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

jrp26789 wrote:
An interesting fact is that ram trucks are rated for 500 lbs more payload in Europe. Same truck.

They do not sell RAM's in Europe as such. Rating if imported would be the same as in the US.

Way back in the early to mid '80's I knew an Wyoming State Trooper who pulled a small 5er with a Nissan pu.

So I towed with a 2006 ram 1500 with the 4.7. I added air bags and double towed my cross roads cruiser 5th wheel and my 17' ft alumacraft behind that. It worked. An interesting fact is that ram trucks are rated for 500 lbs more payload in Europe. Same truck. Was it ideal, no. Did I hate it with white knuckle corners and clenched cheeks when the wind blew. Not by a long shot. It did the job and I wasn't stuck driving a 3/4 ton around the other 350 days a year. I now have a 2012 ram 1500 hemi that I tow a 26 ft treasure ship 5th wheel. It tows great. Went out to mount Rushmore and passed many rigs on my way up the 10% grade. Sure I was pulling 5000 rpms but held 60 mph without issue.

BUFFALODAN wrote:
http://www.livinlite.com/fifth-wheels.php

Interesting! I like the idea of no wood. I've often wondered why even the Airstream has a particle board floor.

35,000 miles with 5.3 and 27ft. 5th wheel, now we went to motorhome.

I pulled a 7100 lb Fifth Wheel with a Ford F-150 for a year and then upgraded to a Super Duty 3/4 ton. It was always an unpleasant tow unless I was traveling on flat and very smooth highway.

redwingnc wrote:
It is a regular cab 2 WD shortbed -- got it off the 2011 Dodge Ram Pickup Towing Chart on their website -- thanks.

Yeah, your getting some mis info here and others offer some good advise.
Looking at the '11 Dodge body builders website shows the 1500 Dodge has payloads from around 1200 up to 1800 lbs all depending on the trucks selections.
Also tow ratings are shown for a ST or SLT or a Lone Star or a Bighorn /etc and not a base or stripper model as was claimed.

There are small 5ers out here still on the market. http://www.allencampermfgcoinc.com/Spec-sheets.html.

They have two models at 4500 GVWR and 5800 GVWR.
Check out the models with 7-8k GVWR and 3000 CCC. Their around the 5k dry weight range and will fit your trucks payload rating.
Always look at the trailer mfg dry or shipping weight and GVWR for making a informed decision.

The truck won't have any issue carrying its rated payload but IMO with a high profile 7000+ 5th wheel trailer you may not like the performance with the little 4.7 engine.

A new V-Cross Vibe should be good too (around 5-6K empty). There are a lot of brands that have 5th Wheels GVWR of 10K. You'll need to decide for yourself how comfortable you are with that.

redwingnc wrote:
It is a regular cab 2 WD shortbed -- got it off the 2011 Dodge Ram Pickup Towing Chart on their website -- thanks.

Well it would certainly have the highest payload capacity of any of that yr model 1500s. As long as the towing capacity fits in, I think you will be fine. Just realize the 4.7L is no power monster. I wouldn't even consider it "wiry." If you are not in a hurry though, it still has much more power than the 5.7L and others that used to be recommended back in the 80-s and 90s! Keep that in perspective! I have 370Hp and 800Ft/lbs of torque available at my right foot. Do I need it? Heck no. I had a 91 Dodge CTD that set the towing world on fire when it was introduced in 1989. All with 160 Hp and 400 ft/lb torque. People would consistently pull 25000 lb gooseneck trailers with those trucks.