6' Bed

[GreatWhite]

With the "new" design of the front ends of the Montana Mountaineer (and others).. can I use a non-sliding hitch w/o worrying about blowing out the rear window of the TV? Up till this pony, all the 5ers I've onwned have had square fronts and that was a problem.

I'm wanting to downsize my truck to a 250(0) SB.. probably a short bed.

But, don't want to consider the purchase if I have to go with a slider. I really like the B&W companion type hitches.

What say ye????

[dsprik]

My 3500 (2013) has a 6.5 ft bed and I had 2 Montana dealerships tell me my Reese 16K hitch was all I needed for my 2007 3400. I let one of those dealerships install the hitch, so we will see Wed when I have a short haul to make...

Don't know the length of the Ford 250 short bed, but GM made a "short bed" of 5'8" and mine is called a "standard bed" of 6'6". Everyone's "long bed" is 8'.

[triumphess]

Our Ford "short" bed is 6'6" -- so far we haven't had any issues (We have a Curt 16K hitch)

[nosticks]

I have a Reese 16k slider in my Ford. I have never used the slider. I wanted it just in case. I still have the back window.

[GreatWhite]

I guess I forgot to mention in my OP.. My original TV was a Ford F250 SD CC LB. I had the slider in it and never had an issue.. UNTIL.. one day I was backing out of a tight spot and had to crank it hard.. just short of jackknifing it. Gunshot POW.. no more rear window.. fortunately, that was all that happened to either the TV or the 5er.

So, I'm hoping to hear from someone that has done a tight crank with a shorted.

Regarding the hitches, I really like the B&W as they are truly a "nothing left in the bed" hitch when you want to remove it.. no rails. If I can get by w/o a slider, I'd like to do it.

Currently I have a Chev 2500 HD Silverado and like it... but, the length is, at times, a pain in the booty. The one good thing is carrying a sheet of plywood, etc.. as I have a rail high diamond plate tool box at the front of the bed.

Guess it's hard to have "everything" in a small package

[Emmel]

My 2002 GMC was a short bed. I had a Reese slider installed as it was recommended by everyone I talked to. In the 11 years I towed my Montanas, I never used the slider and I have been in quite a few tight places. However, I'm not above maneuvering into the space, which means a lot of backing and then pulling forward. When we replaced the 02 with a 2012, this one is a drw cc 3500 HD. I still have the slider in this truck because the hitch company said it wasn't wore out yet!

[Ishler]

Just took the slider out of my short bed. I used it once with my 05 Montana and never with this one.

[maximo]

I have a 2002 F250 4 Door Crew Cab with the short bed and a B&W Companion Hitch. I tow a 2011 Big Sky 3580RL and never a problem. I make some real tight turns while backing and even installed 3 of the X-Factor braces on the RV. AS the Montana people say 79 Degree Turning Radius.

FRank

[DQDick]

My guess would be that the only problem you would have is a really tight turn on very bad ground. That being said, I have a slider that I've only used once and probably didn't need then. We have had members find out the hard way how much an electric rear window costs but I think they mostly had the older square front rigs.

[GreatWhite]

What is an X-Factor brace? Googled and can't quite figure it out.

[JandC]

I can't speak for GMC or Chevy short beds, but my F350 short bed has a slider hitch installed (RV dealer recommended). On my first pull with my Monte I stopped for fuel in a Pilot that wasn't busy. I used their back lot and cranked my truck all the way around. Didn't need the slider and probably never will, but I guess it never hurts to have it.

[BB_TX]

Good friend had a short bed and an older squared front corner Coachmen 5er. Knocked out his back window on a tight back in turn. Traded for an '08 Montana 3295RK. No problems after that, but he was also more careful about tight back ins. Don't know exactly how tight he could turn it though.

[dsprik]

I think the worst case situation is cranking while going through a dip, where you are on uneven ground - as mentioned above. I ripped the ladder off my 3400 coming out of a parking lot onto a street in TN. Had a long bed at the time, but the same thing would have happened on a short bed.parking lot was higher than the street. If the area you are pulling out of is higher than the area you are pulling to, you may have some problems - and not just with the turning radius...

[Recumbent]

Had an 2010 F250 CC Sort Bed with a B&W Companion hitch (no slider, and good quality) and 2010 Montana Mountaineer with the 79 degree turn radius and always posted the DW to watch the back window and front coach rounded corners. In some CGs have had to get a "new bite" to make the turns, and always made it with a little room to spare. The slider is like an insurance policy, you may never need it. I almost always over work my calculator. The extra cost of slider verses replacement cost of rear window etc. If you don't get a slider and don't break window then you are marginally better off, and after having broken a window you may never repeat. Side note, when you decide on how to best carry your Recumbent Trikes please let me know.

[maximo]

GreatWhite,
The X-Factor Cross Braces are steel tube braces that installed across the RV frame. One in front of the tires, one in between the tires and one in back of the tires. This makes it so when you are backing the RV on a real sharp turn and the wheels are sliding sideways on the ground it takes the strain off the spring hangers and hopefully not break anything.

Frank

[fauch]

Well GreatWhite, sounds like you have some of the answer to your own question. When you did have the rear window break with the long bed truck, it sounds like you were past 90 deg. Generally with a long bed truck the only way to have a trailer/truck cab collision is to go past 90 deg and contact the SIDE of the trailer.

This is the example that i have given here several times. I have a 6.5' (6'-6") 2009 F250. I am not worried about the front cap pf my 2007 Montana contacting the truck cab. It' the side of the trailer when turning past 90 deg that concerns me. Like Recumbent said, the slider is like an insurance policy. I have the PullRite Super Glide (auto-slider) which gives me 14" of additional cab to trailer clearance at 90 deg. And I never have to worry about remembering to release the slide. I call it old man CRS-fool-proofing insurance.

[GreatWhite]

fauch.. Actually, with a square front 5er, it is way less than 90* where the front of the RV is at the nearest point to the rear window. once you get past that point.. it's all gravy.. unless, of course, you do jackknife.. ouch. Then it's the cab.. not the window.

[Slufoot733]

I have a Reese slider in my 2008 F-350 short bed.....BUT, I have never had to use it to maneuver the Monty. I would say that unless you're going to be in a realllllly tight situation you should be good.

[Denfinger]

I have a 2012 Ford F250 with a Reese 16K/Slider and a Mountaineer 295RKD. Have not used the slider yet only to exercise and lubricate it in our driveway. It is possible to hit I have been lucky enough to manuever slowly and prevent it. (but you almost have to jackknife to hit) My bed is the 6' 6" bed. I still like having the slider as an extra amount of insurance should the need arise.

[Montana Sky]

Welcome back Dave!! Good to see you again online and what a sharp looking truck you have!! My next one will be the new body Silverado 3500HD.