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Old 11-26-2013, 08:59 PM   #1
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1/2 Ton Towable Fifth Wheels

Does such a thing exist? It seems like manufacturers used to make smaller 5th wheels, but now they are all at least 28 feet long.

Does anyone pull their 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton? Is it even possible?

Edited to add: I just looked at the Jayco site and they have 5th wheels that they claim can be towed by a 1/2 ton. But with a GVWR of 9400lbs, I don't see a lot of 1/2 tons handling that! Our max towing capacity for our F150 V8 3:73 ratio is 9400!
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Old 11-26-2013, 09:33 PM   #2
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IMO it all boils down to one's personal loading habits and how the particular 1/2 ton is configured......, but yes, it's possible to have doable 1/2 ton towing a FW.
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Old 11-27-2013, 12:00 AM   #3
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The biggest problem with 5th wheels on half tons is the pin weight. The payload capacity just isn't high enough on most half tons.
9400 lb * .15 = 1410 lb

That could already be over your payload, depending on configuration. Even if you have 1800 lb payload, that leaves you less than 400 lbs for people and stuff in the truck.
What does your door sticker say for curb weight and GVWR?
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Old 11-27-2013, 04:28 AM   #4
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My concern is that, even though you might be able to find a 5er with pin weight low enough to be within the 1/2 ton's payload capacity, how about its ability to stop that 5er quickly and safely in an emergency stop ? To me, that is the main argument against the 1/2 ton TV.
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Old 11-27-2013, 07:48 AM   #5
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I know I'll get plenty of rebuttal for this but first off, there is a good selection of lighter 5'ers available from different brands. Secondly, manufacturers tend to be very conservative with their capacities. We are a litigious society aren't we? For years I pulled a 25' Terry all over the West with a 1/2 ton Ford. It had the towing package with big cooling system and I had helper springs professionally installed as soon as I drove the truck off the lot. I could also carry a yard of crushed gravel (1.4) tons at highway speeds under complete control. Good stopping control depends on a variety of things, good trailer brakes with a good controller being the most vital. A heavy tow vehicle is always better, of course, but sometimes we are limited by what we have or what we can afford.
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Old 11-27-2013, 07:58 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinlizzie23 View Post
My concern is that, even though you might be able to find a 5er with pin weight low enough to be within the 1/2 ton's payload capacity, how about its ability to stop that 5er quickly and safely in an emergency stop ? To me, that is the main argument against the 1/2 ton TV.
The trailer itself would be equipped with adequate brakes for this.
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Old 11-27-2013, 01:56 PM   #7
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Here's a good one you could tow with a 1/2 ton or even a mid-sized truck.

http://www.escapetrailer.com/Products/Escape50.aspx
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Old 11-27-2013, 02:42 PM   #8
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I have an Eagle HT and no way in heck would I tow it with a half ton. Even if you didn't have any hills to climb it would still suck... As far as breaking, that's done at the trailer with an electric break controller.
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Old 11-27-2013, 04:22 PM   #9
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I pulled an Eagle HT 26.5RLS with the Reece Revolution pin box for two years with an F150 4x4 shortbed. I had an extra leaf added to the rear suspension and replaced the factory tires with E load range tires. The 5.4 engine did great everywhere but in the mountains. I took it over Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado and it was 1st gear and 30mph all the way up, but I didn't experience any problems other than slow going. The shorter rig was very easy to maneuver especially at service stations when refueling.
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Old 11-27-2013, 04:49 PM   #10
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I'm always being passed because I'm so slow I poke along in the right hand lane trying to milk an extra 1/10 of a MPG out of my rig. RVs fly by me all the time and I wave. I'm sure my Stock Super Duty Ford being built back before the manufacturers drove the torque and horsepower up a great deal has something to do with my lack of speed. Don't have any monthly payments, though.
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Old 11-27-2013, 04:59 PM   #11
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I've towed the 23.5 eagle ht Jayco for two years with my 2008 Toyota Tundra. Tows easy and the hitch weight of just under 1200 lbs. doesn't seem to be an issue. I know it's a smaller trailer but it's just me and my 14 yr. old Golden .... oh yeah the wife comes along as well.

