Help making a decision on truck purchase.

[Camaurice]

I am thinking of buying a new truck to pull our winnebago micro Minnie 5th wheel. We currently have a 2006 gmc 2500 . I’d like to go with a smaller truck for gas mileage and was thinking of a Toyota Tundra or GMC 1500 4x4. While the trailer is fairly light and we’ve been told a 1500 can pull this trailer, I’d like to hear other opinions. Is there anyone who has any experience towing smaller 5th wheels with these trucks? . Gross Vehicle Weight is 7000 on the trailer.

[mkirsch]

The "Micro Minnie 5th wheel" models listed on the Winnebago website claim to have an 1100lb dry pin weight.

You can save some weight in the truck by using an Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel or another similar hitch instead of a true 5th wheel.

Even so once you get the trailer loaded you're going to be pushing the payload on most 1500-series trucks. You'll probably want airbags.

I have no doubt that most 1/2 tons will do it, but the question is will you be happy. I know a couple of guys who had small 5th wheels towed by 1/2 tons. They eventually upgraded to 3/4 tons or downgraded to bumper pull travel trailers.

[cptqueeg]

Keep your truck for towing, etc and get a Toyota Corolla Hybrid to conserve fuel. Buying a new big$$$, less capable, truck to conserve fuel is pointless, you'll conserve money by not buying it.

[wowens79]

Just for piece of mind, I would not want to be pushing the max capabilities of my tow vehicle. My previous truck was about at about 90% of max towing the trailer, and it did it, I thought fine. Now with a new truck with plenty of capacity it is such a better towing experience.
A 3/4 ton gasser will tow that effortlessly, and the upfront cost is similar to a 1/2 ton. My Ford with the 7.3 gasser gets about 15-16mpg on the highway, and I have 4.30 gearing, if you get the 3.55 you'll get and additional mpg.
If you drive 15000 miles a year unloaded and get 3mpg better with the 1/2 ton, that will be about $500 a year in fuel savings, or less than $10 a week.
For $10 a week, I'd get the truck that you know will do the job easily, and safely.

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

We’ve been towing our loaded 7200 pound 28 foot fifth wheel with our 2001 Toyota Tundra for more than 20+years without incident. The 5.7L Tundra has even more capacity for towing. The original Tundra was advertised as a truck that was 7/8 of a full size half-ton which is what I loved. All the capabilities of a half-ton and easier to park in tight spots. My payload is 1924 lbs which was more than many of the other half-tons of that era. The 4.7L is super reliable but as others have mentioned, very thirsty for fuel. I average 7-8 mpg while towing. Even when not towing I get around 13/16 mpg. I like the naturally aspirated engine of my Tundra for its reliable longevity but if fuel economy is a primary concern go with the 3.5 Ecoboost from Ford.

[JIMNLIN]

Camaurice wrote:
I am thinking of buying a new truck to pull our winnebago micro Minnie 5th wheel. We currently have a 2006 gmc 2500 . I’d like to go with a smaller truck for gas mileage and was thinking of a Toyota Tundra or GMC 1500 4x4. While the trailer is fairly light and we’ve been told a 1500 can pull this trailer, I’d like to hear other opinions. Is there anyone who has any experience towing smaller 5th wheels with these trucks? . Gross Vehicle Weight is 7000 on the trailer.

JMO...best non towing mpg will go the Fords F150 3.5 EB engine.
Plus the F150 has several higher gvwr/rawr packages than any other 1/2 ton truck out here.
However a engine in a 1/2 ton will get similar mpgs as a 3/4 ton gas truck engines when towing a trailer.

[valhalla360]

Camaurice wrote:
I am thinking of buying a new truck to pull our winnebago micro Minnie 5th wheel. We currently have a 2006 gmc 2500 . I’d like to go with a smaller truck for gas mileage and was thinking of a Toyota Tundra or GMC 1500 4x4. While the trailer is fairly light and we’ve been told a 1500 can pull this trailer, I’d like to hear other opinions. Is there anyone who has any experience towing smaller 5th wheels with these trucks? . Gross Vehicle Weight is 7000 on the trailer.

Go down to your local CAT scale and get two measurements:
- Fully loaded and hooked up as if you are heading out for a trip. (usually about $12-15)
- Park the trailer then weigh the truck (if you do it at the same time, the 2nd weigh is only $2.50-3.00)

Now, you can calculate the total trailer weight and the pin weight with real numbers not guesses.

