1/2 ton towable

[phdaigle]

Hello,
We are considering ordering our new camper this week. The camper we are looking at is the Extralite Fifthwheel 312BHX.
Does anyone pull this camper with a 1/2 ton truck? Our truck is a 2010 Dodge Ram with the Hemi engine and 392 rear end gear ratio. They say we can pull 10,300. We were just wondering if anyone has pulled this camper with a 1/2 ton and how it handles. This will be our first fifthwheel, we now have a 31 foot TT. Also, we have been told that pulling a fifthwheel is much easier than a TT.

Thank you,
Pam

[Dave_Monica]

The limit on any tow vehicle isn't the towing capacity, it's the payload capacity. You'll reach the payload limit before any other limit on the truck. This camper with a 1560 lb dry pinweight will be over your payload limit (GVWR) and probably over your RAWR before you ever put a pound of personal items and gear in it.

The way to know for sure is to weight your truck ready to camp, full fuel, passengers etc. and deduct that weight from your truck's GVWR...don't forget 200 lbs for a sliding hitch. You'll find that the difference, payload limit, is less than 1000 lbs.

Dave

[Dave_Monica]

More info...

I used to pull the camper in our signature for 2 years with a '05 Ram 1500 QC SB RWD Hemi 3.92's. The camper then, had a pinweight of 1240 lbs and total weight of 8300 lbs. That pin weight put the truck over it's GVWR and just under the RAWR. I wouldn't recommend exceeding the truck's RAWR.

I would speculate that the loaded pin weight on that camper to be about 1800 lbs.

If you're hoping the payload or GVWR has changed for Ram from '05 to '10, they haven't.

Dave

[crocus]

I wouldn't even consider it. You would be a danger on the road.

[Steeljag]

gotta agree.......not a good combo!

[dretired]

heres my (1/2 ton) ..Its rated for 9,800lbs conventonal or 5th wheel towing... I added 2 leaf springs ..it has a 5.4 liter engine, with tow /haul mode... We went to florida from Michigan and back this last winter (what winter )??

[phdaigle]

Originally Posted by dretired

Attachment 12061 heres my (1/2 ton) ..Its rated for 9,800lbs conventonal or 5th wheel towing... I added 2 leaf springs ..it has a 5.4 liter engine, with tow /haul mode... We went to florida from Michigan and back this last winter (what winter )??

So how much does your Cougar weigh? The one I'm considering weighs about 8400 lbs.

[ryand]

I have the same truck.....same towing numbers. Dont be fooled.....I know the truck could pull the weight but your payload is the issue. The Payload is somewhere around 1400 lbs. Using a TT as an example at the max tow rating using 12% rule for the touunge weight would leave a little over 200lbs left over for the driver and fuel. Forget wife kids and a single beer.

Most 31ft TT's loaded might even be too much for this truck....dont get me wrong....I love my truck and it pulls our 6K camper just fine......but if i had it to do over again i would have went with the 3/4 ton.

Dont do it!

[donn]

Originally Posted by dretired

Attachment 12061 heres my (1/2 ton) ..Its rated for 9,800lbs conventonal or 5th wheel towing... I added 2 leaf springs ..it has a 5.4 liter engine, with tow /haul mode... We went to florida from Michigan and back this last winter (what winter )??

Come back in a year and tell us how many rear ends you have gone through.

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by dretired

Attachment 12061 heres my (1/2 ton) ..Its rated for 9,800lbs conventonal or 5th wheel towing... I added 2 leaf springs ..it has a 5.4 liter engine, with tow /haul mode... We went to florida from Michigan and back this last winter (what winter )??

I'm curious what your loaded pin weight is on your Cougar too. It's confusing when you post your set-up on this thread as an example on towing with a half ton yet lately, you've been posting about upgrading to a F250 or F150 HD.

Dave

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by ryand

dont get me wrong....I love my truck and it pulls our 6K camper just fine......but if i had it to do over again i would have went with the 3/4 ton.

