According to the towing guides, 1/2 ton trucks max out about 11K lb, when it comes to towing. Not enough for a 5er. I noticed the Big 3, do not put a 3.9 or 4.1 rear axle in their 1/2 ton PUs.Even some 3/4 ton PUs still only tow about 14K lb, not very much. So, I would really need to buy a full 1 ton truck, to pull a 5th wheel, big enough for 2 people, dog & kitty. I'm thinking at least 30 feet, plus a slide would work for us, to travel around the country. However, that would cost a lot of money. I notice 5th wheels and HD PU trucks have increased in price, quite a bit over the past 7-8 yrs. The Big 3 have no competition. Toyota's Tundra can only tow about 10K lb, and that the most truck you can get from Toyota. Nissan is 9500 lb, so even less. However, the titan can be purchased for less than most other comparable PUs. New only, the only way I would buy used is like from friends or family. Any other suggestions on a PU truck/5er rig, at least 30 ft long?

That is not exactly true. Most of the mfg's are building 1/2 ton towable 5th wheels now. I have a Light by open Range and the dry weight is listed at about 8500 give or take. pin weight is about 1500 and it is designed to clear a shortbed with no slider hitch. Cougars have the Xlight as well as others. Widlct Maxx aslo. I am sure I could live for a very extended time in my 311FLR and even a 29 foot with 3 slides would be a piece of cake Chris

Douglas,Ignore dry weights and what the manufacturer says are pin weights. Go by gross weights only and figure on 20 - 25% (probably closer to the 25% end) of the gross weight for pin weight. Most 3/4 ton trucks will run out of payload (what's left over for pin weight after you have fuel, people, pets, and stuff in the truck) WAY before they hit the gross combined vehicle weight rating or max towing capacity. Search this forum for the topic - you will find dozens if not hundreds of threads on the topic. To do it right - and safely - requires weighing the truck fully loaded and calculating all the numbers. Many full-timers/old-timers will tell you to choose your RV then work back to how much truck you'll need to tow it. Above all, be safe.Rob

.....is not a good idea. Forget about the fictional tow rating, you need to be concerned with the available payload ratings. Most trucks, especially 1/2 tons will max out on payload way before coming anywhere near the tow rating.A truck with a 12k tow rating is useless when it only has 1300lbs of payload. A fiver carries on average 20% of its weight on the pin. The pin weight counts towards payload, as does the weight of the hitch itself. Even the lightest fivers will overload a 1/2 ton truck before you add any passengers. An exception might be an F150 eco with the max tow and max payload package, but it is a rare find.You'll see many on the road but that doesn't mean it's ok. Many are naive about all the ratings, "hey I drive a truck, I can tow anything", others just don't care. For that matter, many 3/4t trucks are overweight too.

Put it this way, I have a 1/2 ton truck and a 23 foot trailer that weighs about 5k fully loaded. Much lighter than any fiver. No problem for the truck right? In actuality after I load in my family and gear I exceed my payload rating. It's really surprising how little payload a full size truck has. I wouldn't even consider a fiver with a half ton.

It would be helpful if you would pick your trailer first, then you will know how much truck you need. You say 14k is 'not very much'. How much trailer are you planning on towing? At that weight most folks here will recommend a 1 ton diesel, likely a dually. You are talking some serious pocket money for a new large 5th wheel and new diesel. A different question might be to specify a budget and ask for recommendations on the best combination for the $. For example the Ram 2500 with the 6.4 is very capable and I have seen some pretty good deals on them new. That would leave more money for the fifth wheel provided you don't go too large on the fifth wheel.Good luck,Stu

A 1500 Series (1/2 ton) PU truck, for towing a 5th wheel.

jbarkley
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
We have Keystone x-lite 30 ft 7000 lbs 5er my 2014 F150 pulls it no problem.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Sep 17, 2015
AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
It would be helpful if you would pick your trailer first, then you will know how much truck you need. You say 14k is 'not very much'. How much trailer are you planning on towing? At that weight most folks here will recommend a 1 ton diesel, likely a dually. You are talking some serious pocket money for a new large 5th wheel and new diesel.

A different question might be to specify a budget and ask for recommendations on the best combination for the $. For example the Ram 2500 with the 6.4 is very capable and I have seen some pretty good deals on them new. That would leave more money for the fifth wheel provided you don't go too large on the fifth wheel.