That said: You are likely around 1400-1800lb for the pin weight (5ers typically have 20-25% pin weight). Pin weight counts against payload and axle ratings on the truck.

1/2ton truck payloads vary greatly. Some are as little at 950lb and others can get up around 2500 (extremely rare to find one of these). Most are around 1500lb payload. You also have to count passengers, gear, hitch and bolt on after market parts when calculating payload you are putting on the truck.

Reality is you will almost certainly be over weight with a 1/2 ton truck even with a realatively small 5er.

3/4 ton truck payloads start around 2200lb and can get up well above 3000lb depending on the configuration. Much better suited to a small 5er. (larger 5ers can quickly exceed 3/4 ton truck ratings).

Will the truck immediately implode if you exceed the ratings...no.
Will it be uncomfortable to drive and potentially dangerous...quite possibly.

[NamMedevac_70]

I would stay with GMC. Although I love Ford suspensions, I own 3 Dodge ram trucks and former 2500 V10 and also former Ford Van owner. According to these recent business news articles Ford has admitted serious quality problems.

24/7 Wall St.
24/7 Wall St.
View Profile
Ford’s Massive Mistake, Another Blow
Story by Douglas A. McIntyre • Sunday

"The Ford Motor Company may be America's least lucky public corporation or its most poorly run. After component problems with its new F-150 Lightning, battered earnings, and trouble pricing its vehicles, it has recalled several of its vehicles, including its flagship gas-powered F-150 pickup. The total recall adds up to 1.5 million vehicles.
Ford’s recalls involve two problems. One is that windshield wipers can break. The other is that some brakes can leak fluid. The brake problem involves 1.2 million of its 2013 through 2018 Ford Fusions and Lincoln MKZs. The other recall involves 222,000 F-150 2021 vehicles."

"Both of these recalls are a reminder of Ford’s sloppy work. Ford recently said it would take at least two years to improve its quality to industry standards. It is hard to believe that a global manufacturer with a century of car experience could take so long to remedy its problems.

Ford does less right than any of its competitors. In the third quarter of last year, it missed its earnings by $1 billion, mostly because it got its component cost estimates wrong. Ford’s fourth-quarter numbers were another earnings disappointment.

Ford has had trouble launching its F-150 Lightning which Executive Chairman Bill Ford said was the company’s most important launch in a century. There were faults with the EV’s batteries."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ford-s-massive-mistake-another-blow/ar-AA18OOQT?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=0e43bceee26a413b8655a545b53c8ba0&ei=8

CNBC
CNBC
View Profile
Ford is about to break out big EV losses for the first time
Story by Michael Wayland • Yesterday 8:00 AM

Wall Street Journal March 24, 2023 Front Page top story

"Ford Says
EV Unit
Will Lose
$3 Billion
This Year
Company rolls out new
projections as finance
chief describes the
division as a startup"

As stated, Ford admits they have serious quality control issues.

[MFL]

Some FWs with a GVWR of 10K are still advertised as 1/2 ton towable. This is a bit of a stretch, but the OPs FW has a 7K GVWR. Many (not all) 1/2 tons could carry the pin of his trailer.

Toyotas are not known for getting good gas mileage. Most gasser trucks will get similar mileage towing 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton.

If you want good mileage, not towing, the Ford turbos are good, and offer heaps of power, when towing. The RAWR varies, so keep that in mind for FW towing.

Jerry

[Boomerweps]

It all up to the cargo capacity of the 1/2 ton truck. I know Ford has the the Heavy Duty Payload Package (HDPP) available on the lower trim models that increases payload significantly. If GM has a similar option, that could handle a smaller 5er.
I’ve not seen a successful 5er with a Toyota and saw pics and read stories about unsuccessful ones led on by salesmen.

[Thermoguy]

What is your tongue weight? What is the payload available on the truck you are looking at? Is that 7000 lbs loaded or dry weight? My 5th wheel is 8500 lbs on the tires, but almost 11K when you consider pin weight.

It mostly about those 2 numbers, but you also need to consider the stability of the setup with a 1/2 ton truck. Also, is a 1/2 ton truck really smaller than a 3/4 ton as far as the width, length? I don't know if I have ever seen a toyota towing a 5th wheel. Is a Tundra a true 1/2 ton?