Community Forums

mtnair2 · 08-04-2019, 11:23 AM

Thoughts on towing a 5th wheel with the above truck. What will I need to change for a 5th wheel hitch eather on the 5th wheel or the truck.
Anyone doing it now and what are your thoughts

A32Deuce · 08-04-2019, 11:31 AM

You have to know the numbers for that truck and the trailer you want to tow. A tt but not a fiver.

450Donn · 08-04-2019, 11:34 AM

NO! Not just no, but HECK NO. A typical 1500 simply does not have enouh load carrying capacity to handle a fiver over about 7000 pounds Gross.

**Spdracr39** · 08-05-2019, 08:58 AM

They claim to make 5'ers that are 1/2 ton towable but there is no way I would do it. The box size and the engine aren't the issue it's the weight of the truck and the payload capacity. Fifth wheel trailers have a higher center of gravity and need a heavy truck to keep them stable. They also have a higher pin weight percentage requiring a higher payload than the same size TT.

To answer directly, Can it be done yes. You will need a slider hitch and bed rails added. I don't know if you can get the puck system for a 1/2 ton from the factory but if you can your hitch will have to match the type of mounting points you have be it rails or pucks. You will also need to get a Brake controller whether factory or after market.

Cat320 · 08-05-2019, 11:48 AM

Check the payload capacity on the Tire and Loading Information sticker on the driver's door post. That number includes everything you've added to the truck as well as passengers, cargo, the hitch, extra fuel, etc. The normal pin weight of any 5th wheel is 20% of it's GVWR. Compare that last number with the cargo capacity on your truck....no way a 1500 can haul virtually any 5th wheel.

kinggartk · 08-05-2019, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnair2

Thoughts on towing a 5th wheel with the above truck. What will I need to change for a 5th wheel hitch eather on the 5th wheel or the truck.
Anyone doing it now and what are your thoughts

I was in your boat about 2 years ago. I have an F150 and was taken in by the 8600 Towing Capacity. However, As I began to research, I realized that I shouldn't tow anything near 8600 pounds with that truck. Engine wise, the Eco-boost 3.5 had more than enough power...but that is where it ends.

I ended up buying a TT that weighed 4500 Dry. My truck handled that pretty well, but I would not want to tow anything any bigger.

With that said...look for F350/3500 for your fifth wheel.

mtnair2 · 08-05-2019, 07:54 PM

Ok the 5th wheel I’m looking at is a cougar 2008 276 EFS. Gross dry weight GVW 6580, GVWR 10,120, hitch 1200
My truck ratings are as follows GVWR 7100
GCWR 15,000
Max payload 1680
This again is with a 6.2 L V8 has with a 5’8” box 2019 Silverado 1500 LTZ Z24
Has trailer mode and brake controller from GM
Am I safe or will I be unhappy
Can always add overloads I’m sure if needed.
Everyone’s thoughts or comments are appreciated

mtnair2 · 08-05-2019, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnair2

Ok the 5th wheel I’m looking at is a cougar 2008 276 EFS. Gross dry weight GVW 6580, GVWR 10,120, hitch 1200
My truck ratings are as follows GVWR 7100
GCWR 15,000
Max payload 1680
This again is with a 6.2 L V8 has with a 5’8” box 2019 Silverado 1500 LTZ Z24
Has trailer mode and brake controller from GM
Am I safe or will I be unhappy
Can always add overloads I’m sure if needed.
Everyone’s thoughts or comments are appreciated

It says it is 1/2 Ton towable on the outside of the trailer by the door

450Donn · 08-05-2019, 08:53 PM

Sounds like you have convinced yourself it will work, so why ask?
That trailer will have a pin weight around 2000 pounds plus 350 more pounds for hitch. Does that truck have have a RAWR sufficient to handle 2300+ pounds?

IBTripping · 08-05-2019, 09:37 PM

Your truck's payload is 1680 lbs. The max gross weight of the fifth wheel is 10,000 lbs. Thus, at 20% pin weight (2,000 lbs), you'll be way over 1680 lbs. And that's before you add the weight of anything you carry in the truck such as passengers, tool box, etc.

It will not be a pleasant experience towing something that big and heavy and it is potentially very dangerous.

However, you can find a very nice travel trailer with a top gross (not dry) weight of 6,000 lbs instead of a fifth wheel.

I can tow a tractor-trailer with my old Dodge Durango until the engine or transmission is destroyed. And, then there is the problem of trying to make a quick stop while towing that big of a load.

So, yes you can tow that fifth wheel until you bend the rear axle, or try to make a panic stop, or get thrown off the highway by a big wind gust.

leadman · 08-06-2019, 06:21 AM

Most all 1/2 ton trucks have a single flat roller axle bearing that rides on the axle for each axle. The 3/4 ton and up trucks have 2 tapered roller bearings that ride on the axle housing stub and a free floating axle on each side.
That little single bearing can't carry the same weight as the double tapered roller bearings.
Even with overloads it would not be a good idea.

keymastr · 08-06-2019, 12:38 PM

Plain and simple, you can tow a MUCH bigger TT with that truck than you can a 5th wheel. If you really want a 5th wheel get a 1ton.

HopsBrewster · 08-08-2019, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keymastr

Plain and simple, you can tow a MUCH bigger TT with that truck than you can a 5th wheel. If you really want a 5th wheel get a 1ton.

Exactly.

My philosophy is to use more truck than you need to tow any trailer, instead of trying to maximize the size of trailer you can tow with a truck.

I intentionally bought a 3/4 ton work truck to tow a 1/2 ton TT.
My line of thought, the truck won't have nearly as hard to tow a lighter trailer. It should last a lot longer. Tow a max-heavy trailer, and your truck will have to work much harder and likely will wear much faster.
That's engineering 101

not to mention all safety considerations mentioned above...