Is half-ton truck big enough for a lite weight fifth wheel?

NC Hauler wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

spud1957 wrote:
Couple things you need to understand from this forum:

1. 1/2 ton trucks are only good to pull pop ups

2. Never exceed your GVWR unless you have a 3/4 ton

;)

I believe this was posted while the writer had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. :)

Probably right...least I hope so:)

Not sure why as this is exactly the message of many on RV.net. Many 3/4ton trucks have no more payload then a 1/2 ton because of all the options piled on but it is ok to add helper springs, timbrens, or airbags, then chip the engines to overstress the power train to boot. If one does that to a 1/2 ton then it is a crime subject to the death penalty, as it explodes and kills everyone in the area.

hbillsmith wrote:
We are looking at doing the same. Some things I've wrestled with.
* the advertised payload already considers the driver at 150# so just add wife and stuff
* Anderson makes a really light 5er hitch see the youtubes
* Check out Crossroads Sunset Trails Superlight plans
* Airbags help level the rig, but do not change capacity
* Always get the Max tow pkg, plain tow pkg is never enough
* Adding storage to back like LetsGoAero GearDeck 17 reduces pin weight but you still need to figure percentage pin to gross and need 15-20 for a nonsway ride

DON"T forget MAX PAYLOAD for a 5er.

NC Hauler wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

spud1957 wrote:
Couple things you need to understand from this forum:

1. 1/2 ton trucks are only good to pull pop ups

2. Never exceed your GVWR unless you have a 3/4 ton

;)

I believe this was posted while the writer had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. :)

Probably right...least I hope so:)

Absolutely!! It was based on a lot of opinions here. Just being a smart a$$.

ventrman wrote:

LarryDel wrote:
Hello:

We are about to make a purchase for a fifth wheel that we can pull with our pick up.

Here are the stats on our pickup:
2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with max trailering package which includes vortec 6.2L-V8 SFI engine, 6 speed auto trans., heavy duty trailering axle. Towing capacity 10,000 lbs and payload capacity 1787 lbs.

We are looking at two Cougar X-Lite fifth wheels:

1. Cougar 28SGS
7561 Dry Weight
2439 Carrying Capacity
1410 Hitch weight

2. Cougar 29 RET
7825 Dry Weight
2175 Carrying Capacity
1275 Hitch Weight

Is our tow vehicle adequate for these two units.

Look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Larry

The short Answer is no. It is not adequate. I use an F250 with an upgraded Spring Pack that gives it the Suspension of a 1 Ton. You either deed something like that or a 1 Ton Truck. A 1500 will not do it. You need a 3500.

I may agree that his 1/2 ton isn't capable of the 10,000# GVW of the 5er, but there are quite a few 3/4 ton trucks out there that could handle that weight easily.. Doesn't necessarily need a 1 ton SRW or DRW for no more weight than what he is talking.

NO

LarryDel wrote:
Hello:

We are about to make a purchase for a fifth wheel that we can pull with our pick up.

Here are the stats on our pickup:
2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with max trailering package which includes vortec 6.2L-V8 SFI engine, 6 speed auto trans., heavy duty trailering axle. Towing capacity 10,000 lbs and payload capacity 1787 lbs.

We are looking at two Cougar X-Lite fifth wheels:

1. Cougar 28SGS
7561 Dry Weight
2439 Carrying Capacity
1410 Hitch weight

2. Cougar 29 RET
7825 Dry Weight
2175 Carrying Capacity
1275 Hitch Weight

Is our tow vehicle adequate for these two units.

Look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Larry

The short Answer is no. It is not adequate. I use an F250 with an upgraded Spring Pack that gives it the Suspension of a 1 Ton. You either deed something like that or a 1 Ton Truck. A 1500 will not do it. You need a 3500.

hbillsmith wrote:
* the advertised payload already considers the driver at 150# so just add wife and stuff

Here's the sticker from my Ram:


From reading the owners manual, this did not include a 150 lb. driver.

As far as I understand, the only time a 150 lb. driver is included is when the "Maximum towing capacity" is quoted.

I too was wanting a Cougar lite but couldn't make it work with my 1/2 ton which has a little over 2000lbs payload. I went with the KZ Durango with a lighter pin weight.

Jayco has a series of half-ton towables, of which we bought one. We bought the HT 26.5 RLS and it came from the factory with a weight, on the sticker, of a little over 7,200 pounds. Total weight is supposed to be 9,950 so there is about 2,700 pounds of carrying capacity. Using the 7,200 pounds as a starting point, you would have around 1,400 pounds on the hitch and go up from there, depending on how you load the FW. We have put a hitch on the back of the FW and hook our boat up when we go camping and fishing and I believe this takes some weight off the hitch, hence the truck bed as well. I don't know how much, and don't really care as I have a 3/4 ton diesel and it is more than capable of carrying the weight of my FW hitch, no matter what I weigh. If you load a lot of your inside stuff in the rear of the FW, that will also take some weight off the hitch. As far as stopping, which one poster mentioned, if the FW doesn't have brakes, don't buy it. Otherwise, if the brakes are set up properly, stopping shouldn't be a big problem.

We are looking at doing the same. Some things I've wrestled with.
* the advertised payload already considers the driver at 150# so just add wife and stuff
* Anderson makes a really light 5er hitch see the youtubes
* Check out Crossroads Sunset Trails Superlight plans
* Airbags help level the rig, but do not change capacity
* Always get the Max tow pkg, plain tow pkg is never enough
* Adding storage to back like LetsGoAero GearDeck 17 reduces pin weight but you still need to figure percentage pin to gross and need 15-20 for a nonsway ride