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.

“1/2 ton towable” is just an advertising gimmick. There are the rare cases with a stripped down regular cab max payload truck that might have the payload to get away with it but usually that line gets people into trouble.2k of payload is on the high end of most half ton trucks. Once you add a hitch (~200lbs) and a couple of light passengers (say 300lbs) you have 1500lbs left for pin weight. There aren’t many fivers that have even unloaded pin weights less than that. Even if you ignored the payload rating you’d still be hard pressed to stay within the axle and tire ratings.Don’t get fooled. Half ton trucks aren’t built to tow fivers.

camp-n-family wrote:“1/2 ton towable” is just an advertising gimmick. There are the rare cases with a stripped down regular cab max payload truck that might have the payload to get away with it but usually that line gets people into trouble.2k of payload is on the high end of most half ton trucks. Once you add a hitch (~200lbs) and a couple of light passengers (say 300lbs) you have 1500lbs left for pin weight. There aren’t many fivers that have even unloaded pin weights less than that. Even if you ignored the payload rating you’d still be hard pressed to stay within the axle and tire ratings.Don’t get fooled. Half ton trucks aren’t built to tow fivers.RV board nonsense.OP, look at Rockwood / Flagstaff, Grand Design Reflection 150 series, Winnebagos Micro Mini series, etc.Sure you're not going to be pulling a 40 foot 5er with a 3K pin weight with a 1500, but there are plenty of 5th wheels made that a 1500 truck can more than handle. Don't buy into the RV forum gibberish.

When I bought my 1st 5th wheel the dealer told me that my 1/2 ton truck would work with the 5th wheel. I learned my 1st important lesson that day. A dealer will tell you just about anything to make a sale. I towed it one time and when the trip was over I told my wife we either get a new truck or sell the 5th wheel. I had to make runs at most hills and the truck was struggling quite a bit. I was white knuckled while pulling that 5th wheel. We got a 3/4 Chevy gasser and it was a huge difference.You don't say where most of your travels would be. If you need to pull through some mountains then even the new 1/2 tons will struggle. I now have a 3/4 Chevy Diesel and couldn't be happier. If your budget cannot handle a new truck consider a good certified used. That's what my diesel is. If not then consider a bumper pull travel trailer.Dave

camp-n-family wrote:“1/2 ton towable” is just an advertising gimmick. There are the rare cases with a stripped down regular cab max payload truck that might have the payload to get away with it but usually that line gets people into trouble.2k of payload is on the high end of most half ton trucks. Once you add a hitch (~200lbs) and a couple of light passengers (say 300lbs) you have 1500lbs left for pin weight. There aren’t many fivers that have even unloaded pin weights less than that. Even if you ignored the payload rating you’d still be hard pressed to stay within the axle and tire ratings.Don’t get fooled. Half ton trucks aren’t built to tow fivers.I agree with everything stressed here. It would be suicide to even consider pulling any 5th wheel, even a 24' one, with a V6 powered F150. You definitely have the wrong truck. Consider a small to mid sized travel trailer.

I am not planning on going through any mountain regions. Currently living in Florida and will stay there the majority of the time. Have a daughter that lives in Northern Illinois may spend summers there.I don't have an RV at this time. Looking at and exploring ALL options. Yes, a TT will work just fine for me, but again investigating the 5th wheel possibilities.I hear 100% of people tell me, only believe about 3%. I am trying to people's real experiences if there are any.

1/2 Ton Towable 5th Wheel | Good Sam Community

eurojet
Explorer
Jul 05, 2019
just to add to my previous post here is my set up

I have been on a CAT scale and my pin weight after subtracting drive Axle with 5ER connected from just truck is 1660 pounds This was also with my old B&W Patrot hitch and not my new Pullrite Superlite which is a lot lighter
also my trailer weights 9540 pounds loaded so that would put me at 17.4% of a pin weight if i am doing my math correct

So I have a 2018 Crusader 30bh Pulled by a 2018 F150 3.5l eco SuperCrew with 3.31 rear end , 6.5' box
payload from Door sticker is 1812#
as per Fords 2018 towing guide my truck can town a 5er weighing max 10300# with a GCWR of 16100#
so my combination seems to work
GCWR is 15400#
payload/pin weight 1660# 17.4% pin weight
trailer weight is 9540#
Im even under my trailers GCWR UVW + CCC
My only measurement that was over was my Drive axle maximum weight i was over by 460#s , one of the reasons why i switched hitches and I removed so unnecessary things I dont use camping and also instead of using the residential queen spring mattress I bought a lighter Memory foam , I was also carrying 2 tool boxes one in my bed and one in the trailer , i have removed the Bed tool box so I can say i am maybe at this point only 200# over my rear axle ratings i do need to weight this new set up, but even if i am over my axle rating by 200# i am not worried

https://primetimerv.com/fifth-wheels/crusader-lite/30BH/1722
eurojet
Explorer
Jul 02, 2019
what i find funny is all the doubters about 1/2 tons towing 5er's and saying people need 3/4 minimum but even if you have a 3/4 ton towing a 5er which is supposed to be the "right size truck for the job" when i am out either heading to the camp grounds or driving somowheret , I see 3/4 ton trucks not set up properly and either with a TT or 5er, the trucks even with WD hitch is so low to the ground and the nose so high , even 5er's i see that. That tells me they are over weight they do not have the right truck for the job or they are not educated on how to set things up properly. Does this mean the 1 ton guys are going to say they need a 1 ton truck. Driving like that is unsafe no matter what size truck you have (having little steering due to the nose being so high)
It comes down to education and research and knowing you trucks limits honestly i laugh when i drive by a 3/4 truck nose high and trailer low and my 1/2 rides perfectly level so i have proper steering and my headlights are in the right place not to mention being able to use my front brakes properly , I know that my 1/2 set up correctly (even a bit over my payload ratings will stop better then a 3/4 not set up properly no matter if they have the correct brake size to stop the weight.
people need to get over the 1/2 3/4 1 ton debate if someone with a 1/2 ton chooses to tow a 14000# trailer that is on them it is no different then 3/4 choosing to tow a trailer out of there limits.

