i've seen several small 5th's on 1/2 ton trucks..and had thought about going that way myself with a 4bt cummins powered chevy stepside and a 14ft 5th (yes it would have been modded longer one or home built)
long as the camper is smaller a half ton is fine,but once the camper out weighs truck tail waging the dog..
recycler wrote: .....long as the camper is smaller a half ton is fine,but once the camper out weighs truck tail waging the dog..
Wait a minute! If you're hauling a 13k FW with a 10k 250/350, the tail is always wagging the dog, or am I missing something here?
Regardless of personal opinions to the contrary, there are a lot of FWs that can be pulled with a 150/1500. All of them are rated at more than 1000lbs, so none of them are truly "1/2t" trucks any more. If you want a smaller FW and have a 150/1500, then you are okay sizing the FW to the TV, within reason. The problem will always be pin weight, where many combos get overloaded on the rear axle.
Disclaimer: I have a 30' FW and F150. I am overloaded on the rear axle, although I've had no problems pulling it on the flats. In the mountains, I'm not so sure (we'll see). I need a smaller FW. In the alternative, and probable direction I'm headed, I want a larger FW and will have to get a 350/3500 to pull it.
But, if you're satisfied with a smaller floor plan, by all means consider pulling it with what you have.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
I suppose towing on flat land and driving at reasonable speeds in most cases you would probably be OK. Towing RVs up and down steep mountain grades with sharp curves the 1/2 ton TV wouldn't be my choice of vehicles. While towing my 32 ft 5Ver at less than 40mph I had a blow out on the left rear of my F250. The 5Ver was pushing the rear of that PU sideways. I was all over 2 lanes. I wish I had a 1 ton. It would have been a disaster in a 1/2 ton PU. I suspect there is more to just being able to pull that load down the road.
6.4 tow rig wrote: I think the issue would be that the truck they are using is an 06. I dont think they had the HD packages like they do now. The new F-150 are pretty amazing payload wise. Now if they would make a 250 with a bigger Ecoboost I would be all over it
Yep, and the awful 4 speed trans in it sucks for pulling too. I know I have one.
Wow, I didn't meen to stir the pot here. I was posting about this because it seems as of latley there have been several posts about towing a 5er with a 1/2 ton, and I thought it might be of some value for those that have 1/2 tons. I just wish I had a link to the article so some of the confusion or bias could be eliminated. Towing a 5er with a 1/2 ton is not for everyone and there are some compromises to be made. But there are more manufacturers making lighter 5er's since the new crop of 1/2 tons seems to be better suited than the older versions. Bigger motors, better trannys, etc. In the article they are using an 06 F150 that has been used to tow a TT. It's a crew cab with the short (5.5) bed. They are converting it to tow a 5er. In the up coming issues they will be installing the hitch, kingpin extender, upgrade wiring, auxilary springs, mirrors, tires, and a number of accessories to bring kayaks and bikes along, just to name a few. It's a project vehicle for the magazine. I suppose they could have done the same thing with an F250, but thats been done 1000's of times. The basis for the article and project is that there are more lighter 5er's being made that are labled as 1/2 ton towable and Trailer Life magazine is setting up a 1/2 ton pickup truck to tow one.
I'd like to read the article before passing judgement. In the past Trailer Life has had more than a few ridiculous combo's "reviewed" meaning absurd fluff commercials. A couple of observations: the overwhelming majority of fifth wheels are pulled by 3/4 ton or larger TV's. Trust me there are a number of very good reasons for this. What passes for a "Half Ton" these days is a far cry from just a few years ago. Bigger, better engines and tranny's suspensions are all changing the game as the so called half tons are getting more capable every year. However.....
I thought the point of buying a fiver was to get all that extra livable space which you often do compared withe same sized TT, you should because you pay through the nose for it. So what is the point of buying a small fiver where for a lot more money you don't get any advantage vs the TT? A properly set up TT will tow just as well as small fiver and cost far less, advantage TT. Yes there are fivers that can be towed by today's half tons but as someone once noted: "Just because you "can" do something doesn't necessarily mean it is a good idea." As always... Opinions and YMMV.
It certainly can be done with a few upgraded items. We did it for a year or so just to see if we really wanted to start camping again. 01 Dodge 1500 and a Cougar 245, pin was about 1100 IIRC. 1st trip out was out of S Cali into New Mexico, up through Colorado into Montana over to the coast and down the 101 back home. I pretty much knew after that trip we wanted something bigger
goducks10 wrote: Trailer life magazine this month is reviewing a Fox Mountain 5th wheel and is pulling it with an 06 F150. They are doing an on going upgrade project to make the F150 better suited. Just thought it was ironic that Trailer Life magazine is doing a 5'er/1/2 ton test about the same time as numerous posts have been popping up with guys interested in towing 5'ers with their 1/2 tons. The article did state that the 5'er their testing (Fox Mountain 245RKS) would more than likely once loaded would requier the HD package that Ford offers. Not sure if there is a link to the article or not since it just came out.
recycler wrote: .....long as the camper is smaller a half ton is fine,but once the camper out weighs truck tail waging the dog..
Wait a minute! If you're hauling a 13k FW with a 10k 250/350, the tail is always wagging the dog, or am I missing something here?
Regardless of personal opinions to the contrary, there are a lot of FWs that can be pulled with a 150/1500. All of them are rated at more than 1000lbs, so none of them are truly "1/2t" trucks any more. If you want a smaller FW and have a 150/1500, then you are okay sizing the FW to the TV, within reason. The problem will always be pin weight, where many combos get overloaded on the rear axle.
Disclaimer: I have a 30' FW and F150. I am overloaded on the rear axle, although I've had no problems pulling it on the flats. In the mountains, I'm not so sure (we'll see). I need a smaller FW. In the alternative, and probable direction I'm headed, I want a larger FW and will have to get a 350/3500 to pull it.
But, if you're satisfied with a smaller floor plan, by all means consider pulling it with what you have.
you are quite right about the wagging is same as bigger 5th on bigger truck, i just don't notice it as much on bigger trucks
Since we have been RV shopping and will soon purchase a Durango 296BH FW (if the deal works out), I have seen some newer FW's that can be pulled by the 1500 series trucks. I was suprised to find out how light and large some were.
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(yes it would have been modded longer one or home built) 
tail waging the dog..
