F150 towing fifth wheel?

[DAPYES]

who out here can tell me if we could tow a light weight fifth wheel in a 5.5 ft bed in a f-158 crewcab ?

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by DAPYES

who out here can tell me if we could tow a light weight fifth wheel in a 5.5 ft bed in a f-158 crewcab ?

There is a 5th wheel hitch that will allow you to tow one in 5.5 ft bed but the real problems is payload weights of the F150. If you look at your payload yellow payload sticker and get the payload numbers then go this website and be honest with your numbers you will see how big of 5er you can tow and stay within you trucks specs.

Towing Calculator based on Truck's Payload/CCC - Towing Planner

There are F150 that can tow good size 5er but payloads range for 1200 lbs to 2500 lbs with different options on the F150s. There still is the question should you but if within your truck specs the only person can answer that is you.

[CWSWine]

Here is a list of payloads that are found on the yellow sticker on the door jam. It’s 5th grade math and not some sort of rocket science to staying within your truck specs when towing a 5th wheel. These figures are with one 200 lbs driver and 250 lbs hitch with a 5er loaded ready to go camping and nothing else in the truck.

The numbers below came from Tow Planner - Towing Calculator based on Truck's Payload/CCC - Towing Planner

Payload = 1200
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 750 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 3,000 - 3,750 lbs.

Payload = 1400
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 950 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 3,800 - 4,750 lbs.

Payload = 1600
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,150 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 4,600 - 5,750 lbs.

Payload = 1800
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,350 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 5,400 - 6,750 lbs.

Payload = 2000
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,550 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 6,200 - 7,750 lbs.

Payload = 2200
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,750 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 7,000 - 8,750 lbs.

Payload 2400
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,950 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 7,800 - 9,750 lbs.

Payload 2500
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 2,050 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 8,200 - 10,250 lbs.

Payload 2600
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 2,150 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 8,600 - 10,750 lbs.

Payload 2700
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 2,250 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 9,000 - 11,250 lbs.

Payload 2800
You're adding approximately 450 lbs. to the truck. You have 2,350 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 9,400 - 11,750 lbs.

Most 5er loaded ready to camp comes in around 22% to 23% but there are some like front living room and rear kitchens that can run lower.

This explains a lot of the numbers http://rvsafety.com/rv-education/mat...ks-to-trailers

[Blackrock]

It can be done but will need to keep the weight down on the front of the trailer in order to keep your pin weight within reason.
I just returned from a 12,550 mile trip up to Alaska with a 1/2 ton Dodge Ram pulling a 30 foot fifth wheel.

[itat]

I was in the same position Spring 2015 trying to decide on our next RV. My '09 F-150 has the 5.5' bed and a lower payload number than current F-150s with the all aluminum body. I decided to stick with a TT but even with that, as I recently discovered when I took our setup to a CAT scale, we are over the GVWR and the rear axle weight rating by a couple hundred pounds.

The first problem you'll have is with payload capacity. I suggest you look for rear kitchen 5th wheel models that tend to have the lightest pin weight by putting all the heavy appliances well behind the axles. Fully loaded, a rear kitchen model will still be north of 1000# on the pin.

The second problem you'll have is that with a 5.5' bed you can't use a slider hitch and the hitch will be very close to your cab. So you'll need to either look for a 5er with a Reese Revolution pin box or buy and install the aftermarket version called the Reese Sidewinder. These pin boxes are exactly the same and they move the pivot point back a couple feet but you'll still need to be extra cautious in tighter turns.

Good luck with your decision.

[Big Rig]

No no no nooooooo!


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[bikendan]

it comes down to the payload capacity.

this is what cancels most 1/2 tons from towing most 5th wheels.

only the smallest/lightest 5th wheels will have a pin weight that some 1/2 tons can handle.

[tom50mg]

I do,works great with the 08 5.4 liter,30 Foot 8528 fiver,several trips south now!

