1/2 Ton Towable 5th Wheel

[rollindownthero]

Hello:

Does anyone have a 5th wheel that they say can be towed by a 1/2 ton truck? Are you actually towing it with a 1/2 ton truck and what kind of truck do you have?

I had originally thought that when I retire I would get a motorhome with a toad. However, I wasn't planning on "traveling" all the time. Was going to find a location and be there for a month, then move to the next spot and stay a month or two. The more I thought about it the more a 5th wheel or TT made more sense to me. Wouldn't have to worry about another engine to maintain, additional tires to replace, and gas for two vehicles. I had a Jeep that could be towed 4 down, but would need to get a truck for a 5th or TT.

I looked at trucks and my budget (or what I was willing to pay) was for 1/2 ton. Found a 2019 F150, XLT, 3.6L ecoboost, 4x4, 145" wheelbase, 20" tires, 6.5 foot bed, 3.55 rear axle ratio, pay load of 2,030 lbs. I did look at RAM, Chevy and GMC but the Ford had the highest tow rating.

After researching and scrolling though numerous websites and Ford's website I can conventional tow 12,700 lbs. with this truck. Ford says 13,200 with the Max Towing package, which I don't have. The only thing I don't have in the towing package is the transmission cooler. From what I found so far for a 5th wheel it says 10,000 lbs.

Wondering what kind of experience you have towing the 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck. I know the majority are going to tell me to get a bigger truck, but again the budget dictates a 1/2 ton. I know a TT would work well for me, but just investigating the possibility of a 5th wheel.

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

Our 5er is almost 28 feet long. Hitch weight is 1100 pounds. Cargo capacity is 1924 pounds leaving me around 824 pounds for cargo and people. My tow limit is only 7200 pounds with my 4.7L Tundra. The dry weight of the camper is 5800 pounds. Fully loaded up ready to go the camper is around 6900-7100. I never tow with water but on an 18 day trip our camper topped out at 7400 pounds. We’ve successfully towed thus far without any trouble whatsoever for 17 years. I did add Sumo springs to the rear end about four years ago. That leveled out a bit of rear sag I had and really made for a smoother ride with less bounce. I also have the tow package that comes with the radiator cooler and Bilstein shocks. My only complaint is the 6-7 mpg while towing. Because of the shorter overall package and carrying some of the trailer as opposed to having it all towed behind the truck, the driving characteristics are superior with the fifth wheel.

[rhagfo]

JIMNLIN wrote:

op wrote:
Wondering what kind of experience you have towing the 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck. I know the majority are going to tell me to get a bigger truck, but again the budget dictates a 1/2 ton. I know a TT would work well for me, but just investigating the possibility of a 5th wheel.

Yeah there are and has been for years 1/2 ton trucks that will tow 5th wheel trailers. Some folks are clueless and lump all 1/2 ton trucks the same.

Ford markets several F150s. Sounds like some bought the wrong F150 like the one you looked at.

At the top is the F150HDPP with its 8200-7850 gvwr and 4800 rawr. As one poster who has one reported 2500 lb payloads.

Next down is a 7550 gvwr and 4550 rawr good for around 2200-2300 lb payloads.

Then a 7050 gvwr and 4050 rawr with around 1800 lb payloads.

And finally the small 6800 gvwr and even smaller 3800 rawr good for around 1500 lb payloads.
Fords 3.5 ecoboost has more usable towing horse power and bigger torque numbers than many 3/4 ton gazzers out here.

Trailer tow ratings are for trailers of all types (not just rv trailers with fixed hitch loads) so their real and are what they are.

Now... that 12000 lb tow rating can equate to a 2400-2600 lb hitch load. Now add a heavy 5th wheel hitch ...people...other gear and the truck needs 3200-3500 lb in the bed payload.

Fords "MAX TOW" option is just ;
• 3.55 Electronic-locking rear-axle
• 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness
• 36 Gallon fuel tank
• Auxiliary transmission oil cooler
• Engine oil cooler
• Class IV trailer hitch receiver
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Tailgate LED
• Smart Trailer Tow Connector (standard on LARIAT and higher)
• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
• Upgraded front stabilizer bar
• Upgraded rear bumper.
So you see max tow does nothing to increase the trucks in the bed payload.

