Heavy half pickup

As you can see so far, the majority of responses are in the no column. I started out with a 1/2 ton, 350 motor with an older 7000 lb 5th wheel. It took two trips before we upgraded to more truck...just too much of a strain on the truck and too much stress on me....wondering if we were gonna make it.

Regards
Gemstone

If the sticker on your truck says you can tow it, then you can tow it.

I pulled a 5er weighing 5755 (dry) with a new (at the time) GMC 1500 with a 5.3. Straight/level, it pulled like a dream. Any semi-steep incline and it was down to 35 mph and straining. Made two 1400 mile round trips, sold the truck and bought a 2500HD diesel. Much better.

I feel the advertising by both manufactures of RV's as well as trucks are misleading and will result in many unhappy owners. Even if the trucks suspension, frame, axles etc. can all handle 10,000lbs I don't feel any of the 1/2 tons have a large enough engine to do so without a major struggle. While I've seen 1/2 tons pulling huge trailers and maybe within weight ratings it doesn't look like a fun experience. Especially if you live in an area with mountain grades.

My new 5'er is 30' with dry weight of 7800lbs, maybe closer to 9000 loaded up. I pull with a diesel 3/4 ton which is great but no way would I want to pull it with a 1/2 ton gasser. Pulled 6,000lbs with a 5.7L Dodge 1/2 ton. It did ok but would not want anything heavier with that engine.

The pin weight on a 10k GVWR fifth wheel will be 2000 lbs loaded (based on 20% factor). One you add 300 lbs of passengers, 150lb hitch, 100 lbs fire wood, 100 lbs tools, and 50lb Fido to the truck; your truck is loaded with 2,700 lbs of weight. I don't know of a half ton truck that has that kind of payload rating. Most are around 1500, some as high as 2,000 (max tow package, etc).
Personally, I would not tow any rv with a GVWR of over 7500 with a half ton. I also believe that the term "half ton towable" is a marketing term used much to loosely to broaden the marketing of heavier rvs to the huge market of half ton truck owners.
I believe rv'ing should be a fun, safe, relaxed and worry free experience. Nothing is worse than rolling down the interstate with an rv behind an underrated truck. I have been there and done that.

Yes they are but at what cost. You would be better off with a truck with way more capacity instead of nearly maxed out both for safety and longevity of the pickup drivetrain.

I towed for many years with a truck that was at maximum capacity and it wasn't until I finally got a truck with way more capapcity to pull our 5th wheel that I realized just how lucky we had been all those years. Several downhills with brake fade, uphills with overheating, panic stops...we were lucky nothing serious happened.

This new truck stops the 5th wheel, pulls it up hills and holds it to a safe speed on downhills unbelievably better than our old truck. I no longer have white knuckle drives...towing is very pleasant.

Get as big of truck as you can afford...for better safety.

Perhaps, but you'll never be happy with how the towing performance. Bite the bullet and get a 2500/F250 with a Diesel and never have to worry about towing again.