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

12thgenusa wrote:
Naw, it can't be done.:R

11,200 miles in 5 seasons. No white knuckles, sweaty palms or worn out flashers. Have passed a lot of other rigs on the mountain grades, though.

That's a nice looking rig! Do you have airbags or other suspension help or is the Tundra all stock?

We did it for a couple of years, border to border a couple of times and a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. It can be done but I certainly slowed down to almost danger levels on some grades and that was with the 5.9L V8.
Two years we decided to keep up camping and upgraded.

I towed this 5er with my 2002 Dodge with a 4.7. It didnt have any problem with it. It was 6200#

Then i bought this 5er its about 8000# loaded it did struggle a little in the hills in Mississippi but it would still hold at 70MPH. The truck also had over 200000 miles on it. I towed the flagstaff for two years before i bought my current truck.

This is what i tow with now

Not all half tons are created equal. The 4.7 you have is not a very strong engine. It may pull 7,300#, but I can almost guaranty it will not pull it well, especially in any hills, much less mountains.

Ask me how I know this. I had an older Toyota Tundra rated to pull slightly over 7K lbs a number of years ago. I bought a small fiver that just barely weighed less than the ratings when loaded for camping. I ended up trading the truck within a few months. You may have better luck, but don't be surprised if the 4.7 struggles at 7K lbs. Good luck.

Thanks for the response -- payload rating is 1670. I have taken into consideration the "stuff" I will put in the trailer, so I know I can't buy one more than about 6300-6400 lbs.....there will be just 2 people using it.

You may be able to "pull" the lightest fivers, although with a 4.7l that likely won't be much fun, but your bigger problem will be "carrying" the pin weight.

The Rams have some of the lowest payloads of all the 1/2 ton trucks. Depending on your cab configuration it may be as low as 1000lbs. Once you add a couple of passengers and a hitch in the bed you will have little payload left for the fivers pin weight.

The weights you list are likely dry weights. Once loaded up with options and your stuff they'll all be pushing 7500lbs or more, which is already above your tow rating and a weight the 4.7 will definately struggle with. The average fiver will have a pin weight between 20-25% of it's gross weight so even a light fiver at 7500lbs will have 1500lbs+ of pin weight which will put you over the trucks payload and GVWR.

So, the big question is what is your payload rating?

No issues here. No "bucking" either. Been towing this 5er for 10 years. Question is if your 4.7L is up to it..?

romore wrote:
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.

That's funny, I've never had to use flashers yet even playing in the mountains out west. I'll admit, a low profile will pull easier then high profile but around here where there are no mountains I'll add another trailer. If I'm gonna play I may as well take the toys!!

12thgenusa wrote:
Naw, it can't be done.

Australian style. Chipped 2.5 Diesel, 2100lb payload.

Naw, it can't be done.:R

11,200 miles in 5 seasons. No white knuckles, sweaty palms or worn out flashers. Have passed a lot of other rigs on the mountain grades, though.