Fifth wheel...yes or no?

[Kwhite]

I now tow a Flagstaff Super Lite 5th wheel. 27’ long. Like they say you forget you are even towing. TV is a 2015 F150 exd cab 5.0. Before that a 30’ V Lite which was very unpredictable towing

[moose074]

Originally Posted by gos5

Sorry, I’m late to the discussion. I’ve been towing 5’rs for over 20 years and will never go back to a tag along mainly from a safety and comfort point of view. I dove right in and bought a diesel dually before I even got my first 5th wheel knowing that I would be upgrading to larger and heavier trailers over the years. I still have the same 2005 dually and on my fourth 5th wheel. My point is always get more truck than you think you need, because you will want to upgrade trailers as time goes on.
Can your F-150 tow a 5th wheel? Sure, but your options are limited to GCVW. If in the budget, upgrade to at least a 3/4 ton truck.
Another thing to consider is to go to any campground and look to see how many half tons are pulling 5th wheels. I’ve seen maybe 2 in over 30 years of camping.

While rare I seen dozen or so this year alone. Most are fords with Tundra close second.

[findthehumorinthings]

If you want to keep your current truck, put new brakes on it and 10-ply E-rated tires(avoid the Firestone’s).

Go to your rv dealer or whoever you buy the camper from privately. Ask them if you can tow to a truck stop with cat scales. Make sure you have a full fuel tank and stuff in your truck to simulate your typical ‘out the door on a camping trip’ weight.

Weigh the combined rig. The cat sheet will also likely show you weight per axle.

Compare the sheet to your truck gross vehicle weight, payload, and combined gross vehicle weight. Remember that payload includes people, fuel, firewood, luggage, etc.

If the numbers come back within the truck manufacturer specs, you’re good. If not, you need either a smaller camper or bigger truck. Rinse and repeat.

[Leigh331]

I am an older female that has hauled all my life. Your “white knuckle” experience is likely because you don’t have enough truck. Just swapped from a 2500 Chevy diesel to a 3500 Chevy diesel to pull my TT that is big/heavy. The difference is HUGE. No more seat-pinching onnthe interstate.

[frank4711]

Originally Posted by moose074

While rare I seen dozen or so this year alone. Most are fords with Tundra close second.

Not sure what the GCWR is on those trucks ... my Ram 2019 1500 is 17,000 so that is not my problem as everyone will tell your payload runs out first ... that is why I am selling my brand new Rockwood and just ordered a smaller shorter lighter 2020 Rockwood 5ver ... best of Luck Frank

[itat]

Frank, if you’re selling your 5er because it’s too heavy on your RAM, have you considered going to a TT? A TT will put a lot less weight on the truck and with the right WDH you won’t have much, if any, sway issues. You’d be able to get a better floor plan in a TT than in a small 5er.

[frank4711]

Originally Posted by itat

Frank, if you’re selling your 5er because it’s too heavy on your RAM, have you considered going to a TT? A TT will put a lot less weight on the truck and with the right WDH you won’t have much, if any, sway issues. You’d be able to get a better floor plan in a TT than in a small 5er.

You are right the floor plans are nice and big savings on hitch weight ... I just like the 5th wheel for easy towing I did bumper pull 25 years in business .... The Ram does a great job with the current 5ver but I am over payload and it is not built for the mountains, not that we will be there often mostly here on the flatlands of Florida... the 2019 Ram is built-longer wheel base- bigger brakes -max tow is 11,610- GCWR 17,000 and payload 1900 (mine is 1870) .... We have only been out 3 times and already learned a lot ... we packed way to much first trip so with our new packing leaving stuff at home we do not need we will save 200-300 lbs on towing and some on payload(stuff in bed of truck left at home) so with that savings and the new camper net gain should be payload savings of 150-200 lbs and towing savings of 1000 lbs and the new camper is 4 feet shorter .... still won't make the Ram ready for the mountains but in 2 1/2 years when we both retire I will buy a 2500/3500 and head west ... and lastly the DW wanted more counter space

[itat]

Well, the 5er is definitely a lot easier to hookup, especially if you have the Autolevel system. But I had my TT setup so well that I really haven’t felt any improvement pulling our new 5er.

[frank4711]

Originally Posted by itat

Well, the 5er is definitely a lot easier to hookup, especially if you have the Autolevel system. But I had my TT setup so well that I really haven’t felt any improvement pulling our new 5er.

Yes we do have the 4 point auto if is great .... got it on the 2020...