Cate&Rob I like the idea of increased open tailgate clearance.

TedS Where I park the RV at home, the truck ends up at about a 45 degree angle, so the extra space with the slider back works well for me.

Rob

A while back, I worked out a comparison of the open tailgate to front of RV clearance on a Ford vs GM. This comes down to a comparison of center of axle to edge of open tailgate. The Ford distance is considerably longer. Variation in hitch setup of pin location to center of rear axle would adjust this slightly. Note that this will be the same regardless of bed length because that difference is forward off the rear axle.

Rob

In my opinion---way too many pros for a longbed truck over a short or medium bed if you truly use your truck for working and towing. Towing with a long bed is super easy and no concerns with clearance to the cab and etc.

I also vote for the long bed. Gives a bit more space to secure things that you don’t need to put in the fifth wheel. It does make a bit more conscious effort when shopping or touring in a 22 foot vehicle.

Also seems like 5th wheel overhangs have gotten shorter, hitch pin to basement wall.

This could be an interesting and easy to measure survey to take. If others are interested, I will start a new thread. My 2015 Reflection 303RLS measures 70.5” horizontally from centerline of pin to surface of front compartment door.

Rob

My 2012 310 RLS measures 70" pin to wall on about a level line. The wall slopes a bit rearward from there.

I just got back from a trip pulling my 337RLS over 3000 miles with my 2024 3500HD with the 6'9" box, puck system and a Curt 16k non slider hitch. I have about 10k miles on the setup. Never had any clearance issues. There is zero reason to use a slider hitch with the GM HD trucks utilizing the puck system. The choice of box length comes down to day to day driving preference. These trucks are big with a high hood and less forward vision than previous models. If your considering one you should drive one before making the decision. Both my 2021 and my 2024 were 6"9" beds, its a personal choice but I will add that the turning on a longbed is going to be even worse and resale on an 8ft bed is not as good as a 6'9"

I might also add an observation from this trip. I saw many rigs that were overweight during my trip. I have quite a bit of experience in truck specs and I have always been good at math and there's no way some of these folks could ever make the math work. Some of them were downright scary.

I scaled my setup loaded with no water in any tanks. My 4500w inverter gen, 2 crates of red oak firewood, a spare 20# propane cylinder, 5 gals of gasoline and a few pieces of cribbing and my rig comes in 13,000 over the empty truck.

Your very correct on the hood vision. On my F350KR there is a front camera that I can turn on when parking in tight spots - has come in handy. It also has the high bed camera that helps in hooking up with its guide lines and the rear tailgate camera for backing in. It better than the back up sensors as sometimes they don't pick up skinny objects.
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And yep I have seen my far share of OMG moments on folks row rigs, The worst was an F150 with a 5th wheel and it was sitting hard on the rear suspension bump stops (this is well past the overload springs. The guy saw me looking - we were fueling on the opposite side of the RV pumps, and was a little grumpy when I shook my head and went back to my fueling. He made a sarcastic remark in my direction to mind my own business and I had not said a word except "hello" when he pulled in.
Maybe in the other forum topics posting area we should start a towing fail thread, but then again You-Tube has that covered.

BTW do you have enough space in your short bed around your hitch to carry stuff (firewood, portable generator, gas can,etc)? Just curious.

Safe travels
Keith

I’m in the overweight club(450lbs), but I’d still chat at the pump.

Back on topic …. I’m on my second FW in a GM truck with 6’9” bed, puck system and B&W fixed hitch. 1000’s of miles like this. Also, had a 2019 with rails and old standard bed. No issues. The way current FW caps are angled and current pin box lengths it’s less of an issue. Less is the key word. You still need to be cognizant when backing. Where you really need to pay attention is u-turns. That’s where it’ll really sneak up on you because all the focus is in front of you. I have to make a u-turn in the culdesac of my neighborhood and gets close. I’m hyper focused on the trailer cab clearance as well as swing out since I’d lose the fight against a brick mailbox. Only a little brain power left over for the front end stuff.

If a person doesn’t want to put in that extra effort or focus then a long bed or auto slider is a must.

Yoda I took my 4500w inverter Gen, 2 of those big black totes with the yellow lids full of red oak firewood, a full 20# spare propane cylinder, a 6 ft. step ladder, a 2ft step ladder, a 6 gallon gas jug and the 50a cord for the trailer plus 6 wooden pads for the jacks and a set of chocks.

not certain on the new setup just yet, will have more knowledge after the May trip (Prob have a drink with Yoda as we pass through).

With the long bed I have a full profile toolbox in the front of the bed, thus the need for the slider (it did catch the front cap backing in once creating a chip). With the 8' bed I have a lot of clearance between the cap and the toolbox without the slider. Will have to look and see if I have the B&W for or aft when I hook up next time and the location of the pin in the hitch.

Thanks Keith. I have a 2022 Reflection 260RD. I do have the turning point hitch but I also have a B&W hitch. B&W does not locking the pin box because it put too much stress on the hitch and they don't want to liability. I have thought about replacing with a hitch that does support the turning point pin box but I have to went down that road yet. I have thought about the 1 ton but I really don't think we will get any trailer bigger than we have now. - Todd

Thanks Rob. I will look into the Crosswing for sure. - Todd