How many of us towing 5W with 1/2 Ton?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by dretired

which shocks for the trailer ??

Monroe Sensa-Trac 5989

If you look at my profile albums, there are pictures of the installation.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by SCOC

[rant on]
I cringe every time I see the words "short trips", like that all of a sudden makes a tow vehicle capable of pulling and stopping a larger trailer. If this is true, I guess I could tow a 12K lb 5th wheel with a honda civic to my neighbors house, it could do it I'm sure. Sure, only a short trip infrequenctly might put less wear on the TV, but it does nothing to make it safer, or less likely of getting into a traffic situation where hard breaking or swerving may be required.

Most traffic accidents happen close to home, so that makes long trips safer. no I'm not serious.

Anyways, bottom line is if you don't think your rig can tow for a long distance, why can it tow for a short distance anytime you feel like it?
[/rant off]

Agreed: 150 ECOBOOST with HEAVY DUTY PAYLOAD PACKAGE and MAX TOWING PACKAGE is NOT a "1/2" ton, so if you pull a 5th with this truck, start a new thread.

No offense but the thread is about who's towing 5th wheel with half ton ... We've pretty much heard all the why not do it ever time someone mentions the possibility. Now lets hear the real life experience from the ones doing it.

[boubou]

Towing 6800 loaded 5th wheel with 1500 Ram.
Added airlift airbags, michelin LTX AT/2 10 ply tires and easyglide (pullrite) slider hitch.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by SCOC

[rant on]
... but it does nothing to make it safer, or less likely of getting into a traffic situation where hard breaking or swerving may be required...

Please explain the "Unsafe" things. I fail to see how a 3/4t -1-1/2t or larger truck prevents "getting into a traffic situation where hard braking or swerving may be required" better than a 1/2t.

[Mike101]

Pulling 2010 8280ws with a 2008 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi...MegaCab.. Love my set up.
Please lets not start a Mega Cab debate. LOL

[JFM-jr]

In all fairness here a Megacab is not a 1/2 ton chassis

[Mike101]

I know, just having a little fun shaking it up. Smiles all around

[SCOC]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Please explain the "Unsafe" things. I fail to see how a 3/4t -1-1/2t or larger truck prevents "getting into a traffic situation where hard braking or swerving may be required" better than a 1/2t.

Didn't mean to imply you are less likely to get into those situations, and that was exactly my point. With a larger truck you have larger brakes to deal with the situation better. Just my 2 cents, not saying you can't be safe with a 1/2t or you will be safe with a 1t.

I am not saying what is required either, but if someone knows they are overweight I don't like the "short trip" only excuse.

Anyway, I don't have any 5th towing experience, and not here to ruffle any feathers, just adding some food for thought. I'm out....

[Papicamper]

Mr. SCOC: I did not mean to imply that it is safer on short trips...just that I would be wearing out the TV a little less. My situation, as is at least one other reader is that I just bought the 150 and now am confronted with a "new" vehicle (not paid for) and the purchase of a 5th wheel replacing an older TT. I can't handle 2 payments for a couple years. I am however pleased to find out others' remedies, etc. The safety factor always is on the mark. Questions: (1) can somone elaborate on pros and cons of driver operated air bags vs. extra leaf springs, and, (2) define: chucking. I have an idea but have been wrong once or twice in my life. Thanks.

[dretired]

Chucking as i describe it...uneven concrete sections usually ..that have been replaced as "Road repair" ..the rear of your tow vehicle will hop or bounce along.. while going over these terrible roads...that being said... is there any real cure ..to smooth out the ride.. on our rigs ??? I know of one section on I-75 between Monroe ,MI and the Ohio border, that i will try and bypass, until said section, has been torn out and replaced

[dretired]

And..my reason for adding 2 leaf springs vs. airbgs..1/2 the cost ..and airbags have sometimes developed pin holes ..1 good airbag would not be much help if having to tow 1,100 miles back home

[boubou]

Originally Posted by dretired

And..my reason for adding 2 leaf springs vs. airbgs..1/2 the cost ..and airbags have sometimes developed pin holes ..1 good airbag would not be much help if having to tow 1,100 miles back home

Was going to get airbags but decided with timbrens instead. I found this to be a tough decision but I do not like the worries of air leaks and adding air.

