Columbus 5th Wheel Towing with Short Bed

[Livinthedream]

Anybody out there towing a Columbus 5th wheel with a Short Bed TV no slider. Strongly considering the Andersen Ultimate (payload reasons). So if anybody is specifically using that hitch great like to hear from you. I would have posted this in the towing forum but i am hoping to keep responses limited to those pulling Columbus 5th wheels with short bed trucks without slider hitch. Do you have cab clearance issues and what type of turns can you make. Ever been in a situation you needed the slider?? Specifics on your setup greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PB

[Kimber45]

love my Anderson. would never own an expensive heavy slider. I can go full 90 degrees with my short bad ram 2500 with no issues.

[Livinthedream]

Thanks. Are you pulling a Columbus? I hear the shape of the nose makes a huge difference. I have the Ford puck system so I will be prevented from using any offset devices.

PB

[Windjammin]

I have the Pullrite Superlite hitch (same idea as the Anderson). My Crusader has the tapered front so I can turn almost 90 degrees but I never get close to that. I sometimes go with two kayaks on the roof rack that stick out about 2 feet into the bed. Still no issues with turns.

[Kimber45]

Originally Posted by Livinthedream

Thanks. Are you pulling a Columbus? I hear the shape of the nose makes a huge difference. I have the Ford puck system so I will be prevented from using any offset devices.

PB

The Anderson pyramid it self is off set. don't understand how a few inches makes a difference but it does. I don't have a colombus but I don't have the cut outs in my cap either for tighter turns.

[pdgates]

I pull a 320RS with a 2013 F-250 6.7 Diesel. I have a B&W turn over ball mounted under the bed. I have a Companion Slider mounted into the turn over ball hitch
Cost was more than most would want to spend but I wanted the option to have the bed empty or to be able to pull a gooseneck trailer. I have been very pleased with the setup and have over 11K miles of pulling with it.

[dkvoelter]

We have a 2015 Columbus 295RL pulled with a 2014 Ram 3500 dually short bed. The hitch is a Ram Mopar. The curve on the front of the 5th wheel makes the clearance a piece of cake, no problems with turning sharp.

[MainelyUS]

I have a GMC 3500 Duramax short bed & a 20K Reese slider system pulling a Columbus 340RK...so far so good.

[Tall frog]

I have the Andersen hitch and pull with a short bed 6'8", and have a 2019 Cedar Creek 36ck2 . We can turn almost 90° but don't like to , hard on tires, suspension.

[ependydad]

If it matters, I towed with an Andersen for 4 months before getting rid of it. The ride with my toy hauler (not a Columbus) was harsh and jarring in the truck.

[DouglasReid]

Don't tow a Columbus but we have a CCSB truck and a 5er that has a front cap design which will cause the cap to hit the bed if turning tightly.

We have a Reese 16K fifth wheel hitch and used to have a slider base. It worked well for backing and towing but was a PITA to move from one position to the other.

It was necessary to lower the landing gear to take the weight off of the slide mechanism and move t=it, then retract the landing gear each time. As I said, a PITA.

WE found a Craigslist find of a Reese Sidewinder 16K pin box for $300. Added $100 for new plate and bolts and installed that. It works like a dream. WE even replaced the slider base with a pair of fixed legs which reduced the hitch weight about 150 lbs.

We could not be happier!

[Electra glide]

My Vengeance has an odd nose and I do just fine in my short bed truck. As for the ride mentioned above I put Timbrens bump stops on mine and it helps but I didn't think it was that much of an issue. Mine was just keeping the headlights at the correct angle at night, which the Timbrens fixed. https://youtu.be/ADm9WFwVIvg

[Columbus340RK]

Originally Posted by Livinthedream

Anybody out there towing a Columbus 5th wheel with a Short Bed TV no slider. Strongly considering the Andersen Ultimate (payload reasons). So if anybody is specifically using that hitch great like to hear from you. I would have posted this in the towing forum but i am hoping to keep responses limited to those pulling Columbus 5th wheels with short bed trucks without slider hitch. Do you have cab clearance issues and what type of turns can you make. Ever been in a situation you needed the slider?? Specifics on your setup greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PB

