I see more and more 5th wheels being towed by 1/2 ton trucks. I just figured they would be harder to tow because they are taller and therefore more drag. Who is towing a 5th wheel w a 1/2 to. And what do u have? I am looking at a 5th wheel and have a 2010 gmc sierra 1500ThanksDerek

It all boils down to pin weight and the GVWR and rear axle GAWR. 5th wheels tend to have a pin weight around 20% of the trailer GVWR and travel trailer have a hitch weight of about 10 to 12% of the trailer GVWR.Problem with a 1/2 ton truck is the lower GVWR. YO load up the fuel, the family and such and the available payload drops and leaves very little for a 5er.So typically you can practically pull a 5th wheel of about 24'. The so called 1/2 ton towables are generally a joke. Yep you can tow it with a stripped down 1/2 ton truck and only a 150# driver and the trailer is stripped down as well.Maybe you need to talk to the clown at CanAm, he has people towing 6000# trailers with their Chrysler Mini vans which are rated for 3500#. Maybe he has some magic dust for 5ers as well.My 2 cents worth.Ken

x 2 on what Ken said......................

I've towed two different 5ers with a "half-ton".The smaller one (17 ft MeToo) is smaller then any 5er made todayThe larger one (21 ft Fleetwood) is a bit larger then then smallest 5er made that I know of (Scamp)Yes it can be done, but you are restricted to the smallest, lightest rigs out there.

we have the same truck, and looked at many 5th. we did have a 20 ft and it pulled fine. we opted for a 24 ft trailer now. we just finished a 2800 mile trip in Oregon. looked at most campers coming in. found a few pulling a 26-29 ft. they were all told their truck would pull it. mine will not. to much weight, and would not like to have to stop it. If going over 23 ft, look for a 3/4 ton. 2800 miles and 12.4 mpg. love the coast, and Oregon campgrounds. found out I get 10 days month free camping.

Don't do it. I mistakenly bought a 'half ton towable' 5th wheel for my 2011 Sierra 1500 4x4 Ext. Cab Std. Box 5.3L V8 3.42 Rear that had a reduced payload from other Sierra's most likely due to the 20" wheels and P-Rated Tires. My payload was 1601lbs. My friends mostly identical Sierra has a payload rating of 1790. The difference? He has 17" wheels. Anyway, the 5th wheel we bought has a pin weight of 1215lb. with a dry weight of approx 6900lb and an GVW of 8200. It is much lighter than the TT we were pulling but not doable with the 1500 Sierra. Anyway, I ended up buying a 2015 Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab Std. Box 4x4 Gasser on July 17th. Payload Rating is 2831 lbs. on the new beast.

1500 towing a 5th Wheel | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

lawrosa
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014
x 2 on what Ken said......................
TXiceman
Explorer II
Aug 16, 2014
It all boils down to pin weight and the GVWR and rear axle GAWR. 5th wheels tend to have a pin weight around 20% of the trailer GVWR and travel trailer have a hitch weight of about 10 to 12% of the trailer GVWR.

Problem with a 1/2 ton truck is the lower GVWR. YO load up the fuel, the family and such and the available payload drops and leaves very little for a 5er.

So typically you can practically pull a 5th wheel of about 24'. The so called 1/2 ton towables are generally a joke. Yep you can tow it with a stripped down 1/2 ton truck and only a 150# driver and the trailer is stripped down as well.

Maybe you need to talk to the clown at CanAm, he has people towing 6000# trailers with their Chrysler Mini vans which are rated for 3500#. Maybe he has some magic dust for 5ers as well.

My 2 cents worth.

Ken

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1500 towing a 5th Wheel

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