Hitching a 8280ws in an 8ft bed

[Marshall]

Very interesting. Except for the part about needing the OEM pin box for your first trip. I just watched mine leave the driveway with it's new owner about an hour ago after being on Craigs list for 2 months. How ironic!

[MikeInRaleigh]

Just make sure you air it up and let it sit a while before you next trip. Mine is sitting out in the back yard. Had no idea there was any market for it. Maybe I'll put mine on craig's list.

[Fivealive]

Thanks everyone, for the reassurance you have provided with your comments! Sounds like I will have a tad less room, but more than enough to avoid regret. The longbed truck will be delivered in about 2 weeks and I will know for sure. (that is if I can get the snow mountain removed from in front of it... enough already!)

[Marshall]

Yes, Mike, I was surprised to receive 2 calls. One from someone looking to replace their sidewinder and the other looking to replace a shorter factory hitch. What I initially thought was metal scrap ended up netting me $175.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Fivealive

I ordered a F 250 Long Bed and had a thought leading me to think hitching with the tailgate down might be an issue. The difference in overhang from my old short bed is calculated at 3 inches longer. Does anyone have an 8ft bed that can tell me if there is enough clearance to hitch with the tailgate down?

I have a F-250 with an 8 ft bed. I had a 8250WS and used the Reese 18K fifth wheel hitch that mounted to the Ford Frame.
If the rig was straight the tailgate was able to drop down with a few inches to spare but that's it.
Here is a few pictures but not with my tailgate down.

[Iggy]

This is the Reese inbed 5th Wheel hitch I had

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by Iggy

I have a F-250 with an 8 ft bed. I had a 8250WS and used the Reese 18K fifth wheel hitch that mounted to the Ford Frame.
If the rig was straight the tailgate was able to drop down with a few inches to spare but that's it.
Here is a few pictures but not with my tailgate down.

Great pictures, thanks! Looks closer than I imagined. Nice truck!

[Fivealive]

Iggy did you happen to bolt the pinbox, or did you let it swivel? How was the tow?

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Fivealive

Iggy did you happen to bolt the pinbox, or did you let it swivel? How was the tow?

Not sure what you are asking. The trailer swiveled while attached.
Towing was actually easy as it was a Ultralite and the gas V8 had no problems. I got rid of it because we wanted to travel lots of miles and the Ultralite couldn't handle the many miles I wanted to tow.
So now I have a 2012 Georgetown motorhome and just went over 35,000 miles.

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by Iggy

Not sure what you are asking. The trailer swiveled while attached.
Towing was actually easy as it was a Ultralite and the gas V8 had no problems. I got rid of it because we wanted to travel lots of miles and the Ultralite couldn't handle the many miles I wanted to tow.
So now I have a 2012 Georgetown motorhome and just went over 35,000 miles.

Sorry, I am not familiar with the 8250WS model. I was guessing it had a Revolution Pinbox that rotated at the trailer and was wedged into the hitch saddle. Since you had an 8ft bed providing cab clearance, you did not have to use the pinbox wedged in the hitch. The trailer would have come with two bolts for the pinbox which would stop it from rotating at the trailer. The pinbox would rotate in the hitch if this was done. I am going from a short bed to a long, and I am thinking of the pros and cons of bolting the pinbox and removing the wedge.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Fivealive

Sorry, I am not familiar with the 8250WS model. I was guessing it had a Revolution Pinbox that rotated at the trailer and was wedged into the hitch saddle. Since you had an 8ft bed providing cab clearance, you did not have to use the pinbox wedged in the hitch. The trailer would have come with two bolts for the pinbox which would stop it from rotating at the trailer. The pinbox would rotate in the hitch if this was done. I am going from a short bed to a long, and I am thinking of the pros and cons of bolting the pinbox and removing the wedge.

I had a standard pin pox with no swivel. I had total clearance when turning and no problem with cab clearance.

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by Iggy

I had a standard pin pox with no swivel. I had total clearance when turning and no problem with cab clearance.

Thanks for your pictures and feedback, they were very helpful!

[Fivealive]

Hitched with the new F 250 with an 8ft bed yesterday. We lost 4 inches of tailgate clearance compared to the F 150. I'm glad there is room, but miss walking between the trailer and the tailgate. We also need to be cautious about angle hookups.