5th Wheels and F150's

[Palinduff]

I have a 2011 ecoboost with the 7700 GVWR with payload of 1825lbs and a rear axle rating of 4050lbs. Max tow package with 3:73 ratio. I'm looking at a 2015 Puma 253 FBS 5th wheel that is 27 feet long and has a dry pin weight of 1026 lbs. The dry weight is about 6950lbs and the GVWR is around 11,000lbs (which I'm sure I will never get to). My truck with a full tank of gas and myself and my dad (sitting in for my wife) weighed 6415lbs in total and the front axle weighed 3638lbs and the rear axle weighed 2778 lbs. That leaves me 1285lbs for the hitch and trailer. I did replace the P tires with E load tires. Any thoughts or advice, I'm a little nervous about being over weight. I looked at a 8200 model today, but that's another 22K, and I don't really want a 3/4 ton. We really like this 5th wheel, but are still looking at TT's.

[AndyW]

I have an F150 Ecoboost, heavy duty payload package, and max tow package. Tow rating of 11,300 lbs. I looked extensively at goose neck trailers (horse trailers, not campers, but still) and just couldn't make the numbers work. You end up WAY overloading the rear axle before even coming close to the towing capacity.

TT with proper WD hitch would be the best option for towing with an F150. You'll be able to get a bigger trailer while staying within all applicable weight ratings.

[2112]

At this point you might as well buy the lightest manual sliding hitch that will do the job such as a Curt and see how well your F150 handles it while you wait for your new truck.

I see you have 84 gals of gray tank. Looking at the floor layout I'm sure your tanks are forward of the axles. This is the killer for me. I'm WAY over my limits when the tanks are full. Either use full hookups or take it easy between the campsite and dump station.

Pack light and you may be surprised how well your truck handles this camper. You might want to add Timbrens to counter some of the sag.

[DSDP_Don]

"Palinduff".....If you stay within the weight limits, you would technically be fine. If your t you intend trips were typically under 200 miles, no big grades and only every couple of months, you would be fine. If you intend to put any miles on this truck, you'll wear it out in short order. The first to go will be the rear end and then trans.

[CWSWine]

Just a seat of the pants review but my Chevy 2500 rides a lot better full or empty then a friends of mine Ford 150 heavy duty. The Ford would probably beat my Chevy down the quarter mile track but my diesel will out pull it.

[wintersun]

The 3/4 ton and 1-ton truck frames have special reinforcement for handling the stress of a kingpin and towing a 5th wheel trailer. A 1/2 ton truck's frame is not likely to have this reinforcement and the kingpin mount needs to be 100% supported by the truck's frame and not the bed of the truck. Check the frames of the Ford, Ram, and GM 2500/3500 trucks and you will see that they are engineered to support the loads from a king pin. Check and see what your options are for mounting a kingpin to a 1/2 ton truck and whether it is going to be adequate.

The GVWR for the truck should be at least 10% greater than the combined weight of the truck and the tongue weight of the trailer. Towing capacity is not the issue so much as having enough truck weight to handle the tow load.

Some of the newer 1500 trucks are rated for towing over 17,000 lbs. so presumably their frames have been strengthened for mounting a pin for a 5th wheel trailer. I would want to verify this beforehand.

With a 5th wheel trailer in tow you lose the bed of the pickup for other uses. I would rather have a conventional travel trailer and have the bed available and be able to mount a roof rack on the truck for bicycles and boats and other gear. 5th wheel trailers are better suited for a sedentary lifestyle.

[spud1957]

Palinduff wrote:
Thanks for all the advice. We have purchased the 5th Wheel and will now be shopping for a new tow vehicle. I am waiting for the new F150's. I should be able to get one with a maximum payload of 2800 to 3000 lbs, which is equivalent to some 3/4 tons. They also have 7 bolt axles, a bigger gear set and LT tires. Or a 3/4 ton, but I really don't want a diesel.

Don't pay too much attention to the marketing verbiage regarding the 2800 - 3800lb payloads. Those numbers are for a non optioned XL truck. If you but an XLT or better, your payload could be reduced by 3-500lbs at least. Every option's pound of weight is deducted off your payload number. The options on my truck reduced the brochure payload by 500lbs.

I wouldn't hold out for a 2015 150, lots of 3/4 tons out there in the same price range. Actually some pretty good deals can be had for 2014s.

[wa8yxm]

Though I assume they make some small 5th wheels.

An F-150 towing a 5er is kind of like... SCARY

250 or 350 at least.

[APT]

The 2015 HD paylaod F-150 will have 6-lug, 7700 GVWR I believe. Still, a crew cab should have over 2000 pounds of payload and extended cab more like 2500 pounds. That seems like a good fit for your new RV.

[Allworth]

Go ahead and get a 2500/F-250. Diesel is better, but lots of gassers are available. Don't cheap out on engine size. Like many have said: Do it right the first time.

[Palinduff]

Thanks for all the advice. We have purchased the 5th Wheel and will now be shopping for a new tow vehicle. I am waiting for the new F150's. I should be able to get one with a maximum payload of 2800 to 3000 lbs, which is equivalent to some 3/4 tons. They also have 7 bolt axles, a bigger gear set and LT tires. Or a 3/4 ton, but I really don't want a diesel.

[Redsky]

It would be worthwhile to consider a TT instead of a 5th wheel. You can easily stay with the 1/2 ton pickup and you retain full use of the bed.

I see many people with travel trailers in tow who are free to carry ATV's snowmobiles, motorcycles, kayaks, canoes, etc. using the pickup. With a 5th wheel trailer they would have to leave these toys at home.

In the past it was easier to hitch up a 5th wheel but with a rear view camera I can backup my truck so the receiver ball is within 4 inches of the trailer tongue with no outside assistance. My truck has the factory camera that is incorporated in the handle for the tailgate and this location is perfect for looking back and down at the hitch location.

[Scott_s]

I pull a 5er with a Toyota Tundra all the time. With a goose neck ball. Trailer is 7500# dry. The truck pulls & stops fine. Heck I've gone through the CO mountains with no issues at all. Love my set up. Best advise is stay with a trailer that your truck is able to handle. I don't think I would go any bigger than what you are looking at. Remember that if you go over your trucks ratings that you could damage your truck. The Eco boost is prob not a cheap truck mess up by overloading it.

[time2roll]

CWSWine wrote:
I was sold a Cougar 29SGS as 1/2 ton towable but when I loaded up for a weeks trip and put on the scales the pin weight was just over 2000 lbs with all waste and water tanks empty. The spec says the dry pin weight is 1675.

This why my link above listed trailers with 630 dry pin weight. Sure it will grow a bit maybe even double. But starting at 1675 you need the F150-HD with ~3000 payload rating.

[Bobbo]

CWSWine wrote:
I was sold a Cougar 29SGS as 1/2 ton towable but when I loaded up for a weeks trip and put on the scales the pin weight was just over 2000 lbs with all waste and water tanks empty. The spec says the dry pin weight is 1675.

The crucial term here is "DRY" pin weight. That tells you that it weighs a lot more because it doesn't include the options put on by the manufacturer, add-ons by the dealer, or anything at all that you put in the trailer. Whenever you have a DRY pin weight, you need to figure it will weigh at least 40% more when ready to camp.

[CWSWine]

I was sold a Cougar 29SGS as 1/2 ton towable but when I loaded up for a weeks trip and put on the scales the pin weight was just over 2000 lbs with all waste and water tanks empty. The spec says the dry pin weight is 1675.