My truck is shorter than 8’, do I need a slider?

This depends a lot on how much shorter than 8’ which is often dictated by which brand truck you purchase. For example, the current body style General Motors and Ford standard bed trucks are 6’ 9” but a Ram standard bed is either 6’ or 6’ 4” which is considerably shorter. In many cases a specialty pin box such as a Reese Sidewinder or Lippert turning point would be required with a standard bed Ram but often not necessary with a Ford or General Motors truck, because of the extra length provided in their standard box models. Even with a GM or Ford standard bed, you may not achieve full 90 degree reverse turn, but often times upwards of 88 degrees is possible. The Ram standard bed can also be safely used without a slider or sidewinder pin, but it depends on the design of the 5th wheel. It is best to research your 5th wheel model to determine if the manufacturer engineered the cap to accommodate sharper turning.

Not sure about your truck?  Give us a call at 800-410-6580.