This is the 2014model. http://www.jayco.com/products/fifth-...oorplans-specs
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Old 11-27-2013, 06:54 PM   #12
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My concern with ability to stop quickly and safely, as previously stated, was in an emergency situation. Such as, if your trailer brakes suddenly fail, for some reason, like becoming disconnected, or a wire shorts. In that case, could you come to a reasonably quick stop with a 1/2 ton pulling your 5er ? From actual testing on a deserted road, my TV has brakes enough to bring my 11,000 lb 5er to a complete stop, without trailer brakes connected, from 40 mph, in about 4 lengths of the rig. A 1/2 ton would be pushed a lot farther down the road before you could come to a stop. I just prefer to have plenty of margin for safety and control. JMHO
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Old 11-27-2013, 07:43 PM   #13
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I'm sure I could come to just as quick a stop pulling my 6500 lb. 5th wheel as I could while pulling a 6500 lb. travel trailer.
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Old 11-29-2013, 11:01 AM   #14
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I personally beileve that the RV manufacturers saw an opening into an avenue leading to more sales. A lot more 1/2 ton trucks out there than 3/4 and 1 ton so they made some 5th wheels that are just under the towing limit, with little or no safety margin. Not much thought (or information) about the pin weight either. So, yea you can but in some instances you probably shouldn't
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Old 11-29-2013, 07:33 PM   #15
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If it were me I would not tow a 5er with a 1/2 ton truck, would not even think about it.
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Old 11-29-2013, 09:20 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tinlizzie23 View Post
My concern with ability to stop quickly and safely, as previously stated, was in an emergency situation. Such as, if your trailer brakes suddenly fail, for some reason, like becoming disconnected, or a wire shorts. In that case, could you come to a reasonably quick stop with a 1/2 ton pulling your 5er ? From actual testing on a deserted road, my TV has brakes enough to bring my 11,000 lb 5er to a complete stop, without trailer brakes connected, from 40 mph, in about 4 lengths of the rig. A 1/2 ton would be pushed a lot farther down the road before you could come to a stop. I just prefer to have plenty of margin for safety and control. JMHO
With that theory how would you stop if the tow vehicle brakes failed? Things happen and on the off chance that they do you deal with it the best you can.
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Old 12-02-2013, 10:36 PM   #17
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Compare the brake sizes on the modern half tons with the modern 3/4 tons. Very similar. Having towed with a half ton ecoboost f150 and now a cummins diesel 3/4 ton Ram, I can't tell much difference in all in braking. Not saying anyone is right or wrong, but I can tell the brakes in the half tons nowadays are pretty darn good. No way a modern half ton gets pushed much further down the road IMHO.

I replaced the f150 due to the fact that I am going to buy a fifth wheel that is NOT half ton friendly this spring. Just my two cents.
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Old 12-03-2013, 04:31 AM   #18
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With that theory how would you stop if the tow vehicle brakes failed? Things happen and on the off chance that they do you deal with it the best you can.
There are several redundant brake systems on your TV that can be used, so the chances of ALL your brakes on the TV failing at the same time are very small. The chances of ALL brakes failing on your 5er, however, only require the failing of a simple electrical contact or wire. IMHO, that is a big difference. Again, each to his/her own, but I would never even consider towing a 5er with a 1/2 ton. The margin of safety is just too small to risk my family's lives.
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Old 12-13-2013, 09:07 PM   #19
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We too tow the Eagle HT 23.5 with a half ton. 2010 Ram Quad Cab HEMI
added E rated tires, Timbrens, tow mirrors. Using the Superglide hitch.
The truck tows really well, been in the hills, in the summer heat, the temperature stays well in the range. I was a bit nervous at first about the payload but we've towed it a lot the last 2 summers, long trips and we are very happy with the combo.
I see way bigger being towed by half tons.
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Old 12-13-2013, 10:10 PM   #20
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snip.... I see way bigger being towed by half tons.
My money is on that most are towing over their limits and don't know it...., the rest know they are over their limits.

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