5th Wheel and 5'6" Truck Bed?

[itat]

Just curious if anyone is towing a 5er with a 1/2 ton with a 5'6" box?

Previous owner of my TV (2009 F-150 with Max. Tow pkg. - 11,200#) used it to tow a 5er and left the rails in the bed. There is a small dent from his 5er touching the cab roof.

As my signature says, I'm researching for my next RV. I've only considered TTs because my TV has a 145" WB, 5'6" bed and 7200# GVWR. Is a 5er even an option?

If you do this, do you use a slider hitch or Sidewinder type kingpin?

[asquared]

You have a few weak points here. Payload is going to be your severely limiting factor. Also have to look to see how much weight your rear axle can handle. Remember that the loaded pin weight on a fiver will be 20-25% of the loaded fiver weight.

What does your tire loading sticker inside your drivers door say for payload (it will read cargo and occupants should not exceed x lbs)? Best thing you can do is load it up ready to camp and go weigh it. Put front wheels on scale pad one and rear wheels on scale pad two. Take total truck weight and subtract from truck gcwr to get your adjusted towing capacity. Take total truck weight and subtract from gvwr to get your available payload. Take the rear axle weight and subtract it from the max rear gvwr to see how much room the axle has. You will quickly find out how limited you are going to be here.

[garbonz]

Maybe a very small one.

[itat]

Thanks for the quick replies. You are confirming my concerns. I know payload will be my biggest shortfall.

I upgraded to LT tires and added a leaf spring on each side of the rear which made towing the 5200# Roo much more solid, but that doesn't change the max. payload that's still limited by the stock axles, bearings, wheels, etc.

[Flagstaffer06]

Everyone else mentioned payload which they are correct.

With that being said, to answer your question. I believe for the 5'6" bed the two best options are the Pull-Rite sliding hitch or the sidewinder.

Personally, if I did it, I would have the fixed hitch and a Sidewinder pin box.

I did months of research on back and forth thinking the same thing for next camper. I was limited on payload too and I had the 5'6" bed too. In the end, I went with a travel trailer again.

Alot of good things though I have heard about the Sidewinder and dealers that know and understand them say the same thing. Some dealers I talked to never heard about them or wanted to sell me a sliding hitch and the sidewinder. It was pretty bad.

Anyway, do your research like you are and maybe talk to some people that are towing a 5er with a truck with similar specs to yours. I guarantee someone is pulling a 5er on here with that setup.

[B and B]

I tow a Rockwood with a Revolution hitch. Works great!


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[Ksilvi]

We towed a 2014 prime time crusader 295rst with a 2009 f150 5'6" bed and NO SLIDER hitch. We did a test & SLOWLY did a 90 degree turn just to double check the clearance and it CLEARED. We originally spent too much on a super glide hitch because we were told we needed it, but found out afterward that a Reese none slider worked just fine.


2014 Crusader 295rst
2014 F150 Fx4

[Ksilvi]

There are MANY 5th wheels on the market that have maximum turn radius front ends now. Crusader, all Heartland 5th wheels and many many more. An easy way to tell is by the shape of the nose. Then double check by reading through the rig's features.


2014 Crusader 295rst
2014 F150 Fx4

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by B and B

I tow a Rockwood with a Revolution hitch. Works great!


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X2 Both Brian and I are very happy with our sidewinder (BTW we have a 6' bed and you can STILL dent the cab if you do not have a active sidewinder )

[davel1971]

every 5th wheel has a different cap shape. Even if you test and clear in a parking lot, doesn't mean it will clear on a slight slope with the trailer leaning to the side slightly. Be cautious

[Ksilvi]

Cougar


2014 Crusader 295rst
2014 F150 Fx4

[elind]

Originally Posted by davel1971

every 5th wheel has a different cap shape. Even if you test and clear in a parking lot, doesn't mean it will clear on a slight slope with the trailer leaning to the side slightly. Be cautious

That is correct about clearance issues. Pulling my Wildcat with a GMC 6'6" bed and I dented my box. It happened when I was pulling up an incline and turning right onto a road. The truck front end was tilted up and the corner of the 5er caught the truck box during the turn. It pushed down the edge of the box but didn't touch the cab.

[xs1ve]

I have a 5' 6" bed on my 1500 Ram and tow a Rockwood 8280ws with a Revolution king pin. No issues, pulls great, clearance all around. Trailer weight is 7500 lbs. empty. With the rear kitchen the pin weight is only 1000 lbs. I would definitely recommend the Revolution or Sidewinder pins.

[campercouple]

Pulled a 1999 22" 5th-wheel with a 2006 GMC Sierra Crew Cab with 5' 6" bed. The kingpin extended beyond the front of the camper by about 18". The owner's manual for the truck was very specific and read something like "this vehicle is neither designed nor intended to pull a 5th-wheel." Never had any problems but didn't use it much before selling camper.

[acadianbob]

I believe the current Ford towing guide says not to pull a 5er with a 5.5 ft box.

[mr dually]

IMHO I think you have too many things working against you. You have a half ton and want to pull a fifth wheel and it is a really short bed. I don't know if your truck has the maxtow and maxpayload package and im not sure if it really matters. I think you are going to make things more difficult for your self unless you are planning to tow all but the smallest of fivers.

[Martz11]

I have a F150 and tow a 37 ft. wildcat no problem

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by Martz11

I have a F150 and tow a 37 ft. wildcat no problem

is yours a 5 1/2 foot bed? Towing 5th wheel?

[Martz11]

I tow the wildcat with a 5 1/2 ft. box with a slider

[davel1971]

that is an AWFUL lot of trailer for any 1/2 ton. No way you are within any safe limits, but that's not what we are here to discuss.