We are going to retire in 8-10 months and become fivers and would like to know if the half ton/ lite series 5th wheel with gvwr's of around 10,000 are truly towable by a half ton pickup? Doug

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Heavy half pickup | Good Sam Community

goducks10
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
orlandimal wrote:
There is no F150 with a 3000 lb cargo rating. The highest rating is approximatly 2300 lb special order F150 with 7 lug nut wheels. I have never actually seen one.

Ford lists the F150 4x2 reg cab with 5.0 as 3120lbs and the 3.5 as 3100lbs. I would imagine an XL in those configurations would be a lot closer to 3000lbs than 2300lbs. Most everyone that orders an HD package in an F150 4x4 whether SC or CC has 2300lbs+/-. So a reg cab 4x2 would be even more.
Tin_Pusher
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2013
Not much I can add here. So, anyway...

My Wilderness goes about 7500 lb loaded and I wouldn't want less truck than the 1500HD. HP not the whole story. Crew-cab essential for me. Real (air-over) oil cooler & trans cooler. 4WD. 8 lug axles. Weight ratings. 6+ ft. box. Even so, I believe this truck would be marginal in the mountains. Of course newer trucks undoubtedly make more power.

I bought my camper first, and then had to learn about big trucks (drove Nissan PU's since '84) and pick one. Was very lucky to find the HD (used).

Mostly make short tows in the flatlands, could not justify the extra expense, and it is hefty, of a Diesel.
orlandimal
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
There is no F150 with a 3000 lb cargo rating. The highest rating is approximatly 2300 lb special order F150 with 7 lug nut wheels. I have never actually seen one.
orlandimal
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,

I have found that the F-150 with Ecoboost, max towing, and 3.73:1 rear axle has a maximum cargo rating around 3,000 pounds. This is almost as much as the F-250 with a gas engine. The F-250 with diesel engine has less cargo rating due to the heavy engine.

So if you decide on a larger fifth wheel, then consider the F-350, it has a 4,000 pound cargo rating, much larger brakes than the F-150, and has a better engine braking system.

While Ford "Says" the F-150 will tow up to 10,500 pounds, that does not include a lot of extra weight in the truck while also towing that trailer. Consider the GCVWR of the F-150, then subtrac the trailer weight and curb weight of the truck you might only be able to have about 200 pounds of non-trailer weight in the truck besides the 10,000 trailer and 1 driver.

Fred.
CKNSLS
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
B.O. Plenty wrote:
bad99ram wrote:
Also, if you're just a few lbs overweight and you get in an accident (regardless of who was at fault) and the insurance party finds out you can kiss your retirement dreams goodbye. I mention this because I seen it happen. Very sad.

Please share Specific example
Nonsense! Has never happened and never will. Another myth. Call your insurance company an find out the truth. Insurance will pay but they may or may not drop you after they settle..

B.O.

Insurance would probably cover it but not the civil suit that would follow if someone was hurt or killed.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2013
bad99ram wrote:
Also, if you're just a few lbs overweight and you get in an accident (regardless of who was at fault) and the insurance party finds out you can kiss your retirement dreams goodbye. I mention this because I seen it happen. Very sad.

Please share Specific example
Nonsense! Has never happened and never will. Another myth. Call your insurance company an find out the truth. Insurance will pay but they may or may not drop you after they settle..

B.O.
bad99ram
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
Also, if you're just a few lbs overweight and you get in an accident (regardless of who was at fault) and the insurance party finds out you can kiss your retirement dreams goodbye. I mention this because I seen it happen. Very sad.

Please share Specific example
Dayle1
Explorer II
Sep 19, 2013
Blackcell wrote:
I would get an F350 or equivalent other brand and be done. Especially if you upgrade to a heavier fiver you'll be set.

Probability of getting a heavier unit in the near future is a good reason to get at least a 3/4 ton.

Blackcell wrote:
Tow power is one thing but handling, stability and braking power are critically important and no freakin way I'd want to be going down a 8% grade in a 1/2 ton.

Braking power relative to weight is the same 1/2 ton or 1 ton, they both have the same stopping distance unloaded. And trailers have brakes for a purpose. A good 1/2 ton gasser will have more engine braking on an 8% grade than a stock diesel lacking a exhaust brake, so which is safer? Handling and stability? Excluding DRW, a 7000 lb TV and 14K lb fiver won't be much different than a 5000 lb TV and a 10K lb fiver.

Blackcell wrote:
Also, if you're just a few lbs overweight and you get in an accident (regardless of who was at fault) and the insurance party finds out you can kiss your retirement dreams goodbye. I mention this because I seen it happen.

Please share more details. Must be a huge hole in our legal system to loose retirement savings and/or freedom for something illegal and unrelated to an accident.
mileshuff
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
Shadow_Grey wrote:
Got 40,000 on mine now and will trade it off before it hits 100K, which will be in 3 or more years.

If you have that kind of money to buy new often!!! 100K on a diesel is just getting the engine broken in and running at its best. I have 70K on my 2007 and plan to keep it for quite some years. Last diesel I had was a 1989 Dodge. Sold it with 375,000 miles and it ran good as new. Wanted a 4 door rather than the older club cab style.
Blackcell
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
Short answer is No. But is it possible? Yes, but why risk it. If I were in your shoes just moments away from retirement why would I want to create new problems/risks. I would get an F350 or equivalent other brand and be done. Especially if you upgrade to a heavier fiver you'll be set. A 1/2 ton is far too inefficient. Based on where I live and often travel an F150 would just choke and puke all over itself after a short time and or it would land me in a ditch or wrapped around a tree. Tow power is one thing but handling, stability and braking power are critically important and no freakin way I'd want to be going down a 8% grade in a 1/2 ton. So if you like livin on the edge then go with a 1/2 ton.

Also, if you're just a few lbs overweight and you get in an accident (regardless of who was at fault) and the insurance party finds out you can kiss your retirement dreams goodbye. I mention this because I seen it happen. Very sad.

http://fifthwheelst.com/before_you_buy.htm
http://rvingwithmarkpolk.com/2012/03/21/caution-why-truck-tow-ratings-dont-add-up/

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