Hitch help

[RyanTheTerrible]

Take a look at the Reese 61421 Sidewinder 19k. I tow with a short bed F250, a standard 15k fifth wheel hitch and a 16k sidewinder. You can unhitched and re-hitch at any angle (I hear that is difficult with sliders), no monkeying around with slider release handles, and the hitch hardware is light enough to be easily removed if you need the full bed. It has turned out to be a great solution for us.

[Mtnquail]

I have used the used the Reece sliding hitch and they do work. The problem my neighbor and I found was you have to be very close to perfectly aligned to uncouple, and by lubing the hitch everyday it does make a mess. Might consider the Anderson Ultimate Hitch. Easiest off and on you will find. It doesn't care if you are lined up straight or at a 90. Short bed requires we keep our heads cut in but tight turns are very do able . Enjoy your new rig.

[Ronbry]

We use to have a Montana 5th with a 8 foot bed Ford pickup. Traded the Montana for a Flagstaff Ultra Lite 5th. Later bought a 2017 Ford F-250 short bed. The Flagstaff came with a Reese Revolution pin box that you take two bolts out of the back of it and install a wedge under it so the pin is lock into hitch so it will not swivel and the pin box swivels under the5th, moves the swivel point two feet back from hitch. No need for a slider hitch.

[maximo]

I have a F250 crew cab, short bed. Have B&W Companion hitch. Been pulling with it for the last 8 years with short beds and can turn on a dime. The rounded nose of my Big Sky never comes near hitting the cab. I have to make very sharp turns to park the trailer while backing into my barn at home. The hitch hooks on to a B&W trailer ball in the bed. Unhook the hitch, remove it from the truck bed, turn the ball over and nothing left in the bed.

[mchurch314]

I went with a Goosebox....didn't want a big, heavy hitch in my truck that I had to rempve when I wasn't towing.

[WeBeFulltime]

With today's front caps a slider is a waste of $. I have pulled 2 different Montanas (2012 & 2018.5) with 2 different short beds (Ram & Ford) which includes full time since 2010 and NEVER a problem with standard hitch.

[TBW Ventures]

Sadly , like MtLakeJim, I too have one dent and required a glass replacement. While I have a 6’9” box and on a level spot the trailer will clear the cab , there is an issue when the truck and trailer are at different angles.

I would buy a slider for a short box. Even with my 6’9” box I would consider if I didn’t have my current hitch.

[Silverado Sam]

Originally Posted by Craigboyajian

We are purchasing a 2017 Montana 3710FL and will be pulling with short box Ram. Question :
Do I need a slider or will standard hitch work with the Montana? I was told the Cap is molded to accept a regular hitch??

True/Untrue??

Thanks!

It doesn’t matter what your cap is molded for, your trailer is still 8 feet wide and the distance from a short bed trucks fear axle is less than 4 feet from the rear window. If you make a 90 degree turn you will knock out your rear window, guaranteed.
A Pullrite auto slider retracts the pin 14 inches to the rear, more than enough for most short bed trucks.
That said, Dodge and Ford both make some short bed trucks with only 5 foot beds. If this is what you have, forget the whole slider question and trade it in for a truck with an 8 foot bed. The hitch choice then becomes moot.

[dfb]

2017 sb ram, 2015 montana,,, they hit.... its up to you...with the anderson hitch..pullrite supergilde will prevent it....

[Silverado Sam]

Originally Posted by dfb

2017 sb ram, 2015 montana,,, they hit.... its up to you...with the anderson hitch..pullrite supergilde will prevent it....

I’m just going by what the manufacturers suggest. All three now call their 6.5 foot bed standard. The 8 foot bed is their long bed and the 5 foot bed they call the short bed. None of them recommend pulling a 5er with a 5 foot bed, slide hitch or not and I believe that. I pull a Montana 3582 with a 6.5 foot Duramax. I have a Pulleite slide and have never had trouble.

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by Silverado Sam

It doesn’t matter what your cap is molded for, your trailer is still 8 feet wide and the distance from a short bed trucks fear axle is less than 4 feet from the rear window. If you make a 90 degree turn you will knock out your rear window, guaranteed.
A Pullrite auto slider retracts the pin 14 inches to the rear, more than enough for most short bed trucks.
That said, Dodge and Ford both make some short bed trucks with only 5 foot beds. If this is what you have, forget the whole slider question and trade it in for a truck with an 8 foot bed. The hitch choice then becomes moot.

I respectfully propose a response about the four foot measurement. If the front cap was not curved your assessment would be correct. However, the newer caps are curved which in turn increases cab clearance in turns. I have a newer curved cap with the B&W non sliding hitch in a short bed Ram. I have no concerns turning as sharply as I want to. My old Montana needed a sliding hitch, not the new one. These things change continually and for once, for the better.

[Eddiea]

I bought the super glide, works great

[GregandAlison]

I use have a Demco Autoslide 21k for my 3790RD, pulled with a Chevy 6.5 bed. I chose Demco over Pullrite for the height adjustment of the Demco and lack of a capture plate attached to the trailer pin.

[mlh]

Ford doesn’t build a Super Duty truck with 5 foot bed. The shortest is listed at 6 3/4 feet.
Lynwood

[Jet334]

I have a 17 Montana HC w/ a Husky hitch and slider.
I tow with a Chevy Duramax standard bed.I have never used the slider but it’s good to know it’s there if needed. I’ve backed in to nearly 90 deg angles with inches to spare no problems.GOAL often and assess the situation and go slow! Goodluck have fun.

[christm]

We have an F350 short box and pull a Montana 3910. We have the PullRite slider. Works perfectly. I can turn about 105 degrees. Would not leave home without it. They cost about $1500 but well worth the money. I think ours is rated to pull 18k.

[powerhaulic]

My SuperGlide 18k is for sale.......
About 2000mi on it

[browens62]

2016 ram 6.4 bed and 2018 3121rl
I had the same question. I went with slider for just in cases.

[jcurryii]

Been pulling with a B&W on Ram 2500, short bed since 2012, no problems.

[lensnel]

I have a Demco Autoslider and it is simple to use and works great!