[OldCoot]

Went with Airlift airbags and onboard compressor 15 yrs ago while towing a racecar trailer. Put them on a 95 Silverado, then a 2000 Silverado and they are now on a 2005 Silverado. Never had a leak.

[Malco]

I just installed a set of timbrens.Don't now how they work yet as we haven't been out camping since I added them.They don't seem to affect the ride of the unloaded truck any,as it still seems to drive like a luxury car.Gotta love those Rams.Maybe I shouldn't be writing this as I don't have a 5th wheel'but it is a fairly heavy tt with a high tongue weight.

[dretired]

Originally Posted by Malco

I just installed a set of timbrens.Don't now how they work yet as we haven't been out camping since I added them.They don't seem to affect the ride of the unloaded truck any,as it still seems to drive like a luxury car.Gotta love those Rams.Maybe I shouldn't be writing this as I don't have a 5th wheel'but it is a fairly heavy tt with a high tongue weight.

a friend of mine has Timbrens on a 07 F150 supercrew and is towing a 33ft 2 slide Rockwood TT ..he has nothing but praise for the Timbrens..

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by dretired

a friend of mine has Timbrens on a 07 F150 supercrew and is towing a 33ft 2 slide Rockwood TT ..he has nothing but praise for the Timbrens..

I vote for the Timbrens. Keeps the truck level under load and maintenance free. No compressors. Just install and forget. No noticeable difference in ride when not connected to 5er.

[boubou]

Timbrens getting installed on Thursday. How is the ride when fully loaded?
Another question, since I've got the dreaded 20inch tires (worst, changed to the Michelins 275/65R20 for lack of a good 10 ply tire in my size), is there a minimum required clearance between the fender and the tire? before timbrens, I measured a 3 inch sag, I hope timbrens take most of the sag away.
Also measured a quarter of an inch sag on the front.
Last question, I realize that there is no weight distribution with a 5th wheel but there must be "some" weight sent to the front if I have a 1/4 of an inch sag?

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by boubou

Last question, I realize that there is no weight distribution with a 5th wheel but there must be "some" weight sent to the front if I have a 1/4 of an inch sag?

Very little weight is transferred to the front axle as the kin pin centreline is right over the rear axle or 1-2 inches in front of it. Last time I weighed our set-up, the front axle weight increased 20 lbs when hitched.

You can adjust the amount of air gap between the trimbrens and the rear axle using shims provided to adjust the amount of sag when loaded.

Dave

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by boubou

Timbrens getting installed on Thursday. How is the ride when fully loaded?
Another question, since I've got the dreaded 20inch tires (worst, changed to the Michelins 275/65R20 for lack of a good 10 ply tire in my size), is there a minimum required clearance between the fender and the tire? before timbrens, I measured a 3 inch sag, I hope timbrens take most of the sag away.
Also measured a quarter of an inch sag on the front.
Last question, I realize that there is no weight distribution with a 5th wheel but there must be "some" weight sent to the front if I have a 1/4 of an inch sag?

When I added the Timbrens, there was about a 1 1/2" gap between timbrens and axle. When the 5er is hooked up and truck loaded, the truck squats about 1 1/2" inch eliminating that gap. Still plenty of clearance for the tires in the wheel wells. The front axle squats about 1/2 ". I know there is a lot of discussion on this forum about weights and limits, but I don't think that the science is that exact that you have to worry about 1" or a few lbs. here or there. All the numbers and lengths are general guidelines with some latitude to play with. If I read this forum too much before I made a camper or truck purchase, I would have shied away and bought myself a smart car with a roll cage. It is important not to overload, but I think more important to drive with due care and caution and to the given road conditions and allow yourself plenty of room. REMEMBER, DRIVE SAFELY, ARRIVE ALIVE.

[CamperFan]

I tow an '08 Rockwood 8265S 5th wheel with an '06 Silverado Ext. Cab 1500. The truck has the 5.3l V8 with towing pkg and 3.23 axle ratio. When towing I keep the truck in 3rd gear (because of the high speed gear ratio) and use the tow/haul feature. I did install a set of timbrens on the truck and they work flawlessly. My main reason for going with a 1500 truck is that I use my truck as a daily driver much more that I use the truck for towing and I would much rather have a nice sporty 1500 as a daily driver than a 2500.