crash course in 5th wheel hitches?

RVcrazy wrote:
Please do NOT plan on pulling a 5th wheel with a half ton of any make. If you do the math, you will quickly see that you will be over the limit for your rear axles. Fifth wheels are heavy on the hitch. Don't look at the dry weight of the fifth wheel, or even the gross vehicle weight rating and think that you are OK. The first step is to take a test drive to the scales with your family. This will be light because it won't include the stuff you might put in a tool box, the weight of the hitch, or the weight of a full fuel tank. We have a pull rite hitch since we have a 6 1/2' bed. Subtract these weights from the giver of the truck as posted on the driver's door. This will give a very rough approximate maximum loaded pin weight you have to use before overloading your truck and especially the rear axle. If you want to tow with a half ton, I suggest a travel trailer. They have lighter hitch weights.