We tow a 2015 340RK Columbus with a 2500 GMC short box. Although I have a Reese slider hitch I have never had to pull the lever . I can't say I've ever done a full 90 and have had to put it in some pretty tight spots. This maneuver is always mentioned but the strange thing is is I've never seen anyone have to actually use it to get into a site. When you actually consider the amount of space that is require to do it , I can't see it being used in any kind of RV park. Hope this is of some help.

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by Columbus340RK

We tow a 2015 340RK Columbus with a 2500 GMC short box. Although I have a Reese slider hitch I have never had to pull the lever . I can't say I've ever done a full 90 and have had to put it in some pretty tight spots. This maneuver is always mentioned but the strange thing is is I've never seen anyone have to actually use it to get into a site. When you actually consider the amount of space that is require to do it , I can't see it being used in any kind of RV park. Hope this is of some help.

The REAL advantage to the slider is to move the center of rotation (the King Pin}, behind the rear axle.

Set up correctly, 2" in front of the axle, the response of the trailer to the movement of the trucks front wheels is very small and slow, compared to moving the center of rotation behind that rear axle.

Yes, you can back into any spot if you have enough space. The slider makes it easier is all by making the trailer more responsive to your steering wheel.

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by Columbus340RK

We tow a 2015 340RK Columbus with a 2500 GMC short box. Although I have a Reese slider hitch I have never had to pull the lever . I can't say I've ever done a full 90 and have had to put it in some pretty tight spots. This maneuver is always mentioned but the strange thing is is I've never seen anyone have to actually use it to get into a site. When you actually consider the amount of space that is require to do it , I can't see it being used in any kind of RV park. Hope this is of some help.

I have with my 16K manual slider hitch in the past. What you did not see at least from me is I would always extend the hitch from the tow position to the maneuver position at the campground office. I would than proceed to the campsite and either back in or drive in a pull thru site, but the hitch was extended from the tow position. I just did this out of habit so, I would not touch the cab or rear window. I did this for 10 years with two different SB trucks and three different 5er's.
I now have an auto slider hitch so, I do not need to manually extend the hitch this is done for me as I back-up into a site.

[Osud320]

Love the Anderson, pulling a 2016 Columbus 37’ RKC with a 2015 Silverado 2500 HD Diesel, short bed, standard wheels. Had a regular 5th hitch , by B&W. Never needed a slider. Have towed with the Anderson 6 times. Pulls great and I love the fact don’t worry about the jaws being locked. The Anderson is so easy to remove, no longer hate pulling the hitch out to use my truck. Wish this hitch was out before buying the very heavy 5th wheel hitch.

[robbiels7]

No slider no problem. I have the reese goosbox pinbox matched with a blue ox diamond gooseneck hitch. I do have the cut outs in my cap but have never been in any danger of contact of any kind. And with just a twist of the puck in have a flat bed.

[MikeRP]

For me with a Cedar Creek and the b&w companion slider, it works easy. Not sure I need it yet but it wasn’t hard just to jump out and slide it to the rears, then back it in to storage. Which was difficult, I was basically parallel parking.

[Columbus340RK]

The slide definitely has its advantages and although I haven't had to use it as of yet when we leave for our up and coming road trip I will definitely use it if needed. Hope to be on the road in about 35 days.

[MainelyUS]

Originally Posted by MainelyUS

I have a GMC 3500 Duramax short bed & a 20K Reese slider system pulling a Columbus 340RK...so far so good.
Attachment 193826

Well since this post I was parked at my brother’s ranch and had +/-40’ to do a 180 degree turn. With the hitch back on the slide, truck in 4L manual, the wheel turned totally to the right off we went. The Columbus & truck at 90degrees never touched and had 6” over the bed rail.
The slider system is like any tool... it’s always great to have it when you need it.