Is a 5th Wheel Possible for me?

Thank you all - I have had enough feedback (across a few forums) that my initial fears have been correct – there is NO way my Half Ton Truck can pull a 5th Wheel safely (or at least within the limits of the given numbers).There has even been some feedback challenging my trucks capability of pulling a Travel Trailer.Can Half Tons be that far off when it comes to trailering (my Ram can’t be THAT much less capable than the others)?I see them all the time, out there doing their thing, with far larger Trailers than I am even considering.
Well to my fallback position, a Travel Trailer in the 32’ Range. This size Trailer is comparable to a 5th Wheel while keeping the general interior dimensions/floorplan.The Overall Length (Truck and Camper) is worrisome now - that is a considerable “Length” Penalty going to a Travel Trailer.
I had already mentioned the Keystone Hideout, which comes in at 31’-6” and a Dry Weight of 5610lbs and a Tongue weight of 840lbs. On the longer side there is the Jayco Whitehawk 30DSRE that peaks my interest.That one comes in at 33’-11” a dry weight of 5990 and Tongue weight at 585lbs.For some odd reason the Jayco while being longer and heavier has a lighter Tongue weight.While I listed just two, there are actually MANY comparable Trailer options from various manufacturers (give or take a foot).
So please, keep the feedback coming (Towing capability as well as target Trailer).
Curious - One reply stated that while a 5th Wheel might exceed the capabilities of the truck, it would probably tow better than a Travel Trailer falling within the Capabilities of the truck. Nothing is easy!
I have some time to work this out, so I will continue to follow the Forums for advice.

In this area I see hundreds (yes hundreds) of small fifth wheels being pulled by half tons. Most are going 30 to 40 miles down the road to one of the state parks or lakes in the area. They are loaded with the whole family, firewood, bicycles, BBQ grills and all sorts of stuff for the weekend. Some are even towing a boat or jet ski behind the trailer. IMHO, If that is your plan then you will have no problems.

On the other hand, if you want to head out on a 1,200 to 2,000 mile trip every year then its a different ballgame. You need a more capable tow vehicle.

Just my opinion.

Listen to this guy ^. And for the rhetoric, there are 100s of "can I tow this?" threads. Scroll down........

You'll probably be over some of your ratings with that setup, depending on what sort of hitch you use and how you load the truck. Rams unfortunately tend to run towards the lighter end of the half ton spectrum. That being said, your truck slightly overloaded with a fifth wheel would likely tow better and safer than your truck slightly underloaded with a TT. Just because of how fifth wheels inherently tow better. Only you can decide what to do.

One thing you might consider is that your truck is probably worth quite a bit. Used truck values are high right now. You could probably sell it and buy a heavier truck without taking a total bath on it, and that would really open up your options and give you a much more pleasant towing experience.

Pay load will be over. Need to count all passangers, the hitch, fuel, anything that might be in the truck. With only 370 pounds to play with, the hitch and the driver will take up almost, if not all of it.

My Ram's payload is actually less than my Jeep Liberty's payload per the door jam sticker, and far less than the brochure due to options. Now, adding things like my tonneau cover, etc...

You can tow a much bigger TT then 5er with that truck (with any truck actually). A TT uses a weight distribution hitch to transfer weight off the rear axle and moves some of it to the front axle, no algebra needed. The payload number is the only number you need to worry about.

Good explanation above. The numbers you need are on the door jam of YOUR truck.

You need to put everyone/everything in your truck, then go weigh it, to know what is left before going over GVWR, and/or RAWR. On a half ton truck, when you are over GVWR, you are close to, or over RAWR also.

The FW you are considering is showing a lighter than normal dry pin weight, so likely not including propane or battery.

Jerry

Alpo,

Welcome!!!

As you have found like many, the limiting factor for a 1500/150 truck is the available payload. If your 1400lbs is per a website, you may not even have that much. Look in the drivers door jamb for a yellow sticker that states "All occupants and cargo not to exceed: XXXXlbs". This is the available payload for YOUR TRUCK as it rolled off the assembly line. As it states, ALL occupants (including the driver), all cargo (coolers, firewood, etc), any accessories added (step bars, spray in bed liner for example), the hitch (wdh or in your case the 5er hitch), and the trailer tongue/pin weight). Weights listed on websites are usually for a stripped down truck without any options. The more options, the less the payload.

And unfortunately the trailer manufacture "brochure" weights often times don't include options, even those options which are "mandatory". For a 5er, you generally have ~20% of the loaded trailer weight as the hitch/pin weight. So estimating your new 5er weighs 7000lbs loaded for a trip (no one toss an empty trailer), you could be in the ballpark of ~1400lbs pin weight before the 5er hitch or passengers are in the truck. To tow this trailer, pending what the family weight, weight of the hitch, and the pin weight.

Another thing the "brochure" weights do not include is the weight of the propane tanks or a battery. For 2-20lb tanks and a battery, this adds ~120lbs, and for 2-30lb tanks and a battery, this adds ~160lbs, all to the trailer tongue weight. Not 100% sure how this affects a 5er, it would imagine most of that weight goes on the pin also if the the tanks and battery are up front by the landing gear.

Best thing to do is actually weigh your truck with the family with a full tank of gas and see how much payload is available after you subtract the actual weight from the gvwr of the truck. Then you can subtract the weight of the hitch (5er or wdh) and get an estimate of what your loaded tw should be less than.

The tow ratings for the new trucks using the set standard has 2-150lb occupants, and a 10% tw while towing an open flat bed style trailer with weight on it. A tt generally needs to have 12-15% tw for a safe, stable tow which adds up quick depending on the style tt, how it is loaded, etc.



Good luck in your search.