B&W slider or stationary???????

[Austine1500]

Looking at cy39500. Tow vehicle is 08 ram 2500 qcsb with 6" lift and 35" tires. Been trying to get all ducks in a row. Before I order my air bags I need to know hitch. I'm leaning toward B&W turnover ball W/ companion. Do I go with the slider to get the full 12" for turning with a short bed? Or is there enough adjustment with the RVK3500 (stationary)? B&W said it would get 7" of adjustment back which should put me around 1" of center of rear axle.


Does anyone have an opinion on lifting a already 13'3" rv or buying spare set of small tires and rims for TV? Or will it ride close to level as is?

 

[danemayer]

Looking at cy39500. Tow vehicle is 08 ram 2500 qcsb with 6" lift and 35" tires. Been trying to get all ducks in a row. Before I order my air bags I need to know hitch. I'm leaning toward B&W turnover ball W/ companion. Do I go with the slider to get the full 12" for turning with a short bed? Or is there enough adjustment with the RVK3500 (stationary)? B&W said it would get 7" of adjustment back which should put me around 1" of center of rear axle.

Does anyone have an opinion on lifting a already 13'3" rv or buying spare set of small tires and rims for TV? Or will it ride close to level as is?

Hi Austine1500,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum. There's lots of great information here and as it happens, there's a similar thread that currently discussion the same question. Here's a link.

Apart from the height, you might review your tow vehicle payload spec versus the likely pin weight of a big Cyclone. 2500s typically have a payload spec between 2500 and 3000 lbs. A 3950 could have a pin weight of around 20% of GVWR, which would be 3600 lbs sitting on your hitch. Add the weight of the hitch, bed liner, bed cover, tools, cargo, pets, passengers and other stuff in the truck and you could end up way, way over your truck's payload spec.

Most people recommend a 3500/350 dually for pulling a large Cyclone.

You might want to visit Fifth Wheel Safe Towing for more information and to run numbers.

 

[Austine1500]

Thanks. Is there a way to get alerts to my email? Also to read forums from beginning to end instead of end to beginning?

 

[danemayer]

Thanks. Is there a way to get alerts to my email? Also to read forums from beginning to end instead of end to beginning?

Top Right of page, click on SETTINGS

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[Austine1500]

Thank you, great direction. Much easier to navigate the posts.

 

[Austine1500]

Still looking for any advice on slider hitch or not for a shortbed truck. Thank you

 

[Kbvols]

I have a shortbed truck with a slider hitch and have never once slid the hitch to back up the trailer or turn. I am not advising you either way just telling my experience.

 

[SeattleLion]

I have the companion with no slider. I'm new to it too so I don't know how good a decision I made. Our 5ver is a Bighorn with a patented curved front that the manufacturer says I can make an 88 degree turn with my short bed. That seems like enough to me.

 

[Austine1500]

I also like the pull rite super glide but need to figure out if that 5% of the time I need to slide is worth the extra $1000+ I'm leaning toward yes cuz the one time I accidently turn that rv into my truck is going to cost a whole lot more.

 

[alex00]

I also like the pull rite super glide but need to figure out if that 5% of the time I need to slide is worth the extra $1000+ I'm leaning toward yes cuz the one time I accidently turn that rv into my truck is going to cost a whole lot more.

When I first shopped for a new truck I was looking hard at the mega cab Ram. I had the same debate as you, and decided the $1000 was worth it for the 'automatic' sliding hitch. I knew that I would someday be lazy, forgetful, or downright wrong about my ability to make the turn without engaging the slider. There is nothing the trailer would touch on my truck that cost less than $1000. The hardest part is that you can't install a regular hitch and go for a test drive to check your clearances. It's not like the mounting hardware easily transfers around.

 

[Bob&Patty]

To what Dan said, an 08 2500 Dodge does not have even close to the legal weight ratings to pull a 3950 CY. Look at the Gross weight rating of the 3950. I bet its at least 18K. DO NOT let a salesman tell you different.