Dont do it!

Amen to that I'm currently poking around for a Ram 2500 myself as stated by everyone in here I find payload gets eaten up fast in a 1/2 ton. You just about double payload going from a 1/2 to 3/4 ton. I dont leave Long Island it's flat as a board and my furthest trip is about 50 miles and it's still uncomfortable knowing i'm pushing the limits. My Hemi has no issue pulling it but the chassis is simply overwhelmed.

[dretired]

Originally Posted by phdaigle

So how much does your Cougar weigh? The one I'm considering weighs about 8400 lbs.

7,700 lbs...according to the yellow sticker from the factory on the screen door..we pack what we need..and keep it as light as possible

[dretired]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I'm curious what your loaded pin weight is on your Cougar too. It's confusing when you post your set-up on this thread as an example on towing with a half ton yet lately, you've been posting about upgrading to a F250 or F150 HD.
Dave

Dave...you are correct !! the 2010 F150 that i currently have in that pic is at the limit.... with added weight of gear,fuel, hitch, etc.. WE had started with a used puma 26 rlss TT..6,300 lbs...but...I HATED.. hitching and un-hitching the TT ...and the "wagging dogs tail " feel on the rear..plus ..a floating feel on the front wheels while doing 60 mph...The reason for the switch to a F150 HD or Superduty..IF.. we decide to go West..I hear that is a different animal with those climbs..and desents ...hence something beefier for towing..

[dretired]

Originally Posted by donn

Come back in a year and tell us how many rear ends you have gone through.

[Herk7769]

My 2 cents.

From my research on this topic, exceeding the GVWR of the tow vehicle (even though you are under or at its tow rating) is not so much a drive train (engine - trans - rear) issue; but a frame and suspension issue.

Being able to "pull" something is one thing. Being able to carry the required tow vehicle share of the weight is quite another animal.

Adverse handling; inability to panic stop; dynamic sway (once it starts - it gets worse); and flat out damage to the tow vehicle's frame (flex cracks) is the price you pay with the decision to over load your truck.

[Johnv]

I have a 2011 F150 HD 6.2 with 11,300 GVWR and we pull a 33 ft Wildcat. We have pulled from Michigan to New Orleans with no problems. Even the "wash board I 55 presented few problems. With slide, the bed weight is about 1,900 lbs. Trailer weight is about 8,900 lbs dry. No sway, or any other problems. I used to have a F 350 but this truck does the job with comfort, handling and power. Have pulled over 6,600 miles so far.

[schrederman]

I'd look at a comparable TT if you're not planning to swap out your tow vehicle. I just picked up a Surveyor Select and I'm towing with a Ford F-150 with a 5.0 engine and 3.55 axle ratio. The empty unit weighs 5097# and at times I had a 30 mph cross wind. It did well. Our prior unit weighed about that much loaded and I was a little concerned, but after studying all of it carefully, and experiencing the 100-mile tow home, I'm convinced that this is the way to go for 1/2-ton trucks. One thing about the new unit is that it has torsion axles and independent suspension. It works!

Best of luck with your decision.

[dretired]

The "1/2 Ton Towable" statement....meaning 1,000 lbs...is misleading...many so-called 1/2 ton trucks are closer to... or even over... a 1 ton capability now ..just sayin..

[JFM-jr]

For that matter most 3/4 ton trucks have payloads in the 1 1/2 ton range.

[Holiday Road]

I have a 09 sierra 1/2ton with a GVW of 9500lbs, I pull a 2012 zinger 25bh that has a empty WT of 7043lbs. The hitch I use is a supper glide 12k sliding hitch as the box is only 5' in length. I only used it 3 times last year and it pull fine. I pulled into the scale to have it weighed a second time as the first time was wrong. The GVWR was just within limits (i'll have to dig up the number I got from the weigh sheet) but if you could, I would probably buy a 3/4 ton instead of a 1/2 ton. The 5th pulls very well with the hitch I have and there is no sway what so ever.