towing with half ton

[lesptr]

Agreed.

[hoogy]

No reason to get mad. I asked for opinions. That is what I am getting. From what I am reading. I will not be able to get a fifth wheel at this time . do to having a 1/2 ton truck. I rather be safe

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

I hope I don't make you or anyone mad.

But you asked for opinions. And you said you are contemplating buying a 5th wheel. And my opinion is that there are almost no fifth wheels............and none I know of except Scamps or the like.......that will safely be pulled by any half ton.

Just my opinion.

[mwdilday]

You must keep in mind that a travel trailer with a tongue weight of sway 1,000 lbs will increase the tow vehicle rear axle more than 1,000 lbs and will actually take some load off of the front axle. This can be compensated somewhat with a load equalizer hitch. The only way to know exactly is to hit the scales.

[merlinhomeauto]

Originally Posted by woodyrock1

Man I really hate saying this but there really aren't any "Pros" towing with a 1/2 ton.

X2 My wife's 1/2 ton had problems towing our 25' Surveyor.

[Blackrock]

I am doing just fine pulling a 5th wheel with my 2016 Ram 1500. I have a Keystone Laredo 265SRK and have been to Alaska and back safely and all around Arizona, southern Utah and parts of New Mexico.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by hoogy

So when adding items to TT keep over axles or towards the rear

Load the trailer in a manner that the resulting tongue weight (assuming a travel trailer, not a fifth wheel) is between 10% and 15% of trailer gross weight. (Even 10% is a bit light, in my opinion and experience.) If less than 10% you'll suffer from sway which can be dangerous for you, your passengers, and other people on the road. If less than 15% you're seriously overloading the truck and possibly the design specs of the trailer hitch.

Weighing your fully-loaded tow vehicle/trailer combination at a CAT scale is the best we to know for sure whether you're within weight specs. It also helps you determine whether you need to shift some weight around (in the TV vs in the trailer; in the front of the trailer vs in the rear) to achieve the optimum balance.

[koller1509]

Originally Posted by merlinhomeauto

X2 My wife's 1/2 ton had problems towing our 25' Surveyor.

I think he meant towing a fifth wheel not a TT

[woodyrock1]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

I am doing just fine pulling a 5th wheel with my 2016 Ram 1500. I have a Keystone Laredo 265SRK and have been to Alaska and back safely and all around Arizona, southern Utah and parts of New Mexico.

That is great you were able to do that safely, I wouldn't attempt that with my 1500. How much over payload are you?

[Blackrock]

Originally Posted by woodyrock1

That is great you were able to do that safely, I wouldn't attempt that with my 1500. How much over payload are you?

I'm running 400# over on the rear axle. Front axle and trailer axles are all in spec. Upgraded to LT tires and airbags in the coil springs.

[dbledan]

Originally Posted by hoogy

No reason to get mad. I asked for opinions. That is what I am getting. From what I am reading. I will not be able to get a fifth wheel at this time . do to having a 1/2 ton truck. I rather be safe

Good attitude. I am in the same boat you are. We looked at 5ers and had just bought my 1/2 ton 4 months earlier.

I didnt understand it at the time and was looking at towing capcity like many have. I wanted more towing buffer (thank god) and we went the TT route.

We went with a TT and have been happy so far. We will upgrade the TV and trailer eventually when we don't lose as much and get some use out of both.

We have 1800lbs payload which is good for a 1/2 ton. As it is the TT we bought has us within 100lbs of payload and loading can be tricky. I would NOT put weight in the rear. Over axles or slightly forward yes, behind no as it gets scary quickly.

Best of luck!

[dalford]

Hoggy, Let everyone has said the payload goes first. If you meet payload you will more than meet all the other specs. Most new RV owners get confused by "Towing Capacity". This just means your engine/transmission can handle this amount of weight. Imagine a 4 wheeled wagon that you could just attach to the rear of your truck. No weight is transferred to your truck but you could load that wagon with 9000 lbs of stuff. Your truck would pull it.

Now don't get discouraged. There are plenty of tongue pulls out there that you can pull. Look around and you will see them pulled by your exact truck and even some SUV's. Most 5th wheels are just to big and too heavy for your truck.

I pulled a 30' tongue pull from Florida to Canada and in between with an F150 ecoboost gas engine. Put over 10000 miles on the unit with nary an issue. Just get an RV that leaves you room for the added needs and essentials for load capacity. Get a good weight distribution (WD) hitch with sway control such as the Equalizer E4 and you will be good.

