Towing a 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck

Racine96 wrote:
Can it pull it? Yes. But it won't be safe if you have to stop unexpectedly, or crosswinds hit you. Too much weight for the rear axle. Be safe, buy a 3/4 ton

I towed several different fifth wheels over 15 yrs and too many miles to count. Never had a cross wind issue because fifth wheel setups are inherently stable, so throw that concern out the window. As for stopping, any proper setup has the trailer brakes stopping the trailer and the truck brakes stopping the truck. In an emergency stop, the last thing you want is the trailer pushing the truck because of an improper setup. Bigger brakes on heavier trucks do not reduce stopping distance, they simply compensate for the heavier truck weight. Just look at the test results in any auto magazine and compare UNLOADED stopping distance from 60 mph. As long as the setup does not exceed the GAWR or tire ratings, then the right 1/2 ton will be fine.

Padlin wrote:
I've got an F150 3.5 EB with heavy tow and heavy payload packages, had to order it. I've always considered about 7-8k it's safe comfortable limit, just my opinion but I wouldn't go heavier then that, at least not for the trips I take. My FW is a lot lighter then yours at 5500 and I already burned up a set of brakes doing the winding mountain roads out west. Of course I knew nothing about driving them either.

If I followed the thread right, you're making very short trips with the trailer, while a 1/2 ton wouldn't be my choice for your trailer I think you'd be fine is the short trips don't include long steep down hills. Power does not seem to be an issue, as someone said, it's more the stopping. I've since bumped up my brake controller output.

I did spend a good deal of time looking to improve the braking last summer, not a lot that can be done other then changing the way I drive it. he sexy grooved rotors and such get mixed reviews.

I'm just curious what's the yellow stiker payload on your truck?

I used the engine braking of Tow/Haul mode, used my braks going down a mountain by braking to 10 mph below the speed limit then let it come back up to the limit before using the brakes again. Typically, I would be in 2nd gear with the engine about 4000 RPM and that works well. Not so much in the higher gears. I got over 40,000 out of the first set of brakes and a couple of panic stops were no problem.

I've got an F150 3.5 EB with heavy tow and heavy payload packages, had to order it. I've always considered about 7-8k it's safe comfortable limit, just my opinion but I wouldn't go heavier then that, at least not for the trips I take. My FW is a lot lighter then yours at 5500 and I already burned up a set of brakes doing the winding mountain roads out west. Of course I knew nothing about driving them either.

If I followed the thread right, you're making very short trips with the trailer, while a 1/2 ton wouldn't be my choice for your trailer I think you'd be fine is the short trips don't include long steep down hills. Power does not seem to be an issue, as someone said, it's more the stopping. I've since bumped up my brake controller output.

I did spend a good deal of time looking to improve the braking last summer, not a lot that can be done other then changing the way I drive it. he sexy grooved rotors and such get mixed reviews.

jmaellis wrote:
How would one of these www.automatedsafetyhitch.com/ enhance the ability of a F150 to tow the 5th wheel mentioned by the OP. Seems that with the pin over it's own axle, any payload concerns would be alleviated and the extra set of brakes is a good thing. So would the only consideration be the max towing weight?

For the added cost of that the OP could buy a bigger truck and be way ahead money-wise.

I'm in the camp saying a F-150 with the HD Payload and Trailering package will be fine for the limited amount of 5th wheel pulling described.

How would one of these www.automatedsafetyhitch.com/ enhance the ability of a F150 to tow the 5th wheel mentioned by the OP. Seems that with the pin over it's own axle, any payload concerns would be alleviated and the extra set of brakes is a good thing. So would the only consideration be the max towing weight?

So let's hear from the guy who towed a 10k fiver for 3 years and 12000 miles. Me! I had a 2011 F150 Super Crew Max Tow (3.5L Ecoboost, 3.73 rear). I added Supersprings and Bilstein shocks as the HD Payload was not available. I was at the GC limit and 500 lbs over the rear GAWR. It pulled, handled and stopped well, including mountains of VT, NH, CO and WY. My only complaint was not being able to carry anything in the bed and being careful not to put anything heavy in the basement. The fifth wheel safe towing Web site says the properly configured F150 is the only half-ton capable of towing a fiver. Obviously sane numbers are important.
I have replaced it with an F350 for more pulling power, bed room and weight capacity. Handling seems similar.

To the OP, so you are saying only about 125 miles annually that you will pull the 5er? I would go with the half ton Ford and not worry about it as long as you pull nothing larger. Drive no faster than needed. Keep your load down in the trailer. I am not saying its the smartest thing, but a doable situation. Here is the towing guide for 2015 F-150: Clicky

Can it pull it? Yes. But it won't be safe if you have to stop unexpectedly, or crosswinds hit you. Too much weight for the rear axle. Be safe, buy a 3/4 ton

dae06 wrote:
That's just it. I feel it is quite a financial cost to get another Super Duty for the little I would really want/need to use it. Then again, I don't want to have something catastrophic happen either. That would be worse.

I've driven Fire trucks, water tankers with no baffles, ambulances, etc. so I been through all of the emergency driving courses, but that by no means says that something bad couldn't happen. There's a lot of people that wouldn't think twice about pulling my RV with a 1/2 ton, but I have a responsibility to be safe too.

That being said, I believe the decision is in your court.

Another option would be to be kind to your nearest neighbour that has a 3/4 ton w/5th wheel hitch. And you bring beer when job is complete:)

if it was me, considering your distance and environment. I'd pull it with the 1/2 ton. But that's me.