Towing a small 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck
I am thinking of trading in my TT for a 5th wheel.... I have a Dodge Ram 1500, 4.7L V8 with towing package. The specs show that I should be able to tow 7300 lbs. Do you see any problems with towin...
Forum Discussion
I think this is a reasonable topic and actually quite timely for me in that my wife and I want to upgrade from a popup to a 5th wheel. For us this means getting both a new camper and a new tow vehicle.
There are a growing number of 5th wheels that are advertised as 1/2 ton towable. The Light models from Open Range, for example. There is one we like, the BHS305 model that for which the specs are dry weight of 7900 lbs and dry pin weight of 1400 lbs.
At the same time, there are some 1/2 ton trucks at the upper end of the payload range that are clearly capable. For example, a 2014 F150 Ecoboost 4x4 Lariat with the crew cab and payload package has a max payload rating of 2300 lbs. And the new 2015 F150 is supposed to have increased payload ratings due to the lower body weight.
If I am in a position of buying both a new truck and 5th wheel I can probably save $10 grand on the truck by going with a 1/2 ton model over a big diesel. And I can probably save $10 grand or more by going with a smaller and lighter trailer. So it comes down to a question of whether it is worth it to us to go big and expensive when we really aren't full timers and the truck is going to be my daily commuting vehicle.
Now one obviously isn't going to want to pair any old 1/2 ton with any of the lighter 5th wheels. But if one is carefully shopping for both a truck and trailer at the same time I do think there are reasonable combinations that can be put together if one is mindful of payload.
There are a growing number of 5th wheels that are advertised as 1/2 ton towable. The Light models from Open Range, for example. There is one we like, the BHS305 model that for which the specs are dry weight of 7900 lbs and dry pin weight of 1400 lbs.
At the same time, there are some 1/2 ton trucks at the upper end of the payload range that are clearly capable. For example, a 2014 F150 Ecoboost 4x4 Lariat with the crew cab and payload package has a max payload rating of 2300 lbs. And the new 2015 F150 is supposed to have increased payload ratings due to the lower body weight.
If I am in a position of buying both a new truck and 5th wheel I can probably save $10 grand on the truck by going with a 1/2 ton model over a big diesel. And I can probably save $10 grand or more by going with a smaller and lighter trailer. So it comes down to a question of whether it is worth it to us to go big and expensive when we really aren't full timers and the truck is going to be my daily commuting vehicle.
Now one obviously isn't going to want to pair any old 1/2 ton with any of the lighter 5th wheels. But if one is carefully shopping for both a truck and trailer at the same time I do think there are reasonable combinations that can be put together if one is mindful of payload.
