fifth-wheel towing

We had a 1/2 ton towable Open Road BH on our short list when we were shopping. I do not recall the model #.

On a side note: I'm within payload (2100lbs) and the setup tows and handles very well UNTIL I have both black and gray tanks full. 600lbs of water in front of the FW axles pushes me over payload and I can tell the TV is not happy until I dump the tanks. YMMV

Good Luck and Play Safe

My SIL had a Cherokee lite bunk house that was 1/2 ton towable.

Missouri Man wrote:
I will have to look at the tire placard. All that I know as of now is what it states that I can tow, that is Max at 9500lbs. As of now my TT weighs when towing at least when I checked at the scales was 7650lbs and my tongue weight registers at 750lbs which pulls hills well enough that I only down gear to 4th a few times.

A 9500# 5er could have as high as 1900# of pin weight...not alway's true, but is close..also consider in how much you might pack into the 5er..you may not load it to it's GVW...but you do need to "do the math"...Like I stated, take your trucks to the scale, loaded like you're going camping with family, pets, etc...then subtract that weight from your trucks GVWR..that'll give you a "ballpark " idea of how much pinweight you can put in the bed of your 1/2 ton pick up

I had a 27' Springdale 5er that was 1/2 ton towable, but I don't think that you'll find a bunkhouse light enough.

Any chance the F150 is 8200 GVWR?

I will have to look at the tire placard. All that I know as of now is what it states that I can tow, that is Max at 9500lbs. As of now my TT weighs when towing at least when I checked at the scales was 7650lbs and my tongue weight registers at 750lbs which pulls hills well enough that I only down gear to 4th a few times.

Your advice is much appreciated.. Research I will be doing. It took me 8 months before I purchased my TT, I am sure this will take me awhile as well.. especially due to the expense it will cost...Thank You

Hi Toby, and welcome to the forum. Your biggest constraint will probably be your payload capacity. By the time you add the weight of the FW hitch, pin weight, the family and anything else you want to put in the truck, you'll be very limited. What is the the weight capacity of your truck (look at the tire placard)?

Airbags will help you level the load, won't help you any more with pay load, which is going to factor in on cargo carrying capacity of your truck.

I would look for a light 5er...but first, I'd load my truck up like I was heading out to camp...go weigh your truck, add 200# for a 5er hitch...when you weigh your truck and add the 200#, look at what your trucks GVWR (sticker on the drivers side door jamb and subtract what you weighed from the trucks GVWR, (ex....weight of your truck is 5,000#, add 200 more for 5er hitch...equals 5200#...if GVWR is 6800#, it means you have 1600# of payload left you can put in the bed of your truck.

do yourself a favor EARLY in this research. DO NOT use "empty or dry" weights, they're a joke, no one tows the 5er "empty" or "dry"...Take the 5er's GVW and take 20% of that and it'll give you a "ballpark" of how much pinweight you'll put in the bed of your truck...(ex. If 5er has a GVW of 9,000#, the pin weight could go as high as 1800#.. THIS IS key.

I've towed a 27' 5er with no slides, thinking my 5.3 chevy with Tow package could do it...it was terrible...that's my experience with a 1999 Chevy 1500...towing in the mountains was miserable and I went to a 3/4 ton truck.

I would look really hard for a light enough weight 5er to where it doesn't abuse or wear out your truck prematurely due to weight of the 5er.

hope this helped some.

ON EDIT: I have no idea what the GVWR rating is on your truck some Ford owners will be able to help more, but believe the Eco boost is supposed to be a pretty good truck, but again, I watched the weight and go by what those familiar with this truck will recommend you do.

Be nice to know what the GVW of the 5er you're looking at is....very important tidbit of information to be sure.