For Experienced 1/2 Ton 5'ers

[The_Painting_Te]

Thinking of buying a Jayco 26.5RLS with 6,845 lbs UVW and 1,285 lbs pin weight. I'd like to get a properly equipped 1/2 ton to move it up down the east coast because of the ride and the cost. I'm interested in opinions from anyone who actually uses a 1/2 ton for their 5'er. I understand a one ton pulls a lawn mower well; but I will use this vehicle 360 days a year as a 2nd car, thus comfort and cost come into the equation. Thanks for advice from those who use a 1/2 ton. Camp on.

[sele]

Buckeye Chuck wrote:
It never fails to amaze me how easy it is to get a thread hijacked or off topic.

-BC-

x2 lol

[Buckeye_Chuck]

It never fails to amaze me how easy it is to get a thread hijacked or off topic.

-BC-

[goducks10]

Water-Bug wrote:

Jim and Barb wrote:
A 3/4 ton will do the job and more if you upgrade the fiver in the future. I use my 3/4 every day 365. I get 21.5 mpg. daily and 16 mpg. towing 11,000 lbs. dry. My truck is a 06 Dodge long bed with 5.9 Cummins. You should move up you will be very happy you did.

BS !!! 2012 version of the same truck with simular 5er gets 12 mpg towing at 60 mph and a steady 17 mpg empty.

Different motor. You do know the 12 has the 6.7. 2 weeks ago out camping we were on a hike and when we got back to the parking lot, 2 couples were looking at the B&W Patriot I had installed prior to the trip. One of the men asked about my 12 Ram and we got to talking about mpg's. He also had the 5.9 as WaterBug has and got 22mpg on the hwy empty but I don't remember the towing mpg. 5.9's get better than the smog chocked 12's.

[Buckeye_Chuck]

X2 On what Flapper said.

F-150 Heavy-Duty Payload
Package (Option Code 627)
Increases GVWR to 8,200 pounds.
– LT245/75R17E BSW A/T tires (5)
– High-capacity 17" 7-lug steel wheels (XL)
– High-capacity 17" 7-lug aluminum wheels
(XLT/Lariat)
– Heavy-duty shock absorbers
– Upgraded springs, radiator and auxiliary
transmission oil cooler
– 9.75" gear set with 3.73 limited slip axle
Available on XL and XLT Regular Cab and
SuperCab models with 8' box and XL,
XLT and Lariat SuperCrew with 6.5' box.
Requires 5.0L V8 or 3.5L V6 EcoBoost® gas
engine and Trailer Tow Package. Max Trailer
Tow Package also required with 3.5L V6
EcoBoost® engine.

In some configurations the Max. Payload is 3100 lbs. Not bad for a 1/2 Ton. I feel this package is a must if you want to tow a 5er of any size bigger than the smallest. When you go to the dealer be prepared because like Flapper said most salesmen don't know this information.

NOW THAT'S WHAT THEY MEAN WHEN THEY SAY "BUILT FORD TOUGH'

[Water-Bug]

Jim and Barb wrote:
A 3/4 ton will do the job and more if you upgrade the fiver in the future. I use my 3/4 every day 365. I get 21.5 mpg. daily and 16 mpg. towing 11,000 lbs. dry. My truck is a 06 Dodge long bed with 5.9 Cummins. You should move up you will be very happy you did.

BS !!! 2012 version of the same truck with simular 5er gets 12 mpg towing at 60 mph and a steady 17 mpg empty.

[Bruceh36]

I have a 2009 F150 towing a 08 Forrest River wildcat (28ft), I camp within a few hours from home but I have no issues with my 1/2 ton. The only things I've done to the trunk was 10 ply tires and 5k airbags in the rear. as I said no issues.

