How many of us towing 5W with 1/2 Ton?

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Quahog

snip...... or am I missing something?

I think another advantage of a 5th wheel is that the over all length of the TV/FW combination is a little shorter with the same floorspace as a TT because of the portion of the 5th over the box of the TV. Oh, 5th's have more storage..... "the basement"

Bob

[Boubou]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Boubou, personally I have had both a Ranger and currently have a Dakota. The Ranger fit my needs when I was in my 20’s. I camped a lot (backpacking & canoeing) and single. It got 29 mpg on a regular basis. Ford did not recommend any towing with mine as it was a 4 cylinder with dual ignition (8 plugs). Great truck with lots of power, but I did not buy it to pull a trailer. My Dakota has the worst configuration for towing capacity (Quad cab, 4x4). It has a tow capacity of 5700 lbs. A two wheel drive regular cab with a tow package has a tow capacity of 7000 lbs. When I bought it, it fit my needs and a lot more, it easily pulls both the utility & canoe trailers. We had the intensions to purchase a popup, but never found one we liked. We now pull our hybrid with easy. It is more than enough truck for our needs. I have no desire ever to purchase and pull one of the big trailers. Another selling point for us; the Dakota barely fits in our very low height, short garage. I have to admit I have seen what I thought was small trucks and SUVs pulling trailers that I thought were too big for them.

I understand your point, I myself had a 93 Ranger back in the day and used it well. I spoke out of frustration from purchasing a 1/2 ton when I wish I had gotten a 3/4 ton so when I see small trucks, I scratch my head and forget lots of people want them for gear and not towing.

[Quahog]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

I think another advantage of a 5th wheel is that the over all length of the TV/FW combination is a little shorter with the same floorspace as a TT because of the portion of the 5th over the box of the TV. Oh, 5th's have more storage..... "the basement"

Bob

Good points. On the flip side, you lose access to a lot of your truck bed for storage, which is where I put a lot of junk like table, blue boy, grill, generator, extra 5 gal gas can, etc.

[Rustic Eagle]

Mike,

I agree, I like having my truck bed open for "stuff".

Your earlier point on the weight of the 5th wheel hitch..., it has to take away another 100lbs - 150lbs from a 1/2 ton's limited payload capacity.

Bob

[David472]

Last winter, while at an RV show, I was looking at a HT towable 5er. This one had a dry weight about 8,000lbs and a pin weight about 1,500lbs. I commented to the guy next to me that the pin alone on this 5er would max out a HT. He apparently had a 5er because he said no problem, he loads it such that the pin is only 400lbs. I didn't call him on that, but thought to myself it can't be stable that way. But then again 5ers are inherently more stable. I still don't think I would want to load a 5er to be tail heavy. On the other hand, he could have been joking, but his expression led me to believe he was being honest.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by David472

snip....... I didn't call him on that, but thought to myself it can't be stable that way. But then again 5ers are inherently more stable. I still don't think I would want to load a 5er to be tail heavy.

David,

Not something I would do, or recommend someone to do to get around a low 1/2 ton payload capacity. I wonder how a 1/2 ton TV with a 400lb pin weight and a 9,500lb loaded FW would handle??

Bob

[David472]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

David,

Not something I would do, or recommend someone to do to get around a low 1/2 ton payload capacity. I wonder how a 1/2 ton TV with a 400lb pin weight and a 9,500lb loaded FW would handle??

Bob

Bob,
I wouldn't want to find out.