crash course in 5th wheel hitches?

JeffPritchard wrote:
Some of you are recommending against ANY combination of F-150 and 5th wheel.

I've "done the math", but maybe I'm missing something important. Assuming we can all read the numbers and do simple math, what might I be missing here:
2015 F-150 SuperCrew XLT 4X4 3.5eco Max towing: 11,500 lbs Max payload: 2,020 lbs.
Cougar X-lite 26RLS (one example) Shipping Weight: 6885 CCC: 3070 Hitch weight: 1155

When I do the math, even adding weight for hitch and water and groceries etc. I come out ok.

I am a "party of one", and don't tend to drive great distances with my tanks full. I'm used to the limited space of a TC, so don't bring all my worldly possessions with me when I travel. I reckon the vast cavernous pass-thru storage bays will be stuffed full with air for the most part.

It is certainly true that some of the longer "HT" campers have an empty hitch weight approaching 2000, and also true that a 2015 F-150 differently equipped can have a max payload as low as 1600.

It is also true that a few years ago an F-150 didn't approach the towing capacity and payload of the one I'm planning on, and that a few years ago even a "lite" 5th wheel was heavier than many current HT models.

So, maybe once upon a time it was near impossible to do a 5th wheel on an F-150 without going to "weight police" prison...both sides of the equation have moved over the years. It is certainly still possible (perhaps even easy) to choose poorly, but it appears it is also now possible to choose well.

What you are missing is you are quoting shipping weight and shipping pin weight. No one that has been around uses those numbers, they are absolute minimums. From your numbers the GVWR is 9955lbs. The rule of thumb is to plan for a max pin weight of 20% of GVWR, in this case, 1991 lbs. That means you will be in good shape loaded or empty. The pin weight can vary depending on the design. The trailer you quoted has a 16.7% empty pin weight and when taken out to the max of 9955 weight and you have 1662 lbs of pin weight. Plus whatever the hitch weighs.

That shipping weight you gave will have added to it a battery and 40-60 lbs of propane at a bare minimum, both at the front of the trailer. Plus clothes, a few pots and pans, etc. you will be amazed how fast it adds up.

If you are sure about the 1/2t I would be looking for a trailer in the 8000lb range for GVWR, ignore the shipping weight.