Ford does advertise 3000+ lbs payloads for the F150 but that is a GVWR based payload. Even the F150HDPP is limited to around 2500-2600 lb in the bed loads... over the rear axle. The rest of the payload will have to go on the trucks front axle.

When looking for any truck that will carry heavy loads in the bed look for one with enough RAWR to do the job you want it to.

Well Ford publishes 5th wheel towing ratings for the F150. Personally I would rather see a 1/2 ton towing a 5er slightly over GVWR as long as it is within tire and axle ratings. Towing a 5er is far more stable than towing a long heavy TT.

F150 towing numbers both conventional and 5th wheel.

[twodownzero]

rollindowntheroad wrote:
To: Twodownzero:

I don't have the wrong truck! I don't have an RV yet. I am investigating and learning, that is why I ask questions. These are the kind of responses that tick me off.

I hate to say it, but the trailer or camper should really be selected before you choose the truck to avoid precisely the problem you have here. A 1/2 ton truck is NOT designed to be any kind of regular towing or hauling platform. I struggle to find a useful analogy, but the easiest way to say it is that a 1/2 ton truck is designed to be used like a station wagon of yesterday, for hauling bulky but not heavy items, for occasionally pulling a small cargo trailer, and generally being a replacement for a RWD car like vehicle that used to be common, but nowadays are becoming rare as unibody, front wheel drive, and maximum fuel efficiency are the order of the day. I guess it's kinda like a circular saw--capable of doing the role of a lot of other types of saws (miter, radial arm, table, etc.), but not as specialized as these tools, and not up to the task of replacing those saws for regular use.

A 3/4 or 1 ton truck is an entirely different animal even if it looks pretty much the same. It will have the suspension and drivetrain necessary to be loaded on a regular or even constant basis. It will have real truck tires, a full floating rear axle, suspension made to handle its rated load, much larger and more powerful brakes, etc.

Someone mentioned the 375 horsepower and if you ask me, that is the scariest figure on the new trucks. I'd rather be in a 30 year old truck with half the power which was equipped with suspension, tires, brakes, axles, transmission, coolers, and a bunch of other features that actually matter rather than being able to accelerate an unsafe amount of weight to a terrifying speed without the means to suspend, stop, steer, and control the load.

I have said before on here that what I find especially scary about 1/2 ton trucks is that the entire weight of the vehicle is supported by one fairly small axle shaft on each side with a single bearing. In contrast, a heavy duty light truck will have a 3 1/2" or 4", .500" thick tube carrying the weight, with two bearings per side and the axle shaft only applying torque to the hub. This is just one example of why anyone who is seeking to tow a travel trailer or fifth wheel should seriously consider a heavier duty truck than that person might otherwise think necessary for the task.

I'm not saying that your F150 is useless, junk, or not suitable for any use. All I'm saying is that a screwdriver is not a pry bar, a circular saw is not a table saw, and that while using these things as not intended is not necessarily going to harm anyone or anything, the potential consequences of doing so are potentially catastrophic and the means to avoid this situation entirely are clearly not out of reach to you if you're driving a 2019-anything. Look around this forum at the people who go and weigh their rigs only to learn that they're in too deep and way beyond their tow vehicle's capability before they even get to use it to its potential. Recreational vehicles are supposed to be fun; this kind of risk ruins the fun for me. Tradeoffs are part of life so I get it. But most people do not fully understand how hard towing is on parts, especially as the amenities our trailers have continue to grow, perhaps at a rate that our pickups haven't kept up.

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
Wondering what kind of experience you have towing the 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck. I know the majority are going to tell me to get a bigger truck, but again the budget dictates a 1/2 ton. I know a TT would work well for me, but just investigating the possibility of a 5th wheel.

Yeah there are and has been for years 1/2 ton trucks that will tow 5th wheel trailers. Some folks are clueless and lump all 1/2 ton trucks the same.

Ford markets several F150s. Sounds like some bought the wrong F150 like the one you looked at.

At the top is the F150HDPP with its 8200-7850 gvwr and 4800 rawr. As one poster who has one reported 2500 lb payloads.

Next down is a 7550 gvwr and 4550 rawr good for around 2200-2300 lb payloads.