As far as lifting the CY, If you do raise it 6", it would highly unstable in a crosswinds and you would be close to 14' high. The truck being as high as it is, would be scary to me as far as body roll in turns with the pin weight you would have. You also need to see what the weight rating are on the 35" tires. They would have to be somewhere close to 3750 each. The brakes on your 2500 might be a little lacking also. Nothing you add to your present truck will make it "LEGAL". Keep in mind you and your families safety are in play here.

You also need to check on what drivers license endorsment you might need to pull that big/heavy 5er. In Ca. you need a CDL over 15001#.

Not trying to pop your bubble.....but these are cold hard facts. That 3950 is the size and weight of a 40' semi trailer and do you really want to pull a 40' semi trailer with a 2500 pickup truck? I pulled a 40' refer trailer when I was an owner operator with a 3 axle Freightliner and that trailer weighed in at 13K empty. You will need a late model, 2011 or newer Ford-GM 3500 DRW or a 2013 or newer 3500 Dodge to be safe. All the trucks I mentioned, NOW have the rating to pull that CY. Good luck with your decision. JMHO

 

[DW_Gray]

The OP is bringing back personal memories. Don't do it. Go to http://Fifthwheelst.com and read the first two articles.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[szewczyk_john]

as far as the original question goes. I have a mega cab and did spend the money for a sliding hitch. I have a Trailer Saver BD-3 hitch on their sliding mechanism. I have only used the slider twice and I am pretty sure that I did not need to slide it, I could have gotten by by making a few smaller radius turns instead of one big one.That said, I am glad that I made the decision I did knowing that I have that option is a piece of mind thing.

As far as the cautions you are hearing, my experience is that I have an 06 Dodge 2500 and I pull a Road Warrior 305RW which is the smaller, lighter two axel unit. My unit has a pin weight of 2400 and 14000 total. We travel light as the truck is rated for 12600. I have weight it and we were over by 300 lbs. I plan on upgrading as soon as I can finaicially afford to do so. I believe that my truck is capable of handling our trailer but I want a margin for safety so I plan on upgrading. Air bags have helped me with the pin weight to level the truck. You are looking at another 1000 lbs of pin weight and 2 extra ton overall. That is asking for a lot. Then when you add the lift?? I have seen a lifted truck roll over in a crosswind very close to the New River Gorge Bridge while pulling a smaller fifth wheel. Something to think about.

 

[mobilcastle]

I agree with this post. I would not pull a 5ver with a lifted truck. Bed rail clearance is a problem on a stock truck. On the slider. I had a Superglide automatic slider on my first short bed truck and it worked great. I now have a long bed and I am using a B&W Companion (older model which does not have enough height adjustment). The new model adjust up a little higher. Good luck.

To what Dan said, an 08 2500 Dodge does not have even close to the legal weight ratings to pull a 3950 CY. Look at the Gross weight rating of the 3950. I bet its at least 18K. DO NOT let a salesman tell you different.

As far as lifting the CY, If you do raise it 6", it would highly unstable in a crosswinds and you would be close to 14' high. The truck being as high as it is, would be scary to me as far as body roll in turns with the pin weight you would have. You also need to see what the weight rating are on the 35" tires. They would have to be somewhere close to 3750 each. The brakes on your 2500 might be a little lacking also. Nothing you add to your present truck will make it "LEGAL". Keep in mind you and your families safety are in play here.

You also need to check on what drivers license endorsment you might need to pull that big/heavy 5er. In Ca. you need a CDL over 15001#.

Not trying to pop your bubble.....but these are cold hard facts. That 3950 is the size and weight of a 40' semi trailer and do you really want to pull a 40' semi trailer with a 2500 pickup truck? I pulled a 40' refer trailer when I was an owner operator with a 3 axle Freightliner and that trailer weighed in at 13K empty. You will need a late model, 2011 or newer Ford-GM 3500 DRW or a 2013 or newer 3500 Dodge to be safe. All the trucks I mentioned, NOW have the rating to pull that CY. Good luck with your decision. JMHO

 

[usnaviator]

We have an F350 SRW shortbed and I went with the Companion slider. May have been able to get by without it but wanted it for peace of mind. One thing to consider is it takes up a lot of room. I can't comment on how well it works as we haven't used it yet. The new BH3160EL should be in soon.