Considering a Fifth Wheel

[cdhynson]

My wife and I are considering a Flagstaff Classic Super Lite to be pulled by our 1500 Sierra GMC. The tow guide suggest 9300 lbs as a tow limit, so we were considering something in the 7 - 8000 lb range. Besides a hitch and an electrical connection in the bed, what do we need to do to prepare the truck if anything for this type of load? Our previous rig was a 2008 Tundra and a V-Lite which we sold. We have missed our camping times and looking to get back to camping. Any advice is welcomed as we start off on this journey to a new camper.

[Happy Vibe]

This will open a can of worms with one side saying you can't tow a 5th wheel with a half ton and some saying you can and they do. The one big issue you will run into is not enough payload. A 8000lb 5th wheel will have a pin weight around 2000lbs. We also need complete specs on your truck. engine, rear axle ratio, payload etc.

[OldCoot]

Pin weight on my 12 Flagstaff 8528RKWS is 1075#. Tows great with my old broken down Silverado regardless of all the naysayers.

[BamaBob]

Agree with OC NP here either

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Pin weight on my 12 Flagstaff 8528RKWS is 1075#. Tows great with my old broken down Silverado regardless of all the naysayers.

You wouldn't tell us if it didn't tow great or had a failure.[emoji12]



Turbs

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

You wouldn't tell us if it didn't tow great or had a failure.[emoji12]Turbs

You know better than that.

[PhoneDude 8289]

My Tundra does a great job, tires, air bags and good shocks. Good to go

[French]

We do well with the same truck same trailer. LT tires aired up max and super springs remove any squat. Runs down the road at 2400 rpm at 62mph all day on flat interstates. Hills are another story, we just follow the slower semis and avoid reving the snot out of the 5.3 6 speed

[cdhynson]

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

This will open a can of worms with one side saying you can't tow a 5th wheel with a half ton and some saying you can and they do. The one big issue you will run into is not enough payload. A 8000lb 5th wheel will have a pin weight around 2000lbs. We also need complete specs on your truck. engine, rear axle ratio, payload etc.

The truck has a 5.3 liter engine, 3.42 diff, and a GCWR is 15,000

[grayfox]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

You wouldn't tell us if it didn't tow great or had a failure.[emoji12]


Turbs

I'm surprised you would talk about your bosom buddy like that,but on the other hand....

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by grayfox

I'm surprised you would talk about your bosom buddy like that,but on the other hand....

Pot stirrer! Lol [emoji115]

Turbs

[Buddy Duncan]

I have a Sierra 1500, same specs as yours and pull a 7400lb 5th. The tongue weight is about 1300lbs. I haven't had any issues. I did upgrade the tires to 10 ply. I considered putting on air bags but decided to go with the Hellwig Helper springs. They are help when the load is on and do not affect the ride when there is no load. I have traveled with 2 and 4 adults in the truck and I can say I haven't had any issues.

[B and B]

I have a what is called a Half Ton that tows a lot more than say it can. I would say do as you are comfortable but many are towing Fivers with F150, 1500 series trucks.

[asquared]

I live by the numbers if your loaded pin weight will be within payload and under max RAWR then ok but if loaded trailer weights (not dry weights) are over I wouldn't do it. Weigh your truck with a full tank of gas, and all gear, passengers, and pets that will be in it when towing. (Add another 160 lbs to that weight for the weight of the hitch). Take the scaled.weight and subtract it for. The gcwr to get your adjusted towing capacity. Take the scaled weight and subtract it from your gvwr to get your available payload. Take your Rear axle weight and subtract it from your max RAWR. A good rule of thumb for Pin weight is typically 20-25% of loaded 5er weight. Some run less, 20% is about average. Is this pin weight less than your available payload? What about pin weight plus rear axle weight, is that less than max RAWR? Do your own math here and see where you sit on capability for your next trailer rather than reading a multitude of pages of he said she said on 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton trucks.

[grayfox]

Just an FYI. Give it a try.

Tow Vehicle Sizing

[grayfox]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Pot stirrer! Lol [emoji115]

Turbs

Why not... that's my job

[GreenImp]

I think it's a very good idea to do the math suggested by asquared. Personally however, I think it's reasonable to take a more "realistic" approach vs a "by the book" approach to the conclusion.

As an example, say your driving on a road with a 55mph speed limit. If you are going say 58mph (about 5% over), is it illegal? Yes! Is it automatically unsafe? I don't think so myself. Now if your driving 80mph on that same road (almost 50% over), that is a bad decision. Things like vehicle condition, current road conditions, driver experience, etc. all factor in and may or may not change the level of whether or not it's a reasonable decision to speed, and how much to speed. Again, it will never be legal to speed any amount. Apply this thought process to your trailer choice, and do whatever your comfortable with.

The weights you mentioned in your first post are obviously within the overall towing capacity of the truck. As mentioned by others though, if that trailer is properly loaded/balanced you will most likely be over your trucks payload and RAWR (Rear Axle Weight Rating). You can (should) install tires with higher weight ratings (check your trucks wheel weight ratings too), and upgrade your springs or add air bags, but these will do nothing as for making it legal.

Now having said all that, I am going to contradict myself somewhat...I have towed overweight before (payload, RAWR, and tires), but I never really liked it. The truck handled it fine, I just didn't like knowing I was over. I am now towing a "1/2 ton" 5th wheel with a 3/4 ton Diesel and still upgraded my tires to the highest weight rating I could find. I find great comfort in knowing I am now well below all of my trucks capacities.

[cdhynson]

Thank you for all the information. Now to take some time and try to absorb it all and make a decision on a camper

[jaydubya]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Pin weight on my 12 Flagstaff 8528RKWS is 1075#. Tows great with my old broken down Silverado regardless of all the naysayers.

Is that loaded pin weight? Thats 14# less than the dry pin weight listed on FRs site for that model. Has me thinking about a 5er to pull behind my max-tow f150

[WFD]

Originally Posted by cdhynson

Thank you for all the information. Now to take some time and try to absorb it all and make a decision on a camper

Somebody early on told ya this would open up a can of worms!!!