Dayle1 wrote:
ChuckV1 wrote:
I'm not going to go over weights, it's been done as you have read a number of times, all I will say is think about safety.
At 45 or 50mpg can you stop your truck an trailer within safe limits, ie think about the weight that's pushing you down the road, then someone brakes in front of you, can you stop before hitting them ...
That is why people move up to bigger TV, not only to handle the weight but the stopping power, it's for the safety of your family along with others on the HWY . Can your truck pull the trailer, yes without a problem, but can it stop your trailer in an emergency stop is the real ????
Safe travels
Truck brakes stop the truck (which includes pin weight), but the fiver axles have brakes rated to stop the same weight they can carry. No trailer should be pushing the tow vehicle, sure way to loose steering control. Proper brake controller setup and brake maintenance are critical. Sure, my 3500 has bigger brakes than a 1500 truck, but last time I checked the published UNLOADED stopping distances were about the same. So there is not excess braking capacity available for stopping the trailer.
You are correct, truck brakaes stop the truck an trailer brakes stop the trailer, but if you loose the trailer brakes for some reason then you need a larger truck with bigger brakes to slow you down ... If you drive in the mid west there is only rolling hills for the most part, but if you drive in the western United States you would understand you need all the brakes you can get along with an engine brake if possible ... I've seen to many TT and 5th wheel along side of the road with smoking brakes from coming off a 7 percent grade that was 8 or 9 miles long an know that the driver may have had to change his pants because he was scared spit-less when he lost all of his brakes ...
I will say it point blank, a 1/2 ton pickup no matter what brand will not pull a 5th wheel no matter what the salesman states, it not safe, it will be hard on the truck an you if you go ahead with it...
It's just plan not safe any way you look at it ....
I wish Safe travels but not with a 1/2 pickup trade up to a 3/4 ton
