which is best truck for 5000Lb trailer

I'm pulling those exact weights with a half ton and a family of 4 (plus dog).

I've been to the scales and when loaded for a long trip, I'm about 5% over on payload. If I had never been to a scale, I'd have had no indication that the truck was beyond this limit. It tows effortless, stops effortless. Doesn't sag in the rear or feel "squishy".

I don't load my bed (except on my local trips). There's not much need to with 2500 pound payload on the trailer.

I don't plan to change tow vehicles. When this one is driven into the ground, I will likely get a 3/4 ton next time. Although...by that time, the kids and dog will be gone. Problem solved.

Dry weight is interesting info to get you looking. You are not going camping with it empty, so all it does is give you something to look further into.

Assuming a 5000 lb dry trailer, add about 1000 or so lbs loaded. Call it 6200 lbs loaded. Need to figure if you will be traveling solo (or you plus spouse), or a family of "x". Figure weight of passengers. Lets say, for the sake of argument, you have passenger weight of 600 lbs. Add to this 600 lbs, about 100 for the WD hitch, and assuming 12% of total trailer weight for tongue weight, that is 744. So, you would need a truck with AT LEAST 1444 cargo carrying capacity. Preferebly more because if you stop for a Big Mac along the way, you would be overweight.

I know folks might say your loaded weight would be more than 1200 lbs above dry. I'm sitting at 1000 lbs above dry weight (all actual weights), and I have more stuff than I really need. So, I think 1000-1500 over dry is a reasonable estimate to start with.

Thing is you don't want to cut it close. But, all things considered, you can find a 1/2 ton to do the job. I have a GMC Sierra 1500 with tow package and I tow my Forest River 2640 RLS very comfortably and below all my weight numbers. Now, I will admit, it doesn't leave me a huge margin. I recently went to a campground about 40 mins away, and took three grand kids, and five bikes in the back. I ended up slightly above my truck GVWR, but actually still below my axle weights (I weighed it all with that load). So, you definately need to be careful and be aware just how much weight your truck is capable of carrying.

Mike

As mentioned above, a "dry" 5k lb trailer can exceed most 1500/150 trucks. BUT... if you don't load heavy in the bed, they can be great tow vehicles at the same time....

We need more info!
Family- how many, and what is the aprox weight of all the passengers? Do you have any "growing" kids that willbe getting bigger,, and heavier with time?

How much cargo in the bed do you plan on having? Smaller cooler (or 2), or firewood, bikes, big cooler(s), etc...

Plan on a truck cap/ topper? That takes away at least 200lbs from your available payload of the truck!

If you can, go for a newer truck with the 6spd trans. For GM, make sure the truck has (4spd trans) at least the 3.73, or 4.10 gears. If a 6spd trans, make sure it has the 3.42 gears, unless a Max Tow truck that has the 3.73's! Dodge, go with the 5.7L, with the 3.92's or at least the 3.55's (or whatever they are in that range). Ford, Not sure of the different gearing available, but similar to the GM or Dodge.

As a reference, we had a "dry weight" tt of about 5400lbs, and ended up with a loaded tw (tongue weight) of over 900lbs. Weight adds up very quickly

I agree that there is much information out there. I also suggest that you ask, "What tow vehicle for a 7,500 pound trailer", if you are looking at 5,000 pound dry weight. That sort of trailer will have a tongue weight that will exceed the payload of the average half ton pickup when combined with other cargo and people. Look for one of the true HD half tons or simply get a 3/4 ton and be happy.

Its best if you read (search) thru the forum about related topics and make a decision based on information that's already available to you.

here is a post will offer you info. there are many...many more.
Once you get some more basic info., then people can address more specific questions you may have . At the end of the day, you will be better informed to make it easier for yourself in your choice.

Be concerned about GVWR not dry wts. GVWR will be a more real number.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28556331.cfm