Towing a small 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck

We have a new jayco eagle 26.5 FW (it's actually 30' long). I'm glad we sold our 1/2 ton and bought what's in our signature before purchasing the FW. We love it and we hardly know it's behind us. That's what towing should be. We were maxed out on our previous set up with a 1/2 ton and TT. the numbers were all correct regarding weights but it's not fun when you hit any kind of grade. Keep that in mind whem you make your decision.

Most 5th wheel brands have 1/2 ton truck towable 5th wheels. Some issues discussed on various Towing Forums regarding 1/2 Trucks vs 3/4 amd one ton is the possibility of "bucking/chucking" which can easily be cured with suspension mods.

However only you and your brands of Truck Manufacturer are experts at this. Consult them first.

HOWEVER...The Jayco Eagle Half Ton HT's are all under 9900 lbs GVWR, 26' up to 31 ft, up to 3 slideouts, all LED interior lighting, large "L" counter top kitchens, a roof system thats 50% stronger than other brands with screwed construction instead of the averge RV's staple roofs, up to twice the floor and wall insulation as some other brands, standard Dexter Nev-R-Adjust brakes.

Unexpectd stuff like 4 Standard aluminum alloy wheels mounted with RADIAL TIRES (NOT BIAS Ply!), powered awning, bigger standard front entry door, vacuum laminated exterior walls instead of "pinch roller" glued walls other brands have...(the vacuum laminated walls are 10 times less likely to delaminate!).

And a real Porcelain bath stool with foot flush instead of a flimsy plastic toilet!

Like they say.."BUT WAIT! There's more!" Wrap it all up with an unusual standard 2 year, bumper to hitch Jayco Warranty! Ta-Da!


We've had many (7) brand new JAYCO's Pop-Ups/TT's and 5th wheels over the past 35 years...loved 'em all.

Forest River has a line of 1/2 ton towable 5ers too. Lots of standard stuff, good quality and good customer support.

Figure pin weight into the trucks weight load capability.

Might work if you don't mind mashing the pedal with the hazards flashing and getting passed by a fat kid on a bicycle in the hills. Descending will test your nerves and gas mileage will suck. We over estimated the towing capacity of our first tv even though the specs said it should handle the load, gave up after the second trip. Go with a lighter bumper pull or get more truck.

I have found a few....Palomino Puma at 5770, Heartland Sundance at 6354, Keystone Springdale at 6200, etc....so they are out there!

6500 GVWR would probably be fine.

The problem I see is that no one to my knowledge builds a lite weight 5th wheel any more other then Scamp. Mine is a Coachmen 26 ft low profile ultra lite weighing 5600 lbs fully loaded and with two bikes hanging on the back. The last year they made them was 2000 or 2001. Other manufacturers also quit approx the same year.

Today's ultra lites now seem to start at close to 7000lbs which leaves little room for anything else. Other then Scamp I don't think there is any one making anything that could replace mine, requiring larger tow vehicles. Bigger, but not necessarily better is now the American way.