cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

[SOLVED] Work truck with service bed to tow a fifth wheel?

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
Never towed fifth before, on the lookout for a tow vehicle, I see these kinds all day long for a lower price. But can they be adapted fairly easily for a fifth? This is assuming the tow rating is sufficient. What else do you need to know to answer my question? Please go gently, am a fifth newbie ๐Ÿ™‚

Pictures as an example of the bed only. I would get a crew or extended cab.



2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!
16 REPLIES 16

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
And OP, any of those municipal specials, if theyโ€™re gassers, aside from being generally kinda beat up, wonโ€™t tow worth a ____.
We have a few of those clunkers in the fleet and a 10 year old Chevy gasser 2500 tows better. Theyโ€™re gutless!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
BurbMan wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Those service bodies are nowhere near as resistant to rust as a conventional body. They're usually rotten inside, hinges seized.


Since the OP is in Florida, I don't think he'll see the same rust issues on used trucks that you see in upstate NY where they salt the roads in the summer too....

By "solved" I think the OP is agreeing with the multiple suggestions to simply replace the service body with a flat bed and sell the service body.


Spent much time by the coast? Rust is like the Midwest light. Sure interior vehicles just get sun baked. Coastal vehicles down south are about the worst combo of sun/heat and salt damage all wrapped up in one neat package.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

ksss
Explorer
Explorer
Highway Products makes some killer aluminum flat beds with multiple storage options. They will build you exactly what you want. The price is a bit brutal, but they are very nice.
2020 Chevy 3500 CC 4X4 DRW D/A
2013 Fuzion 342
2011 RZR Desert Tan
2012 Sea Doo GTX 155
2018 Chevy 3500HD CC LB SRW 4X4 D/A
2015 Chevy Camaro ZL1

bucky
Explorer II
Explorer II
Don't kid yourself, salt air near the ocean eats metal like Pac-Man. Service bodies are especially susceptible to rust but as the OP would toss it that's out of play.
.
Puma 30RKSS

sayoung
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Sell the utility bed and throw on a flat bed setup to tow a 5er.

Exactly the thing todo. Service beds simply too tall .
I've spent many an hour driving a truck with a service bed.

Question here. Would a gooseneck adapter by Andersen hitches work for a service body set up? 

You are responding to a thread that's 3 years old and the original question was solved for the OP. I think you would have better luck getting responses if you posted your question in a new thread.


Jeff - 2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS

hornet28
Explorer
Explorer
dodge guy wrote:
I would by one, remove the body and find a place that can install a factory take off bed, plenty of clean beds out there.


As long as the wheel base is the same that's a good plan. But a good idea to check that before buying

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
I would by one, remove the body and find a place that can install a factory take off bed, plenty of clean beds out there.
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!

BurbMan
Explorer II
Explorer II
mkirsch wrote:
Those service bodies are nowhere near as resistant to rust as a conventional body. They're usually rotten inside, hinges seized.


Since the OP is in Florida, I don't think he'll see the same rust issues on used trucks that you see in upstate NY where they salt the roads in the summer too....

By "solved" I think the OP is agreeing with the multiple suggestions to simply replace the service body with a flat bed and sell the service body.

mkirsch
Nomad II
Nomad II
Solved? What's your "solution?"

There is a reason old service trucks are less expensive. It's not because of the service body. Those are in demand. People get in fist fights over a good used service body for sale.

The reason is they are rode hard, put away wet, abused, beaten. When they go up for sale, all the useful life has been squeezed from them. Those service bodies are nowhere near as resistant to rust as a conventional body. They're usually rotten inside, hinges seized.

A good service truck that is going to be the reliable tow vehicle that you need will end up costing as much or more than a conventional pickup.

Even without the technical issues of dealing with clearance over the service body, I would not recommend an old service truck as a tow vehicle unless you find that once-in-a-lifetime deal on a fairly new one, but you're going to have the same odds finding the same deal on a conventional pickup.

Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.

SlowBro
Explorer III
Explorer III
mtofell1 wrote:
Yeah, get rid of the boxes and go flatbed and you would be pretty well setup. Regular cab can be a comfort "challenge" though. No room to slide your set back and no storage behind you. It will get the job done but it will feel like you're driving a Uhaul truck.... everyday.


Yeah, chose the pictures as an example of the bed only. I would get a crew or extended cab. Okay thanks everyone, I've marked this one as solved.
2010 Coachmen Mirada 34BH, class A, 34.75' long, GVWR 22,000 lbs.
2005 Fleetwood Resort TNT 25QB, hybrid, 27.5' long, GVWR 6,600 lbs.
God bless!

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
AS suggested Above^^^^

And it being a Dually should not have issue with 5th wheel WET pin weight
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

mtofell1
Explorer
Explorer
Yeah, get rid of the boxes and go flatbed and you would be pretty well setup. Regular cab can be a comfort "challenge" though. No room to slide your set back and no storage behind you. It will get the job done but it will feel like you're driving a Uhaul truck.... everyday.