[robsshots]

Look - you naysayers can bitch all you want, but I have been towing a lightweight (7850 lbs) 32' fifth wheel for two years now with an F-150 Ecoboost with heavy duty tow package. Have racked up over 12,000 miles towing, another 45,000 riding around. Get between 10.5 and 11 mpg. Mileage towing has improved in last four months. We have a super crew with a 6.5' bed, and often have visitors/friends that we share rides with when not towing. Love my truck, love my fiver - Rockwood Signature 8280WS, rear kitchen. Not. One. Single. Problem. Oh, wait. Truck stopped working at the top of Mount Washington, had to be towed down on a flatbed truck. The control panel computer that runs the fuel pump had stopped working. Dealer installed in a day, piece of cake. Not a result of towing...

Did I mention we are full-timers? We live in our Rockwood and our truck, our only vehicle. A 2014 cost us $33,500 brand new.

[Springerdad]

Three words. DON'T DO IT.

PERIOD

[Oaklevel]

It can be done but........you are very limited as to what fifth wheels will work........... So YES !!!! but............

Many of us have towed fifth wheels in the past with a 1/2 tons some still do.... I do not but my fifth wheel grew to 36 feet.....

[Handydc]

Don't do it, you'll regret it.

[campingbaba]

We towed a Rockwood 8280 5er with a 2013 Silverdo 1500 4x4 with no problems . We just upgraded to a Silverdo 2500 4x4 pulling the same 5er and the difference is like night and day . So if possible I would upgrade .

[WolfWhistle]

Here we go again.
WW

[spock123]

Buy what you want, I would not pull a fifth wheel with a F-150 but that being said you can do it, a Ford is a pulling machine. I was in Lincoln NB at a Cracker Barrel and I saw a F-150 pulling a huge Blue Ridge fifth wheel, he had 20 inch rims on his truck. He was happy and I was happy, he was leaving and I was going in to eat. Someone told me one time that any truck will get you to the top of the hill it's coming down that's the problem. But buy what you feel safe in. Happy camping


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[ccsvolsfan]

No.

[D. J. Schuler]

In order to be semi legal the F150 has to have the Heavy Duty Payload and Tow packages. My 2011 HDP is 2393 and HT is 11200, my 5er loaded has 1650 pin and is just under 10000. That leaves 743 for payload. Beware of the diesel mystique a new F250 D has (depending on style) 2150 without the HDP package but can tow more.

[BusyRetirees]

We have an F150 and a 32' 5th wheel. Pin weight of fiver is 1180 lbs and wet weight is 9200 lbs. F150 towing capacity is 11900 lbs and 5th wheel capacity is 10500 lbs. Carrying capacity is 2150 lbs. Max tow pack on F150 along with Super Springs. We have a 6.5' box but when we had the hitch installed, the dealer said they could install one in a 5.5' box provided the trailer had a Revolution/Sidewinder hitch. Hope this helps you out.

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

Here we go again.
WW

Yea man!

Geez, folks come on now.

There are many many many people that do it and tow safely. Just watch your weights and you will be fine.

and I don't like 1/2 tons, gassers OR Fords tow vehicles

Seriously you will be fine.

[bruane]

Originally Posted by robsshots

Look - you naysayers can bitch all you want, but I have been towing a lightweight (7850 lbs) 32' fifth wheel for two years now with an F-150 Ecoboost with heavy duty tow package. Have racked up over 12,000 miles towing, another 45,000 riding around. Get between 10.5 and 11 mpg. Mileage towing has improved in last four months. We have a super crew with a 6.5' bed, and often have visitors/friends that we share rides with when not towing. Love my truck, love my fiver - Rockwood Signature 8280WS, rear kitchen. Not. One. Single. Problem. Oh, wait. Truck stopped working at the top of Mount Washington, had to be towed down on a flatbed truck. The control panel computer that runs the fuel pump had stopped working. Dealer installed in a day, piece of cake. Not a result of towing...

Did I mention we are full-timers? We live in our Rockwood and our truck, our only vehicle. A 2014 cost us $33,500 brand new.

X 2. I have the identical configuration. This topic has been beaten to death on these forums and most of the "No" side is based on some kind of bigotry or misplaced supplier loyalty and not on the evidence presented. Properly configured 1/2 tons will tow appropriate 5th wheels safely and without a white knuckle experience.