Jump in the game and I bet down the road you will be upgrading the TV and get that 5th wheel you want.

[bikendan]

PAYLOAD CAPACITY is important for both 5th wheels and travel trailers.
But MORE important with 5th wheels because of their heavier pin weights, which generally exceed most 1/2 tons capacity.
Only a handful of short 5th wheels are truly 1/2 towable.

[hoogy]

Thanks for the reply. I have come to relize a fifth wheel is out of the question at this time. We are looking for a TT with rear living room. The model with what we want has a hitch weight of 1140 pounds.

Originally Posted by dalford

Hoggy, Let everyone has said the payload goes first. If you meet payload you will more than meet all the other specs. Most new RV owners get confused by "Towing Capacity". This just means your engine/transmission can handle this amount of weight. Imagine a 4 wheeled wagon that you could just attach to the rear of your truck. No weight is transferred to your truck but you could load that wagon with 9000 lbs of stuff. Your truck would pull it.

Now don't get discouraged. There are plenty of tongue pulls out there that you can pull. Look around and you will see them pulled by your exact truck and even some SUV's. Most 5th wheels are just to big and too heavy for your truck.

I pulled a 30' tongue pull from Florida to Canada and in between with an F150 ecoboost gas engine. Put over 10000 miles on the unit with nary an issue. Just get an RV that leaves you room for the added needs and essentials for load capacity. Get a good weight distribution (WD) hitch with sway control such as the Equalizer E4 and you will be good.

Jump in the game and I bet down the road you will be upgrading the TV and get that 5th wheel you want.

[TheWolfPaq82]

As I look around different campgrounds, I see, small SUV'S pulling 6-7000 lb trailers. I see, 1/2 tons pulling 8-9000 lb trailers. I see, 3/4 ton pulling 14-16000 lb 5er's. Would I pull a 5er with a 1/2 ton ? probably not, but a 1000 other people will and 99% will do just fine.

[youroo]

This is Another "Open End" Post! Even if it said, "Unmodified 1/2 ton" there are Factory STOCK HD 1/2 Tons that Equal or Surpass lots of 3/4 Trucks! The Early 90's Chevy HD 1/2 with Quadrasteer and 6.0 Engine was one! Youroo!!

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by youroo

This is Another "Open End" Post! Even if it said, "Unmodified 1/2 ton" there are Factory STOCK HD 1/2 Tons that Equal or Surpass lots of 3/4 Trucks! The Early 90's Chevy HD 1/2 with Quadrasteer and 6.0 Engine was one! Youroo!!

2014 GMC 3/4 ton crew diesel, and I know there's plenty of 1/2 tons...Reg Cab's that have better CCC then my truck does. That seems to be something people overlook (Reg cab, Extended cab, Crew cab). I overlooked that when I bought my 2003 F150 crew. Got to looking at it when I bought my 2013 Silverado 1500 Crew and when I traded to my current 2014 GMC.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by woodyrock1

Man I really hate saying this but there really aren't any "Pros" towing with a 1/2 ton.

I may not be a "Pro", but we've towed a 2012 Flagstaff 8528RKWS over 40,000 miles with an 05 Silverado 1500 Extended Cab with no problems. Haven't been west of Missouri, but we do just fine in all the mountains east of the Mississippi. Would I go to the Rockies, heck no. You just have to a little common sense. My pin weight is 1075#

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

I may not be a "Pro", but we've towed a 2012 Flagstaff 8528RKWS over 40,000 miles with an 05 Silverado 1500 Extended Cab with no problems. Haven't been west of Missouri, but we do just fine in all the mountains east of the Mississippi. Would I go to the Rockies, heck no. You just have to a little common sense. My pin weight is 1075#

That's a big factor in what you said. Looking at the "Big Picture"...where are you planning to go ? Weekender ? Long Hauler ? Mountain driving ? Do you need a 1 ton if you're pulling a 9000 lb trailer to a local campground every couple of weeks...and that's the farthest you go ?

[hoogy]

This is my payload. 1672 pounds

tried to add picture but cannot see where to add pic.

[Brewhedd]

Originally Posted by hoogy

This is my payload. 1672 pounds

tried to add picture but cannot see where to add pic.

I have a similar payload. The 32' Rockwood I pull is about 6000 lbs and the truck handles it using an Equalizer hitch. Without the hitch it would be dangerous. Just upgraded TV tires to Michelins with a higher load range which was sorely needed. The Bridgestones that came on the truck were way too "soft".