Use common sense and make sure you are set up properly
it is possible to tow a 5er with a 1/2 many of us are doing it safely
spud1957
Explorer
Jul 02, 2019
People need to read the fine print of the published tow ratings. It has all the details with "ifs and buts", like hitch weight, passengers and truck options etc.

The published ratings are the best scenario ratings and are out of touch with reality.
patperry2766
Explorer II
Jul 02, 2019
rollindowntheroad wrote:
patperry2766 wrote:
rollindowntheroad wrote:
Ok I finally give!!! I understand that I wouldn't be able to tow a 5th wheel. With calculations I've come up with the max I could even tow a travel trailer is 7,000 lbs. A far cry from what Ford advertises.

That's not correct either. Per the 2019 Ford trailer towing guidelines and based on the info from your original post, max tow weight is 10,700 lbs

2019 Trailer Tow

look on page 19

You are correct. I called numerous Ford dealers and they all came back with a towing capacity of 10,700 lbs. That makes me fell much better. Even though a 5th wheel might not work, a TT will.

Remember that you'll still be battling cargo capacity. Trailer tongue weight just like 5th wheel pin weight will have a direct/immediate impact of cargo weight capacity of the truck which will affect trailer size and weight. Probably would think that if you stay somewhere 7K max trailer weight, then you should probably be OK
rollindownthero
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2019
patperry2766 wrote:
rollindowntheroad wrote:
Ok I finally give!!! I understand that I wouldn't be able to tow a 5th wheel. With calculations I've come up with the max I could even tow a travel trailer is 7,000 lbs. A far cry from what Ford advertises.

That's not correct either. Per the 2019 Ford trailer towing guidelines and based on the info from your original post, max tow weight is 10,700 lbs

2019 Trailer Tow

look on page 19

You are correct. I called numerous Ford dealers and they all came back with a towing capacity of 10,700 lbs. That makes me fell much better. Even though a 5th wheel might not work, a TT will.
laknox
Nomad
Jul 01, 2019
camp-n-family wrote:
patperry2766 wrote:
rollindowntheroad wrote:
Ok I finally give!!! I understand that I wouldn't be able to tow a 5th wheel. With calculations I've come up with the max I could even tow a travel trailer is 7,000 lbs. A far cry from what Ford advertises.

That's not correct either. Per the 2019 Ford trailer towing guidelines and based on the info from your original post, max tow weight is 10,700 lbs

2019 Trailer Tow

look on page 19

Yes, that's the listed "tow rating". What the OP is saying, and what most don't understand, is that once you load the vehicle with gear and passengers etc he only has enough payload left to support the tongue weight that a 7k trailer would have. Rarely will you ever get to anywhere near a vehicles tow rating without exceeding 1 or more other ratings first.

A travel trailer weighing 10,700lbs would have an average tongue weight over 1300lbs! That would exceed the receiver rating and nearly max out many 1/2 ton trucks on payload without anything else in the truck.

Um, you've never heard of a weight distributing hitch? Transfers weight to the truck's front axle and trailer axles by "bridging" the hitch. Hell, I remember the old Chevy Citation ads that showed it towing a nice flat bottom ski boat, with NO REAR WHEELS, because it's front wheel drive and they used a weight transfer hitch.

Lyle
laknox
Nomad
Jul 01, 2019
2012Coleman wrote:
Weights listed in the brochure or on a web site are grossly inaccurate. Dry weight is usually nothing loaded, including battery and propane tanks. Since your calculating capacities, most people will say to take the gross weight of a TT and multiply it by 13% to calculate tongue weight. This gives you some wiggle room because your most likely not going to load it to it's full capacity. So if you took a TT with a 6000 lb gross weight * 13%, it gives you 780 tongue weight. Subtract that from your TV's payload - you mentioned 1772, and you have 992 lbs left over for everything else.

I was under the impression that you already bought the truck.

Some mfrs, Jayco in particular (because I was shopping them), has a yellow sticker on all their rigs, that shows the net CCC for =that= specific rig as it left the factory. That includes one 12v battery and 2 =full= 30 lb propane bottles. It also shows the fresh water tank size and weight, when full. I need to re-check the sticker on my KZ 'cause, for the life of me, I can't remember.

Lyle
troubledwaters
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2019
Was going to comment but changed my mind.
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2019
Don't forget, you can pull the Space Shuttle with a 1/2 ton, and I'm sure that's a lot more than 19K.
buc1980
Explorer
Jul 01, 2019
I see a guy pull a 36 ft.FW Montana with a Ford 150.He say it pull very good the truck don't even feel it.