I'm shopping for a 5th wheel and my wife and I want something on the small and light side so we can get into relatively remote places. Our truck is a 2001 Dodge diesel 3/4 ton 2wd longbed. Would a hitch weight below or around 1,000 pounds cause problems like a rough ride either in the truck or for the trailer? Any other reason to be concerned about this?

No. I doubt you will find much that might possibly be too light, but there sure will be a lot that are too much.

Well, this is a first...whatever will TWP do with this one? :B

Francesca Knowles wrote:Well, this is a first...whatever will TWP do with this one? :BThey'll say, "too much truck for that trailer. Take out the leaf springs and get rid of the air bags. But just to be on the safe side, get a f150."

I don't believe you'll have a problem with you're older truck. The problem is with the new 3/4 and 1 ton trucks the truck companies are competing who can build the highest truck.

I currently tow a fifth wheel with about 900# pin weight with a 2011 F350... no issues. Your truck will be perfectly fine. More truck than not enough is not an issue.

Can a 5th wheel be too light for my truck? | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

Oaklevel
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
I have a car hauler (2300 lbs empty) with a fifth wheel hitch instead of a gooseneck hitch. It pulls better loaded. But I doubt that any 5th wheel camper could be too light.

LOL I get strange looks when I pull an 8 foot trailer behind my duelly......
Rockborough
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Only problem with a light pin could be 'chucking' issue.
I agree...mine pulls a lot nicer when heavy.
C_Schomer
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
No problem! We had a 97 3/4t CTD and a 5k loaded 5er that was about 900 lbs pin weight. That was just enough to make it ride really good. That was the best riding setup we've had. Each time we went up in weight the ride went downhill til it was time for airbags and truck/RV suspension mods. But no doubt the lighter ones ride better. Craig
roamermatt
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
rfryer wrote:
roamermatt wrote:
I'm shopping for a 5th wheel and my wife and I want something on the small and light side so we can get into relatively remote places. Our truck is a 2001 Dodge diesel 3/4 ton 2wd longbed.

Would a hitch weight below or around 1,000 pounds cause problems like a rough ride either in the truck or for the trailer? Any other reason to be concerned about this?

My thought exactly when I got my F150. But I quickly realized it was too high to get back on the national forest trails I camped on. So I went with a small TT instead. Just a reminder in case you hadn’t considered that.

Good point, and I have thought about this a little. We're actually looking at 5'ers that do not have standing height in the bedroom for this reason, as well as the faint hope that it may allow slightly better towing mpg.
noteven
Explorer III
Apr 18, 2014
You should be good to go. :)
amandasgramma
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
chevor wrote:
I don't believe you'll have a problem with you're older truck. The problem is with the new 3/4 and 1 ton trucks the truck companies are competing who can build the highest truck.
We're running into this, too. We'd like to get a 3/4 ton but our 1980 5th wheel sits too low....even if we flipped the axles it won't work! Sooooooo -- gee -- guess we'll HAVE to buy a newer 5th wheel. :) :)
rfryer
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
roamermatt wrote:
I'm shopping for a 5th wheel and my wife and I want something on the small and light side so we can get into relatively remote places. Our truck is a 2001 Dodge diesel 3/4 ton 2wd longbed.

Would a hitch weight below or around 1,000 pounds cause problems like a rough ride either in the truck or for the trailer? Any other reason to be concerned about this?

My thought exactly when I got my F150. But I quickly realized it was too high to get back on the national forest trails I camped on. So I went with a small TT instead. Just a reminder in case you hadn’t considered that.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 18, 2014
Only problem with a light pin could be 'chucking' issue.
roamermatt
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
Awesome, thanks for the replies! Good to know.
Benoit1967
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
I currently tow a fifth wheel with about 900# pin weight with a 2011 F350... no issues. Your truck will be perfectly fine. More truck than not enough is not an issue.