I have an '08 Chevy Crew Cab 1/2 ton short bed.  Owners manual says not to install GN hitch.  A two horse aluminum trailer would be well with in the weight restrictions. Is the recommendation against GN strictly due to potential risk of hitting rear window while manuevering trailer? Does anyone have an extended coupler for their GN?  I have found one that seems like it would help w/ the lack of clearance issues.  Any advice?

I have an 06 F250 short bed and I put a SB1 extender on my trailer and have had no problems at all. http://mrtruck.net/popup.htm It moved the trailer back 9 inches. I think I would call Chevy and ask why you can't install a GN hitch... You don't want to void out your warranty.

(Quote) I have an '08 Chevy Crew Cab 1/2 ton short bed.  Owners manual says not to install GN hitch.

I guess it has something to do with it being a half ton truck that they don't want you drilling into the frame, install a gooseneck/fifth wheel hitch, then dropping 5000# pounds on the pin!! I really don't know. If I were paying for it, I would find out their reasoning before I started drill and voided the warranty. I guess they are afraid folks will try to overload the frame with the gooseneck.

Mine is bolted to the frame using three existing holes on each side plus two more "we drilled". Some people also weld to the top and bottom of the frame rails..... BIG no no. I think GM would rather the consumer buy one of their 2500 or 3500 series trucks for "fifthwheel" towing.

Funny thing is, they list a section in the 2008 Online Order / Reference Guide   TRAILERING SPECS - Automatic with 5th Wheel or Gooseneck Hitch for the 1500 series truck... Go figure!

http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com/dmdindex.htm

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When you say shortbed, do you mean the 5.5 foot or the 6.5 foot? 

Edit,

Now that I went and looked, apparently the 69.3" short box is the only option for the crew cab.  I suspect that GM feels the bed is too short for a GN/5er, hence the comment in the owners manual.

retento,

You may notice there is not GN/5er spec for the CK10543, aka crew cab short bed.

And HOW in the world did you get the bolts through the bed of the truck?  I bet some holes were drilled, eh? 

IN order to correctly install a GN hitch, it needs to be mounted OVER or in front of the rear axle. THe distance between that point and the back of your cab is most likely insufficient for a GN or 5th wheel.

If I had a new truck, still under warranty, I would not void the warranty by installing something my owner's manual says not to.

When the truck is no longer under warranty - then do whatever you want.

Those of us familiar with GN hitches and such know that "drilling" in this conversation is refering to the truck's frame, not the sheet metal of the bed. 

Very few (if any) modern GN hitch kits require drilling of the frame.  Drilling and welding on a vehicle frame is technically a "no, no". 

AND THAT my dear friend is the problem with so many "expert" replies. When people come here to ask questions it's because they ARE NOT FAMILIAR with stuff. So making statements such as "no drilling" then leads someone to believe that NO DRILLING is required...  which is FALSE.  A GN hitch will put holes in the bed. Sometimes, it requires holes in the frame (depending on the model and year of the truck), particularly older trucks.

HUH?  How do they attach then? I have a REESE brand GN hitch. It has 2 rails that are in the bed of the truck and the bolts pass THROUGH the rails and through the bed of the truck, into BRACKETS that are attached to the frame. The head of the bolts can be seen on the top of the rails in the bed of my truck. Then, there is a plate, with the ball on it, that attaches to the rails with four pins. I had it installed on my 2002 F150, then had to have a different set of underbed brackets for my 2004 F150, and then it was reinstalled on my 2006 F150. 

Because I was LEASING the truck, this was the only option for me as the small holes can be plugged.

Here you go. GO to UNIVERSAL GOOSENECK HITCH... http://www.hitchestogo.com/gooseneck_hitches.htm

When it says "no drill" that means no FRAME drilling. You still have to drill through the bed of the truck. Then there are bolts that attach the rails and brackets to the frame.

and how about this one:??

The kind of hitch that I have in the bed of my truck is just as common as an underbody one. Here where there's snow and ice and crap, the turn-over and hidden balls just get frozen solid. Removing 4 pins and taking the GN plate out isn't that big of a deal. Sometimes I just put a plastic baggie over the ball and load up hay. it pushes down over everything just fine.

BUT MINE HAS BOLTS THROUGH THE BED into brackets UNDER the truck that are bolted to the frame.