Advice for newbie

mrdr wrote:
Can anyone address the specifics of my truck with Arctic Fox 29-5T (as an example).

I don't believe your "specs". They look copy/pasted from a web site. not what your truck has actually been measured at. But I'll give you the benefit of doubt. You list GVWR at 10k with curb weight at 7383. That leaves 2617 pounds of payload. Take away 250 pounds for the receiver. Take away the weight of you and spouse and anything else you want in the truck while towing. I'll just guess 400 pounds. That leaves under 2000 pounds left before exceeding the truck's GVWR. The dry pin weight of the 29-5T exceeds that, and it will only go up when loaded. So how much would a typical person add? Well, the average weekender adds over 1000 pounds of camping gear. Full timers are closer to 3000 pounds. Take an average of 20% of added weight on the pin and it means somewhere in the 200-600 pound range.

Now some people with 3/4 tons focus on axle ratings instead of GVWR. At least 95% of 5th wheel pin weight is directly on the rear axle when towing. In your case you have almost 4000 pounds of rear axle payload according to your specs listed. Again take off 250 pounds for the receiver, half of the people weight, and you have over 3000 pounds left for pin weight. That makes the 29-5T acceptable for some. You would likely need some kid of rear suspension aid in that case as the springs are a lot lower rating than the axle. Air bags and Timbrens are popular.

I'm curious why you think a single rear wheel 1-ton drive any differently in the city than a 3/4 ton. And do you even have a truck yet or are you shopping both?