Then a 7050 gvwr and 4050 rawr with around 1800 lb payloads.

And finally the small 6800 gvwr and even smaller 3800 rawr good for around 1500 lb payloads.
Fords 3.5 ecoboost has more usable towing horse power and bigger torque numbers than many 3/4 ton gazzers out here.

Trailer tow ratings are for trailers of all types (not just rv trailers with fixed hitch loads) so their real and are what they are.

Now... that 12000 lb tow rating can equate to a 2400-2600 lb hitch load. Now add a heavy 5th wheel hitch ...people...other gear and the truck needs 3200-3500 lb in the bed payload.

Fords "MAX TOW" option is just ;
• 3.55 Electronic-locking rear-axle
• 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness
• 36 Gallon fuel tank
• Auxiliary transmission oil cooler
• Engine oil cooler
• Class IV trailer hitch receiver
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Tailgate LED
• Smart Trailer Tow Connector (standard on LARIAT and higher)
• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
• Upgraded front stabilizer bar
• Upgraded rear bumper.
So you see max tow does nothing to increase the trucks in the bed payload.

Ford does advertise 3000+ lbs payloads for the F150 but that is a GVWR based payload. Even the F150HDPP is limited to around 2500-2600 lb in the bed loads... over the rear axle. The rest of the payload will have to go on the trucks front axle.

When looking for any truck that will carry heavy loads in the bed look for one with enough RAWR to do the job you want it to.

[Michelle_S]

Read the "Fine Print: "With a properly equipped 1/2 Ton"" Such as the poster with the special ordered truck, but most on Dealer's lots will not be properly equipped.

[camp-n-family]

BillyBob Jim wrote:

RV board nonsense.

OP, look at Rockwood / Flagstaff, Grand Design Reflection 150 series, Winnebagos Micro Mini series, etc.

Don't buy into the RV forum gibberish.

Perfect example, lets look closer at Grand Design line for example sake. The absolute smallest 22' model (now out of production) has a brochure dry weight of 6700lbs with 1130lbs pin weight. Now we all know those advertised weights don't include options, propane, batteries etc and usually come in several hundred pounds higher in actual weight. Lets go with 7k as delivered for example sake.

The brochure shows a pin weight of approximately 17 percent so keeping with that, the empty fiver pins at 1190lbs. A nice couple, very lightly packed, will easily add 500lbs of "stuff" so we are now 7500lbs and 1275lbs. Add in 75lbs for the lightest possible Andersen hitch and you've added 1350lbs to the truck and mostly the rear axle. Plenty left for 2 passengers with the OPs 1700lbs rating. Sounds good right?

Not so fast. Most storage in a fiver is up front, well ahead of the axles. Want to take water in the tanks? Also over or ahead of the axles. These additions usually give fivers a pin weight between 20 and 25 percent of loaded weight. Even at the lowest end of that range, and packed as light as possible, you'd be a minimum of 1500lbs on the pin, plus the hitch, which only leaves enough payload for 1 super skinny driver and nothing else in the truck. You may have a couple hundred pounds to spare before maxing on axle weights.

As a previous poster mentioned, they could tow this fiver within ratings. They have a rare F150 with the HD payload option. It is not your standard half ton. That one rarity is what allows the manufacturers to get away with advertising "1/2 ton towable". There are always exceptions to the rule but sadly most get burned by the gimmicks.

[94-D2]

There are several 5th wheels in the 8-10k range that are towable with that F150. That eco boost may not last (fluid cooled turbos that cost about 2-4k to re-seal in a work truck) but at 345 HP there is plenty there to do it. Add the trans cooler (go with a stack plate type) and air bag it. You won’t have any problems there.

Someone said the weights are over rated on these trucks. Nope. They are actually under rated for liability reasons so we don’t “actually” over load them. The GVWR is determined by lawyers, not engineers (fact or fiction not withstanding). If your not worried about warranty issues, make your truck a HD 1/2 ton. If anyone was worried about a trailer being heavier than a TV to be stable, we wouldn’t be pulling a 65k flat bed with a 14k truck/tractor.

