Who's Towing a 5th with a half ton?

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The only thing I would add is that Ram 1/2 tons generally have a lower payload capacity than GM & Fords, especially of that time-frame. So that is something you really need to look at.

For what its worth, I was driving down I-40 here in the Raleigh area a few weeks ago. A new white F-150 was beside me with a nice Cougar fifth wheel. I know Cougar makes some lighter versions and I must admit, it was an impressive looking rig.

I imagine the guy had air bags because that truck had no squat whatsoever. It appeared very stable and it just made me sad knowing they were headed somewhere toward the coast and I was pulling a trailer full of lawn mowing equipment. I exited off at exit 301 and they headed on down I-40 east. :(

Stick with a TT. You can tow a much larger TT with that vehicle than a 5er. What was your reason for wanting to move to a 5er? You choice could basically come down to something like a 30' TT vs. a 25' 5er.

A few years, 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73, tow package. 8,400lb FW.

Just to chime in - I Am! But, you have to shop very carefully. My F150 with both the Max Tow and Max Payload packages (a pretty rare, custom ordered, configuration) JUST makes the pin weight of my 5th. And we pack very light. To date, I haven't seen specs (not that I am looking very hard) for a 1/2 ton that can do better. Almost all are worse, and therefore not suitable for a fifth. They can pull, but they can't carry.

Broncobill1964, I sent you a PM regarding my fifth wheel and weights.

broncobill1964 wrote:
Right now I own a 2011 Ram Quad Cab 4x4 with the Hemi and tow package. When I bouth this truck in 2011, Chrysler was selling life time warranties with a $100 deductible per visit. As long as I own the truck, it's covered. I bought it. I've read that there a quite a few 5th wheels being made to be pulled by 1/2 tons. I've read that the hitch weight is the key. We have a TT now and want to get a 5th, but I do not want to get rid of my truck. Have not settled on a 5th yet.

Over 15 yrs, I pulled 3 different fifth wheels with two different 1/2 ton trucks. What you understand it right, you will run out of payload before anything else. So, get your fully loaded truck weighed, subtract that from the truck's GVWR and that is what is left over for loaded pin weight. Or you can just focus on not exceeding tire capacity since almost 100% of the pin weight sits on the rear axle. In that case, subtract the loaded axle weight from the rear GAWR and that is your limit for loaded pin weight.

Your next problem is determining what the loaded pin weight will be for a trailer you haven't purchased. Many people use 20-25% of the trailer's GVWR and for smaller units that is pretty good. But if the fiver in question has a large CCC, like over 2000 lbs, then you have to consider if you will carry that much gear. On the other hand, since all fivers have more cargo space in front of their axles, it is ez for say 1000 lbs of cargo to have 30-40% of that weight end up as pin weight.

Finally, if the truck has P tires then changing them to LTs would be a good move.

You won't have enough payload for a 5th wheel. Most so called 1/2 ton 5th wheel pin weights start around 11-1200lbs. Add another 150-200lbs for the 5th hitch and you're close to 13-1400lbs before you even fill the propane tanks, load the front basement storage and load the front bedroom with gear. Figure about 500lbs added to the pin weight. Now add in truck bed stuff and passengers and more than likely you're over the trucks GVWR, RAWR.
The so called 1/2 ton 5th wheels are 1/2 ton doable before you load them up.
Look at the door sticker of your truck and see what you payload number is. Guessing it's around 1350-1480lbs.

2012 Silverado 1500 5.3 v8 3.42 rear 2014 jayco eagle ht 27.5 rlts empty eight 8190 # total scaled weight truck 14500# camp ready