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

CKNSLS
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
tomkaren13 wrote:
2oldman wrote:
If the sticker on your truck says you can tow it, then you can tow it.

But do you want to? We just got rid of a 24.5 ft lite 5 er. Our 1/2 ton was not happy towing it. Even read it could haul 8500. Wrong!

How well a given tow vehicle can tow a given weight is highly subjective. I just completed a 8,000 mile - 8 month towing trip with my 2011 Silverado Crew Cab w/the 5.3. Sometimes it "wasn't happy" going up some grades (5,500 pound travel trailer) but completed the 8,000 miles without a single issue.
gmcsmoke
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
therink wrote:
Have you recently driven a 2011+ 3/4 or 1 ton SRW GM? Best riding daily driver truck I've ever had.

my '12 rides way better than my '04 and sooo much better than the POS 2007 f150 work trucks I have to use.
tomkaren13
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
2oldman wrote:
If the sticker on your truck says you can tow it, then you can tow it.

But do you want to? We just got rid of a 24.5 ft lite 5 er. Our 1/2 ton was not happy towing it. Even read it could haul 8500. Wrong!
2112
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2013
10,000lb dry weight, I'm in the no column. Once you start putting things in it you will run out of payload real quick.

Mine is 7,800lb dry weight with 1,200lb pin weight. Once the basement is packed and I have a full tank of gas I'm close to max payload, if not over.

As far as stopping; My trailer brakes seem to work well. I have never had an issue slowing down or panic stopping.

However I do notice the transmission getting up to 210 deg or so towing a long up hill stretch in the Texas summer heat.

In the long run, if you can afford more truck, if you can park a 3/4 ton and don't mind using it for a daily driver, you would probably be better off with more truck.
CKNSLS
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
therink wrote:
Have you recently driven a 2011+ 3/4 or 1 ton SRW GM? Best riding daily driver truck I've ever had.

Yes!
therink
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
Have you recently driven a 2011+ 3/4 or 1 ton SRW GM? Best riding daily driver truck I've ever had.
CKNSLS
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
valhalla360 wrote:
Lots of circular arguments and chest pounding but more importantly:

Why?

The cost difference is minimal to move up to a 3/4 or 1 ton. Or are you saying you already have the 1/2 ton? (in which case give us the details and it's pretty easy to tell what the ratings are)

Diesel vs gas is a bit more complicated (and mildly religeous). Unless you are going to be doing a ton of miles or always in steep mountain terrain, one of the large gas engines will provide plenty of pull at a much lower up front cost. It's mostly a cost analysis at that point.

Some of us find the ride unsatisfactory in 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. especially if truck does double duty as a "daily driver". Please don't post on here that your 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck rides smooth. Because they don't ride anything like a 1/2 ton, and I don't expect them too!
valhalla360
Navigator
Sep 21, 2013
Lots of circular arguments and chest pounding but more importantly:

Why?

The cost difference is minimal to move up to a 3/4 or 1 ton. Or are you saying you already have the 1/2 ton? (in which case give us the details and it's pretty easy to tell what the ratings are)

Diesel vs gas is a bit more complicated (and mildly religeous). Unless you are going to be doing a ton of miles or always in steep mountain terrain, one of the large gas engines will provide plenty of pull at a much lower up front cost. It's mostly a cost analysis at that point.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Sep 19, 2013
CKNSLS wrote:
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.

I agree pure myth! You would need to be over axle and tire ratings before they would have a chance. Then prove that was a contributing factor to the accadent
CKNSLS
Explorer
Sep 19, 2013
goducks10 wrote:
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.

Yea but who wants to drive a "stripper" XL and a regular cab?

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