Happy Campin’

[theoldwizard1]

Every vehicle manufacturer over-rates towing capacity. Bottom line, it is all about weight, both gross trailer weight, hitch/pin weight, and gross combined weight. Even if you are UNDER these numbers does not mean you will ENJOY towing with a large load. Things like tires make a huge difference.

I would stay under 8,000 lbs trailer weight. Pin weight combined with your payload should be less than 1,500 lbs. These are pretty low for a 5th wheel.

[12thgenusa]

These fear mongering posts disgust me. I have been towing my rig for the past 12 years and every minute enjoyable. But maybe the Tundra is more than a "half ton".:) See signature for TV and 5er details. The new "half tons" are even more capable. I have been all over Colorado and over most all the high mountain passes even passing other (bigger) rigs going over the infamous Ike Gauntlet. Towing mpg average for the 32,000 miles I've towed it is 10. GVW for the trailer loaded for the 11,300 mile round trip to Alaska (including the Dalton Hwy north of Cold Foot) was 8,400 lbs.

Yes, I'm several hundred pounds over the Tundra's GVWR but I'm under on the axle ratings (known weights over multiple weightings). The combo accelerates, brakes and handles fine. Truly a pleasure to drive. Planning on a second trip to Alaska.

Sure, not any "half ton" can tow any fifth wheel. Have patience, do your homework and you can find the combination that works for you.

[guidry]

Addy15 wrote:
3) We have a 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L Ecoboost truck SPECIAL ORDERED (i.e. NOT off a dealer's lot) with max towing and heavy-duty payload packages. Payload capacity of just over 2500 lbs..

There you have it; it can be done if you change your half ton truck into a 3/4 ton truck.

[IdaD]

I don't think there's much price difference to get into a HD gas truck, so I'd be sure to check that. Certainly not enough of a price difference to be material. There are definitely half tons capable of hauling certain light fifth wheels, but I think it's a really poor choice to try to make that combination work in a full time use scenario.

[Addy15]

rollindowntheroad wrote:


Does anyone have a 5th wheel that they say can be towed by a 1/2 ton truck? Are you actually towing it with a 1/2 ton truck and what kind of truck do you have?

To directly answer your questions:
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) We have a 2018 Ford F-150 3.5L Ecoboost truck SPECIAL ORDERED (i.e. NOT off a dealer's lot) with max towing and heavy-duty payload packages. Payload capacity of just over 2500 lbs.

We are towing a Winnebago Minnie Plus 27RLTS 5th wheel trailer, just under 30 ft. long. Hitch is a B&W Companion.

We researched and shopped long and hard for this truck/trailer combination and have been very satisfied with travel performance thus far with 4200 miles on it so far. No trailer wagging the truck as others have mentioned.

Bottom line is: no matter what the nay-sayers may think, it can be done with the right combination.

[TXiceman]

The so called 1/2 ton towables are few and far between. You are really looking at 25 ft. max length for the most part. The numbers are pretty much based on a base model truck and a trailer that has no cargo inside.

Work the numbers and understand all of the terminology. DO not believe the dealer.

Ken

[Jimbee]

Howdy,

For what it's worth I currently have a 2018 Rockwood 8301ws 5th wheel. This line of 5th wheels is marketed as 1/2 ton tow-able. But from my real world experience towing this camper, I definitely wouldn't be comfortable towing it with a half ton truck. I'm currently towing with a 2015 chevy 6.0 3/4 ton,and wouldn't want to tow it with a softer sprung/smaller wheeled/lighter framed truck. Yes, a half ton truck is capable of moving the camper from point "A" to point "B", but it would be scary/un-nerving ride. Many of the roads here in the Northeast are very rough with extreme dips that when encountered at highway speed will test your vehicles stability and your patience.

Consider a bumper pull or a 3/4 ton, your family's safety should come before your budget!

[spud1957]

rollindowntheroad wrote:
Sticker says weight of passengers and cargo should never exceed 1,772 lbs.

There you have it. If you are abiding by the payload sticker, your capacity for driver, passengers and 5th wheel hitch and anything else you are carring is 1,772.

Read the fine print for towing capacity. The trailer weight is based on a 150lb driver. So for every single pound you add to the truck above the 150lbs, you have to deduct that from the trailer weight.

So if you have 500lbs of passengers, hitch and stuff, your trailer rating is reduced by 500lbs.