Bruce

[Buck50HD]

IMO, even with the 8200 GVWR F150HD like ours, if you have more than 3 people (light ones at that), you will be hard pressed to stay within the specs. That's why I really have a hard time believing anyone can follow manufacturer specs with a base 1/2 ton and 90% of even the "1/2 ton towable" 5ths. As far as HD/SD's, I doubt many can stay within the specs on the 3/4 ton diesels with heavier trailers either but, obviously, the rear axle has more margin built in. The axle is meant for those contractors you see with a dually and headlights pointing at the tree tops. I don't even want to know how much load that takes.

If you stay within the specs of any truck, the odds are on your side. The manufacturers have a lot of liability riding on those specs.

If/when I buy a bigger truck, I'm getting a heavier trailer. I won't have any more margin than I have now.

[transamz9]

Jim and Barb wrote:
A 3/4 ton will do the job and more if you upgrade the fiver in the future. I use my 3/4 every day 365. I get 21.5 mpg. daily and 16 mpg. towing 11,000 lbs. dry. My truck is a 06 Dodge long bed with 5.9 Cummins. You should move up you will be very happy you did.

:RNow where's that rolling on the floor laughing smiley.

[Jim_and_Barb]

A 3/4 ton will do the job and more if you upgrade the fiver in the future. I use my 3/4 every day 365. I get 21.5 mpg. daily and 16 mpg. towing 11,000 lbs. dry. My truck is a 06 Dodge long bed with 5.9 Cummins. You should move up you will be very happy you did.

[boubou64]

We tow the Jayco Eagle H 23.5 with the Ram 1500 Hemi 4X4 Quad Cab
The 5th wheel dry weight is 5900 lbs, yellow sticker 6500 and loaded at scales 6800
Turns out pin weight is 1360 and not 1150 as advertised dry.
Having said that.... The truck does great and if we were to do it again, we'd go bigger with same truck, not by much but I wouldn't let a few pounds turn me away from the HT RLS like the one you are looking at.
We added Timbrens instead of airbags and they perform great, no airing up or down to do.
We've been down to Nova Scotia and PEI from Ontario as well as to the Outerbanks of North Carolina in the windy ( at the time) PA hills

[JohnBoyToo]

IMHO dry weight is only a usable number when "guessing" before buying. And even then gvwr is probably a better number to use... Actually should only use scaled weights any other good luck on your decision:-)

[sljkansas]

My F350 CC PSD Dually is my DD, and I put an average of 500 miles a week on it commuting to and from work. 18 MPG with 4.10 rear, better if I keep it under 70 mph.

[jalichty]

Our 26.5 RLS came with the factory sticker saying dry weight was 7,272 and we added a second 12 volt batters so a little over 7,300 pounds. Hitch weight probably will be around 1,400# so a 1/2 ton should be able to handle it very easily. You will need a max tow and max payload, but I think all of the "big three" 1/2 tons should handle it. You might also take a look at the Tundra since it's a pretty substantial 1/2 ton pickup as well. For me, I have never towed with anything other than a 3/4 ton, the last three have been diesels so I can't answer your question with real life experience but can tell you that our GMC 2500HD with the D/A combo, crew cab and short bed tows our 26.5 RLS very nicely along with our Crestliner Super Hawk 1900 behind it. I do believe that GMC will be bringing out a newer 1/2 ton a little later this year with a tow package with a 6.2 in it that should have more than enough power for your needs and it will come with, I believe, an economy package that reduces the cylinders used when the load on the engine reduces to a lighter level.

[JIMNLIN]

New or used truck ??
There are some mid '00s gas trucks out here with the 1/2 ton badging and 3/4 ton specs like 8600 GVWR/6000 RAWR/E tires and wheels/5.7 to 6.0 gas engines/4.10 gears/etc.

Pulled a new 1984 26' 7600 GVWR 5er (6600 actual weight) with a '84 1500 chevy 5.7 3.73 gears 2wd many years ago. Even double towed a boat behind the 5er for a while. Sold the truck with 177k miles.

All 1/2 ton trucks aren't equal in weight carrying capacities or in tow ratings. Do your home work on the numbers.