unit and have cut it pretty sharp. I do have a slider and was glad I had it when a buddy asked me to move his older model and put it in a tight spot. I've got the Reese 20K slider.

[CORattler]

As the old saying goes, "it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it".
If you have a slider such as the Pullrite Superglide, it's one less thing to have to think about.

[scattershot]

I have a short bed Ford F250 that I have been towing 5ers with since 2000, when I bought it. I have a slider hitch, and have never used it. It's also a single rear wheel. Unless you're towing some knid of monster rig, I think duallys are a PITA.

[MARK A]

quote:Originally posted by scattershot

I have a short bed Ford F250 that I have been towing 5ers with since 2000, when I bought it. I have a slider hitch, and have never used it. It's also a single rear wheel. Unless you're towing some knid of monster rig, I think duallys are a PITA.

O BOY! You better get your flame suit on....

[Razrbk]

quote:Originally posted by Razrbk

I have a 2015 Ram 3500, diesel, SB, SWR with a 18k Pullright Superglide. It
pulls my 2015 3100RL just fine and, with autoslide, no concerns with
turning. My truck is everyday vehicle.

P.S. - it handles fine. Truck and trailer fully loaded are under GVWR specs.
by 170 to 200lbs (doesn't have a washer/dryer in it).

Trade off ....

[vangoes]

I'm pulling a 2012 Montana with my 3500 SB and this is my second 5ver and my third short bed truck in 10 years with the same slider hitch......and I have never used the slider. So, I would say you would have no problems.

[PapaBeav]

I tow our 2012 with a short bed, no problem. Pin box sticks out farther then the older ones and the corners are rounded. Just watch backing up.

[Butch & Kathy]

I spent $1100 replacing a rear window with a slider bot not using it. Get the slider and USE it.

[Goin 4 Broke]

I have the same Montana and tow with a short bed F350. I have used my manual slider hitch twice and probably should have used it a couple other times. If you are very careful and can see or hear as soon as contact is made on the rear window you can usually get out of trouble. But all that it takes is a distraction and you will spend thousands on repairs.

My next TV will be a long bed. If I had to do it over this rig would have an auto slider instead of the manual.

[mazboy]

you'll do fine with a single wheel shortbox. and you really don't need a slider either.

and yes i have a short box and pull a 2013 with a 2500HD diesel

[johncamtravel]

Thanks for all the replies. I was just thinking if I get a new truck
the wife hates the dually and the long bed, its hard for her to drive and park. So I was just looking at what I might want to do in the future.
Thanks again for all the replies.

[Art-n-Marge]

Besides what CORattler states, there's also, why mess with the need of a slider and just get a long bed, or even why mess with an SRW if a dually is better? Why stop there? How about getting an MDT and not mess with a dually. It may never end. Know your actual weights, capacities, your comfort, and be safe. I hope you are not overweight but some are comfortable with that, too. It's only a problem when a mishap occurs then YOU are liable if you are not compliant.

[richfaa]

quote:Originally posted by scattershot

I have a short bed Ford F250 that I have been towing 5ers with since 2000, when I bought it. I have a slider hitch, and have never used it. It's also a single rear wheel. Unless you're towing some knid of monster rig, I think duallys are a PITA.

This is our 2nd dually and they are a PITA always looking for a dually parking spot the wide rear end keep you out of a lot of places. However..... We purchased the trucks to tow a heavy Montana within all spec's and it took a dually to do that particularly for the pin weight. In terms of the stability issue the extra width in the rear says it has got to add to the stability but I do not think it is very much and I would not purchase a dually based on that issue only. If the SWD met all spec's on a new we would go SWD. We purchased a truck that pulled within all spec's of course we do a lot of towing miles.