Good luck,
Stu

That and even with a F150 Max/Max, one can pull a good size lite 5er.

These are the specs on one of the bigger Keystone Lite models. It is 10,000# GVWR and 2,420 Payload. that and it is almost 33' long.

Specs for 29RLI
Shipping Weight 7,580
Carrying Capacity 2,420
Hitch 1535
Length 32' 7"
Height 11' 11"
Fresh Water 43
Waste Water 28
Gray Water 56
LPG 60
Tire Size ST225/75R15D
SouthpawHD
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:
It would be helpful if you would pick your trailer first, then you will know how much truck you need. You say 14k is 'not very much'. How much trailer are you planning on towing? At that weight most folks here will recommend a 1 ton diesel, likely a dually. You are talking some serious pocket money for a new large 5th wheel and new diesel.

A different question might be to specify a budget and ask for recommendations on the best combination for the $. For example the Ram 2500 with the 6.4 is very capable and I have seen some pretty good deals on them new. That would leave more money for the fifth wheel provided you don't go too large on the fifth wheel.

Good luck,
Stu

More than likely your F150 max has more payload than the Ram 2500.

So to the OP, each truck is different, each configuration is different, so you need to check not only the towing capacity but the payload capacity as well. Just because it says 2500/250, doesn't mean it'll work for your potential set-up.
wing_zealot
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
Something to consider. With any given truck, You can pull a bigger TT than a 5er. And TT's are cheaper then the same comparable 5er.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 17, 2015
Try a fifth wheel under 8,000 GVWR with a 1500 truck.
AlmostAnOldGuy
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
It would be helpful if you would pick your trailer first, then you will know how much truck you need. You say 14k is 'not very much'. How much trailer are you planning on towing? At that weight most folks here will recommend a 1 ton diesel, likely a dually. You are talking some serious pocket money for a new large 5th wheel and new diesel.

A different question might be to specify a budget and ask for recommendations on the best combination for the $. For example the Ram 2500 with the 6.4 is very capable and I have seen some pretty good deals on them new. That would leave more money for the fifth wheel provided you don't go too large on the fifth wheel.

Good luck,
Stu
howlin4you
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
Put it this way, I have a 1/2 ton truck and a 23 foot trailer that weighs about 5k fully loaded. Much lighter than any fiver. No problem for the truck right? In actuality after I load in my family and gear I exceed my payload rating. It's really surprising how little payload a full size truck has. I wouldn't even consider a fiver with a half ton.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
.....is not a good idea. Forget about the fictional tow rating, you need to be concerned with the available payload ratings. Most trucks, especially 1/2 tons will max out on payload way before coming anywhere near the tow rating.

A truck with a 12k tow rating is useless when it only has 1300lbs of payload. A fiver carries on average 20% of its weight on the pin. The pin weight counts towards payload, as does the weight of the hitch itself. Even the lightest fivers will overload a 1/2 ton truck before you add any passengers. An exception might be an F150 eco with the max tow and max payload package, but it is a rare find.

You'll see many on the road but that doesn't mean it's ok. Many are naive about all the ratings, "hey I drive a truck, I can tow anything", others just don't care. For that matter, many 3/4t trucks are overweight too.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2015
Douglas,

Ignore dry weights and what the manufacturer says are pin weights. Go by gross weights only and figure on 20 - 25% (probably closer to the 25% end) of the gross weight for pin weight. Most 3/4 ton trucks will run out of payload (what's left over for pin weight after you have fuel, people, pets, and stuff in the truck) WAY before they hit the gross combined vehicle weight rating or max towing capacity. Search this forum for the topic - you will find dozens if not hundreds of threads on the topic. To do it right - and safely - requires weighing the truck fully loaded and calculating all the numbers. Many full-timers/old-timers will tell you to choose your RV then work back to how much truck you'll need to tow it. Above all, be safe.

Rob
csamayfield55x
Explorer
Sep 17, 2015
That is not exactly true.

Most of the mfg's are building 1/2 ton towable 5th wheels now. I have a Light by open Range and the dry weight is listed at about 8500 give or take. pin weight is about 1500 and it is designed to clear a shortbed with no slider hitch. Cougars have the Xlight as well as others. Widlct Maxx aslo.

I am sure I could live for a very extended time in my 311FLR and even a 29 foot with 3 slides would be a piece of cake
Chris

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A 1500 Series (1/2 ton) PU truck, for towing a 5th wheel.

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