Towing a 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton truck

dae06 wrote:

Flapper wrote:
I'm another one doing the same thing. The truck HAS to be equipped with the Max Payload package, which is different than Max Towing.
My 2012 is right at the payload number, with a very equivelent fifth. We've got over 8K on the fifth now, to all three coasts, and over some very serious mountains. Performance is fantastic. But it is always about how much the truck can carry, not about what it can pull. The newer body trucks will give a couple hundred pounds more capacity. So as long as the OP shops very carefully for the truck, and everything that it will be carrying, he can rest assured that he will be safe. But no other 1/2 ton other the F-150 with Max Payload can do it.
Add to it the huge pluses as a daily driver, and no-brainer boat towing, and the OP would have a winner - as long as he finds one with the payload package.

It really is hard finding a used truck with the max payload package. The truck that is on the lot her has:

Payload: 1,560
Towing: 8,000
GVWR: 7,350

Not the right setup.

It's hard finding a new one too. In fact as I understand it Ford didn't even make any HD payload trucks in 2015 with the frame shortage issues they had.

The other thing is if you do find one or order one, you can likely just buy an equivalent heavy duty truck for the same or less. Opinions vary but that seems to make better sense to me.

Flapper:

I see you have the same truck I am looking for. 90% of the crewcabs on lots around here are short box trucks. Is it at all possible to tow a 5th wheel with that short of box; without have to buy a sliding hitch?

Flapper wrote:
I'm another one doing the same thing. The truck HAS to be equipped with the Max Payload package, which is different than Max Towing.
My 2012 is right at the payload number, with a very equivelent fifth. We've got over 8K on the fifth now, to all three coasts, and over some very serious mountains. Performance is fantastic. But it is always about how much the truck can carry, not about what it can pull. The newer body trucks will give a couple hundred pounds more capacity. So as long as the OP shops very carefully for the truck, and everything that it will be carrying, he can rest assured that he will be safe. But no other 1/2 ton other the F-150 with Max Payload can do it.
Add to it the huge pluses as a daily driver, and no-brainer boat towing, and the OP would have a winner - as long as he finds one with the payload package.

It really is hard finding a used truck with the max payload package. The truck that is on the lot her has:

Payload: 1,560
Towing: 8,000
GVWR: 7,350

Not the right setup.

John&Joey wrote:

I will pull the 5th wheel 8 miles maybe 4 times a year. Possibly a 60 mile trip once a year.

I would think for that short of a distance you could hook it up to your kids bike. Lot's on this forum seem to go way overboard on everything 5'th wheel.

Remember the bigger the truck the harsher the daily ride. You might want to talk to the salesmen and have him spec it out for you instead of the "experts" on the big boy truck, trailer never moves forum.

LOL - X2!

I'm another one doing the same thing. The truck HAS to be equipped with the Max Payload package, which is different than Max Towing.
My 2012 is right at the payload number, with a very equivelent fifth. We've got over 8K on the fifth now, to all three coasts, and over some very serious mountains. Performance is fantastic. But it is always about how much the truck can carry, not about what it can pull. The newer body trucks will give a couple hundred pounds more capacity. So as long as the OP shops very carefully for the truck, and everything that it will be carrying, he can rest assured that he will be safe. But no other 1/2 ton other the F-150 with Max Payload can do it.
Add to it the huge pluses as a daily driver, and no-brainer boat towing, and the OP would have a winner - as long as he finds one with the payload package.

I will pull the 5th wheel 8 miles maybe 4 times a year. Possibly a 60 mile trip once a year.

I would think for that short of a distance you could hook it up to your kids bike. Lot's on this forum seem to go way overboard on everything 5'th wheel.

Remember the bigger the truck the harsher the daily ride. You might want to talk to the salesmen and have him spec it out for you instead of the "experts" on the big boy truck, trailer never moves forum.

The weight police are running rampant on this post!

Dry 6,740#
GVWR 10,000#
CCC 3,260#
Dry Hitch 1,460# 21 percent
Assuming 1,000# of stuff

Now the loaded 5er
Wet weight 7,740#
Wet Hitch 1,625# 21 percent

Far, Far, Far better than towing a long TT, with even a 900# hitch weight in MHO!!!

The OP will be far better off tow that 5er even if over GVWR by a few pounds, that to be at max with a TT. Just make sure you have a good set of LT tires rated for the load.

Skismuggs, speak up here, did you ever feel a semi passing you?? Did they ever push you around?

OP, just be sure to get at least a Max tow, so you have six lugs.

Yes, I still worry about the semi floating rear axle, but at least the six lug would have bigger bearings.

spud1957 wrote:

mountainsam wrote:
I wonder if your insurance company has a policy on this. Might be interesting to see what they say as you will hear plenty from them if you over load and have an accident.

:S

X2 :S:S

dae06 wrote:

Gearitis wrote:
To the OP, so you are saying only about 125 miles annually that you will pull the 5er? I would go with the half ton Ford and not worry about it as long as you pull nothing larger. Drive no faster than needed. Keep your load down in the trailer. I am not saying its the smartest thing, but a doable situation. Here is the towing guide for 2015 F-150: Clicky

How would stopping be different? I'm talking Travel trailer vs. 5th wheel. Trailer weight is trailer weight, correct? (I didn't see rhagfo's comment when I wrote this).


Here are the specs on my 5th wheel:
Dry hitch weight-1,480 lbs.
UVW-6,740
GVWR- 10,000 lbs., (which I don't believe I'm ever close to that weight).
Plus I would most likely add Timbren's to the truck as well.

Only way to know for sure is to load up as if for camping and have a buddy tow it to a CAT scale. Personally, I'd top off the fresh tank, even if you never =usually= tow that way, just to see. Were you =really= anal, you could fill both the grey and black tanks, =then= see what your numbers are. Chances are, you might, some day, have to tow that way when the closest dump station is closed. I know I've had to a couple times.

Lyle

mountainsam wrote:
I wonder if your insurance company has a policy on this. Might be interesting to see what they say as you will hear plenty from them if you over load and have an accident.

Covered by gross negligence clause. Might still be a problem depending on the respective states' torte laws.