The other thing to consider is wind resistance. I have a smaller 5th wheel and considered going to a 1/2 ton truck to have something that was nicer to drive around empty in. The next time I was towing in a strong head wind I was glad I kept the Cummins. A 1/2 ton with a gas engine would have been screaming at high RPM the whole trip. That takes a lot of fun out of a trip for me.
Me thinks the salesman has a brother who works for the local Ford dealership and gets a kickback when you then have to go and get a new truck to pull your new fifth wheel.
No- your truck may be able to pull it - but it won't be long before you will be buying a new truck. Perhaps you can look at a really nice used fifth wheel without slides that would be more in the weight range or go back to looking at TT. Be sure that whatever you get you can pull anywhere- not just on flat terrain. Good Luck there are TONS of units out there... be patient and get your facts in order.
Parents who still don't know anything
Twins who are 19, know everything and attend Univ at Buffalo GO BULLS
Clover the Westie who just sleeps
1994 Ford F 250
2005 Jayco 281 RLS
As a Wildcat owner, I'll throw in my opinion. My trailer is a 27RL and is lighter than the one you are looking at. My truck is a 3/4 ton Duramax Crew Cab. I am legal on all axles and Gross Combined weights.
Your Ford 1/2 ton is not enough truck for that trailer and there is no modification that will make it work.
You need more truck (any of the big 3 3/4 tons) or less trailer.
Dave C.
2005 Silverado 2500 CC
Duramax 6.6 3.73 V-2
2003 Wildcat 27RL
B&W with Companion
Prodigy
Thanks to all of you who gave such great opinions and advice. We'll certainly follow it. Sounds like right now we need to concentrate our search to TTs. A 5ver is definitely in our future, but we're just not ready to get a new TV. In the words of my DH, "That truck's making me money everyday!" I guess I'll skip over to the TT Forum. Thanks again, and safe travel to all.
Salesman is a damn jerk!!!!! what does he care if you ruin your truck.
What hitch was he suggesting he was giving you? I bet it was a cheap, inadequate piece of JUNK.
Forest River is an ok company. IF you get TT then get an equalizing hitch at the least, TTs pull you right and left as you drive the road and when a truck goes by it will push you around.
Go to a campground and look at people are using to pull their rigs and talk to teh oldtimers( those who have been doing this for a long time) and you will not find people pulling anything but a popup with the F150 and if they are they will tell you they are getting a new truck. It is not made to pull trailersi wtih slide outs. Yes 27ft TT without slideouts but not with slideouts.
Chevy Silverado 2500HD with Duramax engine and Allison transmission
2002 Sunnybrook 34BWTS with lots of goodies
Pullrite Superglide Hitch, Prodigy brake controller
S and S Co-Travelers and along for the ride is Ketzel the wonder cat.
Hi,
Instead of guessing, go to this Trailer Life site and down load the Towing Guide for your year truck.
http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?id=42175
That's what the manufacturer thinks you can tow with your particular model.
Good luck,
Fred Wishnie
2006 Carriage Cameo 35KS3, 2006 Ford F350 diesel dually, fulltimer
See our blog at http://www.mytripjournal.com/wanderingwishnies
“If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got.”
luvglass wrote: Hi,
Instead of guessing, go to this Trailer Life site and down load the Towing Guide for your year truck.
That's what the manufacturer thinks you can tow with your particular model.
Here is the problem with the ratings. Ford lists MY 5th wheel towing capacity at 16100 lb. This is derived from subtracting the CGWR (23K) from the unloaded vehicle weight (6.9K).
While I agree it's a good place to start, these numbers are also not exactly realistic. Gosh, someone has to drive the truck. Can't pull without a hitch, etc. All said and done, it's not uncommon to subtract 600 lbs. for non 5th wheel related payload. Don't believe Ford mentioned that fact in their towing capacities
I have listened to salesmen tell me several times that my truck can pull this or that 15500 lb trailer without an issue.
I got weighed so I know better.
Jeff
Wonderful wife Robin, no children, no pets, no money
05 F250 Supercab SB PSD w/Tow Command
05 HR Savoy 29RKS
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