newk
Gillette, WY
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Joined: 08/18/2007
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1/2-ton trucks are great for hauling bags of leaves, but for much more than that I'd want a 3/4-ton at a minimum (which I have), and since the minimum isn't always the best bet, get a 1-ton. If you might want to tow anything heavier than 10-12,000 pounds in the future, get a dually.
I bought a 3/4-ton diesel in 2000, as that was plenty to tow my 24-foot 5er. The next year we got a bigger camper. We traded it a couple years ago. Now we want a big one. Since we don't drive much, my F250 is barely broke in, but I'm looking to trade it for a dually now. My point is, get something big enough to tow a good sized rig and you'll have options without having to trade again.
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UpNorthFam
Up North
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Joined: 06/14/2008
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Cubbyfan wrote:I would not take the dealers word on that one. The very minimum of a truck would be 2500 with a diesel engine.
I wouldn't tell the guy that he needs a diesel at a minimum. I tow our 30 foot fifth wheel with a GMC 2500 HD with the 6.0 liter gas engine. Your major issue with a 1/2 ton truck will be the pin weight of the fifth wheel. We wanted to pull ours with our Tundra, but the payload capacity of half ton trucks doesn't make that possible. You will probably end up with a small fiver if you want to tow it with a half ton.
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Dennis M M
Geneva, IL
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Joined: 11/06/2004
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We towed a 25' Terry fiver with a Dodge Ram 1500 for several years. The 8,500 lb fiver (actual weight loaded) put the truck right at the max GVWR. It was do-able, but not really comfortable. Only got about 6 mpg with a gas 360 V8.
What I tow with now is a whole different ballgame!
'99 Volvo VNL610 - 425 HP Volvo; Super 10 Spd
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l-john
514 Shagbark Dr.
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Joined: 07/25/2006
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Another thing to keep in mind is that dealers have an over abundance of 1/2 tos in stock & will do anything (lie) to get rid of them.
I agree with the minimum is a 2500 (3/4 ton) unit.
Larry P
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RandACampin
Kathleen, Georgia
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Joined: 04/06/2006
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The only way to tell is to look at the numbers....GVWR, payload, etc. Contrary to popular opinion there are many 1/2 ton towable 5th wheels out there. Also contrary to popular opinion the dealer may in fact be telling the truth, you have no idea without the numbers.
-rog
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ttstansfield
tulsa
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Joined: 01/30/2006
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DH and I had a 1/2 ton pickup and we bought a lightweight Flagstaff TT(designed to be pulled by 1/2 ton pickups) last June. We even put on a special axle that was designed to tow a heavier trailer. We had a lot of problems pulling the lightweight trailer--at one point, it stranded us in Santa Rosa, New Mexico because the axle failed. We repaired the axle and got home safely. Even with the special axle, the truck really strained when we went up hills, etc. We didn't want to give up camping, so we traded our 1/2 ton GMC for a 3/4 ton GMC with Duramax/Allison. Since we now have a larger truck, we traded our TT for a 5th wheel. I do not know all of the specifications, weight ratios, etc. (I leave that to the DH!), but if I were in your shoes, I would want at least a 3/4 ton pickup.
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MurrayD
Calgary
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Joined: 09/13/2004
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slgjeg4 wrote: They (the dealers) are telling me that I would be able to pull a unit with a half ton pickup.
Steve
The old saying about dealers goes something like this: "You can always tell when they are lieing.....their lips move". 
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Dustytuu
Colorado USA
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Joined: 03/16/2004
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Listen to these people, they are telling you the way to go. The person that said get a ton truck was right on. We have towed 4 fifth wheels and used a 3/4 ton diesel and needed a bigger truck. The 5th wheel we have now needs something bigger yet and we went with a 5500 dodge diesel. You don't really need to go that big but a ton truck will be best for several different kinds of 5th wheels. Usually people don't stay with their first purchased 5th wheel and end up going bigger.
The gas trucks may limit you to where you can go. Wouldn't take that into the Colorado Rockies.
2008 dodge 5500, diesel, bedsaver, pressure pro tire.
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captain037
Montgomery, AL
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Joined: 07/09/2007
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Steve, I saw a Toyota Tundra towing a small 5ver, maybe 22 ft, the other day and it looked fine. If the pin weight is within the limits and the gross weight is within the limits you can do it. It all depends on the numbers on the truck and the 5ver. I don't know of any off the top of my head but there may be some out there. Just do your research.
I will say that the last 1/2 ton truck I had is the last one I will ever have.
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quarque
Seattle, WA
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Joined: 07/10/2008
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Check out tundrasolutions.com and you will see there are many people towing 5ers with the newer Tundras (5.7L helps!). The trick is to stay below the weight limits and that limits your choices on 5ers. I did find a few 5ers that met all the limits for a 1/2 ton. One was the smallest (241RK) Surveyor ultra lite from Forest River. It has a pin weight around 967 lbs. (empty) so loaded you should be able to stay below 1500 without too much difficulty. I agree that using a 3/4 ton or 1-ton "feels" better when towing, but is it really "necessary"? Many Tundra owners say "no", with the right setup.
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