Survey: Pulling 5th-Wheel with F150 4x4

[clr]

Not sure of your exact tow and carry capacity from your post since there is not sufficient information to determine exact numbers. Would need the year of your truck, cab type regular, super cab, or crew and ratio of axle. Would also need to know the tow options on the truck, but the tire size would get us close. But when I look up specification for your 5th wheel the smallest is the 8524 RLWS model and has the smallest numbers so lets use them 9362 GVWR, 1181 Hitch, UVW 6886, ccc 2476. So unloaded you have 1181 pounds in the truck, plus hitch say 100, plus 20% of the weight of stuff you load into the camper up to max of 2476 so 20% of that equals another 495 pounds equals about 1776 # load on the truck. Not knowing your exact truck options lets go middle of the road with 17 inch tires and some towing options, regular cab 2344 so you would be OK, Super Cab 1530 you are over loaded, Crew cab 1496 you are more overloaded. You need to very carefully crunch your exact numbers you may well be overloaded. That is not to say you will not be able to pull down the road and it is OK, but when overloaded things tend to break. If you have an accident or some thing and you are overloaded in any way you could be in for big problems.

[Harkerr]

Very marginal. 2500 diesel is the best option.

[itat]

I have a '09 F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 with the Max. Tow Package. It seems to have specs close to yours. I considered a 5er but decided against it because I camp with DW and 2 or 3 sons so I have very little payload capacity left for the pin weight of a 5er.

The weakest spec for a 1/2 ton is always the payload number. Ford's fleet specs says mine is only 1480#. If you have the Max. Payload package you'll have the payload capacity near that of a 3/4 ton pickup.

If it was just DW and me, we could travel much lighter and I'd be more willing to consider a 5er. Instead, we opted for our current TT (32' tongue to bumper) with a 12K Equal-i-zer WDH.

For a family of 4 or more like us, IMO you need a 3/4 ton to tow a 5er that's big enough to be comfortable for the family.

[MainelyUS]

Our neighbors at Country Aire in Charlemont Mass had a Keystone Cougar 28' half-ton 5th wheel... TV Ram 1500 5.7 They love it and no complaints with the TV

[OKI Marine]

I think it depends on the 5th wheel. I have heard that there are some 5th wheels made to be pulled by a half ton pickup. My 5th wheel is to big and heavy for a half ton truck. I have a 3500HD dually. No problems.

[Aca651]

We have a 2013 ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi. We tow a 2014 flagstaff ultra lite 8528bhws. I've towed from New York to Maine with no issues pulls fine stop with ease and always seems to have a stable "feel". However I really do miss my bumper pull, as I really hate loosing the bed of my truck.

[hbillsmith]

Keeping the 5er pin weight below the available truck payload is the biggest challenge. It was one of the reasons I went with the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th wheel hitch. At 32 pounds it is significantly lighter and saves on payload capacity.

[B and B]

We put 8,000 km on a 2013 Ecoboost Screw with Max everything. In the end we run loaded and weighed on our 8289 WS at 9500 lbs with full fresh water. The truck has the torque and ability to tow were ever we went The lawyer sticker payload was 1600lbs CCC, due to options and King Ranch trim level this killed capacity. While getting service I spotted a new orphan F250. This truck was never test driven, was the option package we were looking for and a cab and half. The deal was there and they were begging for saleable trucks, dealer cost less another 13k was worth the trade. In Northern Ontario there were some white knuckle time descending hills feeling the trailer push me around. We limited trips due to the F 150 not being up to the mountains and such.
Depending on were you travel, how far and what exactly you are towing a F150 with Ecoboost and LT tires is the answer for short haul use. Don't bother with a V8, been there as well, the engine is less suited for towing IMHO.

[Loraura]

Occupants & Cargo = 1618

This is your killer. Pin weight plus hitch plus people and stuff needs to stay under 1618 which is REALLY hard to do with a 5th wheel. It's honestly pretty hard to do with a TT over 28 feet unless it is super duper light (maybe we can print some 3d plastic cabinets? lol).

I have a Coachmen Freedom Express 292BHDS (dry weight 6104) and I had to do a little weight balancing to get under my payload limit. Bikes and Ice chests need to go inside the trailer, near axles to not impact my payload as much. Also we are two adults and a 30 pound dog. We never travel with more than 2-3 gallons of water in the fresh tank (just enough to flush the toilet and wash hands if needed). If I had a truck full of kids I'd be over the payload. If I had a camper full of "stuff" for that truck load of kids, I'd definitely be over!

If you persue this further be ready to do the math.
Don't listen to the sales guy.
Ignore published dry weight numbers. Look at the yellow sticker on the actual trailer you're looking at, and the max weight of the trailer.
Calculate a REASONABLE amount of weight you will add to the 5er's shipped weight.
Calculate appropriate pin weight for your LOADED 5er weight. I hear 5er owners saying pin weights are 20-25% of the trailer weight sometimes.

For me, I think the restrictions to getting a 5er I could safely tow would be too much. I'd rather get everything I want in the quality level I want in a TT.

The next truck will probably be a 1 ton. Then I will re-consider a 5er!