Short Bed Truck

[jasonreaume]

Has anyone pulled a 2015 Montana 3721RL with a short bed truck without a slider? I have a 2014 F350 Diesel with a short bed and no slider and would like to know if I will be able to make the advertised 90 degree turns. Thanks

[CORattler]

Can't directly answer that as I've had a Pullrite hitch in my shortbed since I bought the Montana. Never a problem making a 90 degree turn either going forward or backing up. Highly recommended if you decide to go that route.

[jasonreaume]

Is your Pullrite hitch a slider? I went with Reese Titan R20 in our setup, no slider though.

[Mark N.]

My question is: Why is the 90 degree turn some kind of benchmark? I've never had to do it. I avoid it because of the lateral stress loads it puts on the wheels.
I don't know the length of the 3721RL but I have a 3400RL and pull with a Ram 3500 shortbed and the Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch, which is not a slider of any kind.

[CORattler]

quote:Originally posted by jasonreaume

Is your Pullrite hitch a slider?

Yes. Automatic. No levers to remember to actuate in order to have the hitch function as a slider.

[CORattler]

quote:Originally posted by Mark N.

My question is: Why is the 90 degree turn some kind of benchmark?

Probably a question by the OP as it's a marketing gimmick hence the big sticker pasted on the front of units and in their glossy handouts (some say 88)

[jasonreaume]

No benchmark but I have been in multiple state parks where I've had to back in to some fairly tight spaces.

[DQDick]

We have a 40' older Monty and a short bed truck. We do have a slider but I haven't had to use it in four years including backing from one side of a mobile home to the other. I still wouldn't get rid of the slider, because you never know, but we've done some really sharp moves without it.

[WeBeFulltime]

quote:Originally posted by Mark N.

My question is: Why is the 90 degree turn some kind of benchmark? I've never had to do it. I avoid it because of the lateral stress loads it puts on the wheels.
I don't know the length of the 3721RL but I have a 3400RL and pull with a Ram 3500 shortbed and the Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch, which is not a slider of any kind.

I have to agree with this. I would NEVER put my suspension under that kind of stress. If mine won't go in the site with a max of 45 degree turn then it doesn't need to be in there! BTW my truck is a SB and I pull with a standard B & W.

[JandC]

It isn't always the severe angle of the cut that can get you when having a short bed. I did about everything you can do while backing up and never had to use my manual Reese slider. Then last fall while backing into a really tight spot in Florida the sand allowed my trailer to lean into my cut and I almost damaged my truck cab. I have cut it much further than that many times but due to the lean of the trailer it made the difference this time.

Now whenever I am backing into spots that are not totally solid surface I will be using my slider.

[fulltilt]

Hi Jason
We have a 2012 3402 which came with the "long reach" pin box from the factory. If I were to go 90degrees to the truck centerline the back of the pin box would collide with the inside of the box tops. Even with the 3 inch riser kit on the hitch the back of the pin box does not rise high enough above the box sides, especially on downward slopes. I agree with Mark, I am conscious of this and on tight sites I just make a series of lower angle turns. I do run a 18k Pullrite slider now, but that has no bearing on the issue I speak of. My tow vehicle before this was the Ford F350 shorty and non-auto slider and I applied the same principle, series of shorter angles, never had a problem.

[1retired06]

There is a reason slider hitches exist.

[Rondo]

I'm with DQDick-- I have the shortbed box and have a Reese slider JUST IN CASE I should need it. So far with the MorRyde pinbox and the new and improved front nose on the newer Montana's, I have not had to use the slider but it is there just incase I do. I also have the Bedsaver connected to the hitch JUST IN CASE also!

[fulltilt]

Auto sliders are great, I've used one for 3 years, but I caution Jason and anyone else that if you have a "long reach" pin box on the trailer, the auto slider will not help you if the pin box turns within the sides of the truck box as on my 2012 GMC, it hits. You must measure from the centerline of the pin to the back of the pin box and determine if it will collide. You may not have to on the Ford or Dodge, I don't know but it takes 5 minutes to do. I have raised my hitch in the box 3 inches and that has helped under most circumstances. I relocated the 4x4 electrical box inside the pin box, that helped also In the other circumstances I have had to do a series of shorter angle turns to prevent hitting the inside of the truck box rails. The long reach pin box is quite common now on the Montana's. Our 3402 angles down probably close to 4 inches because of it. I am considering on cutting the back of the pin bow at an angle to clear the sides and then I will remove the 3 inch lift on the hitch or I may swap out the pin box to a standard length.

[richfaa]

IF we had a short bed truck I would go with the slider hitch just in case we need it just like the bed saver.The long bed gives us more room for "stuff" and we only use the truck for pulling the Montana and do not keep in in any garage.

[jlb27537]

The long Mor/ryde pin box will allow the pin box mounting bracket on the frame to hit the inside of the bed on a late model Ram. Only on a stupid sharp backing situation.

If you normally have to get into this sharp of turn, You might want to consider installing Mor/ryde X-factor braces.

I think the advertized turn is 88 degrees.

[richfaa]

Only once because I did a dumb thing did we have to do a jack knife turn to get out of trouble. It was with the 06 3400 and a long bed truck.

We made the turn by a hair.

[joe1047]

hello,
I have a montana 2014 3625E, AND PULL WITH A 2007.5 SIERRA LMM 2500HD. short bed, with a reese hitch ( not a slider) , and never had a problem with hitting the cab. also i need to make a very sharp turn (maybe a 90) to get in and out of my driveway, so I cant help putting all the stress on the tires and frame.
I did have the dealer install the X factor bar across the axel to help the stress , i cant do anything else , no other way to get in my driveway. good luck

[fulltilt]

I'm like Joe, have no choice at home, but to cut down on the frame stresses, I do a few smaller angle turns. But this situation does happen on the road, especially in small older parks.

[Sundogette]

We pull our 3455SA with a 2007 Chev 2500 SB with the Super Slider Hitch. It works like a charm. We have a labyrinth pathway into our driveway, so the hitch really makes the jib less stressful. Can't tell you how many friends we have that have dented their truck cabs....one has dented both sides. Ouch!