I think i already know the answer to this but will ask anyway. Is there any new 5th wheel's out there that won't overload a half ton truck. I have a 2012 Silverado 1500 2wd ext. cab with the 5.3 with 342 rear end with the factory trailer tow package. My fear would be the pin weight would kill you first. I simply have no desire to upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck and will just go with a conventional tow behind if i get something else. I truthfully am very ignorant about 5th wheel's and there weights.

Considering that approx 20% of a fivers total on the road weight is directly over the rear axle, the answer is yes and no.Yes there are a few. No you would probably not be happy with the size or limitations they would place on you. Stick with a TT and go happy

I was with my bil this spring at a local rv dealer. He was buying a popup, and questioned the salesman about a fifth wheel in the future. He showed us a new Crossroads that he told him would be ok for his F150. I asked the pin weight and he said around #1400.When we left I explained to him the knowledge I have gained on this site. That is a "dry" weight, his truck is stickered at #1426, and there was NO way it would work. As you already have said the payload is over from the start, unless you havea hd payload/max tow. Even then I believe you would be pushing it.I guess I would say look carefully at the numbers, and ignore what the sales person tells you.Good luck.

And lot of manufacturers market "1/2 ton towable" fifth wheels. The reality is that most 1/2 ton pick ups have payload rating of around 1500 lbs. After subtracting 800 lbs for passengers, hitch and gear this leaves about 700 lbs for pin weight. I don't know of any fifth wheels that have a loaded pin weight that light. 700 lbs also limits gvwr of TT that should be towed with a 1/2 ton, though many people ignore the payload ratings when it comes to TT/tow vehicle matching. Steve

That is exactly what i was thinking, my payload capacity is 1590 before i get in the truck let alone wife or anything else. Actually what made me think of it was this weekend we was at a state park just north of Kansas City and i saw a guy pull in with a 5er and a half ton truck. The way the sites were designed i was parked on the west side of the road and everything on that side was a straight level shot back into your site. On the east side you had to back down a pretty good slope before you could level your trailer up. This guy was pulling a 5er, granted a smaller one at that and of course he backed down just fine. On Sunday when he went to pull out and of course up the incline that engine was screaming bloody murder to get up and out of there. My wife got the idea that we could get a smaller 5er and i was pretty sure it was not something we wanted to do. We are thinking of getting into something a little bigger within a year or so but it will be something like a 27ft pull behind. Were pulling a 23ft hybrid presently.

Yeah.... I think the dealers take that "half ton towable" too litteraly. They assume if the truck can move it, it's "half tone towable"Following this logic the space shutle is "half ton towable" :)

1/2 ton towable 5th wheel | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

recycler
Explorer
May 17, 2013
yes there are unit that are safe to tow behind a half ton available, but most are smaller with lower ceiling heights etc.. my family looked into this too for their dodge 1500..
RobertRyan
Explorer
May 17, 2013
No problems towing this Koala 5Ver
Tom_Trostel
Explorer
May 16, 2013
Here's an old Bigfoot that would work.

Bigfoot 5th wheel

Scamp and Escape make current models that will work. But, they're all small.

Scamp 19'

Escape 5.0
RobertRyan
Explorer
May 16, 2013
Skipnchar wrote:
the term "half ton towabl" does NOT mean that ALL half ton trucks can tow it. It merely means that there are SOME that will tow the trailer without oveloading it. Give it a thought, it certainly wouldn't mean that the lowest powered and LEAST capable version offered by ANY manufacturer could tow it.

We have a quite a few Global Pickups that can tow a 26-28ft Lightweight 5Ver very well here. Problem is peoples aversion to buying them, early importation of US 5vers and their multitudinous problems have left a sour taste. Very similar to the problems and impressions left with the GM Diesels in the 1980's.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
May 16, 2013
They DO make 1/2 ton towable 5th wheels aimed specifically at the 1/2 ton market. They tend to be smallish IMO and lest bang for the buck (also IMO). A conventional trailer would be a better choice IMO.
BUFFALODAN
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Chalet RV used to make one a few years back, here is one

http://www.sstautorv.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?veh=244556&CatDesc=Fifth%20Wheels#detail
Grit_dog
Navigator II
May 15, 2013
Agree a 1/2 Ton will struggle in the power dept if you're pulling at altitude, but this discussion is like the guys that say you can't put a 11' TC on anything less than a 4500/5500 truck!
Look at the tire load ratings on the door sticker and then go buy some decent tires!
Or don't. I towed pretty heavy 12-15k with my last 2011 F150 work truck regularly for about 30 k mi. 1/3 of that pulling a 20' deck over 14k trailer and about 1000lbs in the bed at all times.
A set of timbre a kept the @ss end up and 60 psi in the crappy OE P rated tires kept it from bouncing too bad.
Didn't break anything. Didn't smoke the brakes or pop a tire.
Would a bigger truck have been more convienent? Absolutely
Was it necessary? Nope
If you are not putting a ton of miles on towing a 5ver then keep your half ton. Get some good D or E rated tires. Put your choice of support on the rear springs, brake controller and tow with confidence. 2k pin weight is not bad. Just keep it to a reasonable sized trailer, under 10k lbs and you'll be fine.
Now if you're full timing cross country get a 3/4 ton and you'll be happier.
Goldstalker
Explorer
May 15, 2013
Check this one out. Hitch weight 1030lbs dry.http://www.crossroadsrv.com/sunset-trail/super-lite/floorplans/fifth-wheels/item/sf270bh
dadwolf2
Explorer
May 15, 2013
I don't know if they still make them but I know my father-n-law had a Tahoe Lite 24 footer that was easily towed with his 2001 Toyota Tundra. Believe it was under 4,000 lbs.
Water-Bug
Explorer II
May 15, 2013
Under 5% of all 5ers are truely 1/2 ton towable and under 5% of all 1/2 tons can tow them, so what's the big deal ? That 4.9% of 1/2 ton owners should have no problem if they buy that 4.9% of the 5ers. If you own the right 1/2 ton, go for it. If you don't, buy a TT.