1/2 Ton pullable.

[Rustic Eagle]

Reality is there's a difference between can the TV "Tow It" and can the TV "Support It".

It's obvious why RV dealerships, etc., focus on "Tow It".

Bob

[RedHorse1]

I met a fellow this past summer towing a 16k# 5th with an F-150. “Air bags to level it up, tows fine”. Also learned he leases the truck and gets a new one every 3 years. ��

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

I met a fellow this past summer towing a 16k# 5th with an F-150. “Air bags to level it up, tows fine”. Also learned he leases the truck and gets a new one every 3 years. ��

Good reason not to buy used, lol

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

Also learned he leases the truck and gets a new one every 3 years. ��

I've often wondered how many people lease their tow vehicle.

[Crabman]

A couple things I looked for on mine before purchase was holes in the bed from a 5th wheel hitch or holes in the dash where a brake controller was mounted. I found neither. So I assumed no real heavy trailers were ever towed with it.

[citgodan]

Originally Posted by havnfun

Archie-I have a 2009 F150 with a payload 2405 lbs. Was special ordered and its called the "Unicorn." Not very many around but it does the job.

Happy RVing,
Jeff

You are probably in the 5%-7% bracket with your setup havnfun- most will have the stock payload with their units. I would have been ok with my F150 configured like yours, but I didn't have the extra payload package.

I had a 2012 F150 and looked on this forum for a long time until I was convinced to move away from my F150 before buying my 2017 HT 27.5 rlts. Couldn't be happier with this decision. I now have an F250 with 3300# payload - so no concerns anymore. As always, thanks to all members who provide wisdom here! I have learned a lot.

[VE6CPU]

Since it seems everyone else is throwing in their 2 cents I will also.

I've got a 2016 Chevy 2500HD Diesel crew cab short box LTZ Z71. GVWR is 10000 lbs. Put the truck with wife, kids and dog with 5th wheel hitch in and I'm left with about 1800 lbs of payload (about 3/4 of a ton go figure). Picked up an Jayco Eagle HT 26.5 BHS which they say is 1/2 ton towable. Once we loaded it up for a single weekend so we didn't even have everything we wanted to bring, I was over weight by 200 lbs on the pin. Now 200 lbs is not likely to get me in to to much trouble driving and stopping.

So like some said early on in this thread. You need to check the yellow sticker on the door pillar. Also get your truck on a scale with everything that you think you will haul in it for camping. Then you know how much weight is left for the pin.

[goducks]

Originally Posted by VE6CPU

Since it seems everyone else is throwing in their 2 cents I will also.

I've got a 2016 Chevy 2500HD Diesel crew cab short box LTZ Z71. GVWR is 10000 lbs. Put the truck with wife, kids and dog with 5th wheel hitch in and I'm left with about 1800 lbs of payload (about 3/4 of a ton go figure). Picked up an Jayco Eagle HT 26.5 BHS which they say is 1/2 ton towable. Once we loaded it up for a single weekend so we didn't even have everything we wanted to bring, I was over weight by 200 lbs on the pin. Now 200 lbs is not likely to get me in to to much trouble driving and stopping.

So like some said early on in this thread. You need to check the yellow sticker on the door pillar. Also get your truck on a scale with everything that you think you will haul in it for camping. Then you know how much weight is left for the pin.

You're over 200 lbs on the GVWR or the RAWR? I've been running 200 lbs over GVWR for 5 seasons and zero issues. I'm 1400 lbs under RAWR on a 12 Ram CTD. Tows it like a dream. JMO of course but I wouldn't worry at all about being 200 lbs over the GVWR if you're way under the RAWR.

[hyperactive]

Originally Posted by VE6CPU

Since it seems everyone else is throwing in their 2 cents I will also.

I've got a 2016 Chevy 2500HD Diesel crew cab short box LTZ Z71. GVWR is 10000 lbs. Put the truck with wife, kids and dog with 5th wheel hitch in and I'm left with about 1800 lbs of payload (about 3/4 of a ton go figure). Picked up an Jayco Eagle HT 26.5 BHS which they say is 1/2 ton towable. Once we loaded it up for a single weekend so we didn't even have everything we wanted to bring, I was over weight by 200 lbs on the pin. Now 200 lbs is not likely to get me in to to much trouble driving and stopping.

So like some said early on in this thread. You need to check the yellow sticker on the door pillar. Also get your truck on a scale with everything that you think you will haul in it for camping. Then you know how much weight is left for the pin.

VE6CPU, Is your truck 4 wheel drive, does your camper sit high in the front ? I am thinking of a 2500 hd 4x4 Chevy but am concerned about the bed rails being so high. I have a ht 28.5 with 15" tires.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[spoon059]

Originally Posted by jaycojay

I take offence to this statement ..... i am a dealer (GM), and i am always answering towing questions regarding tow ratings etc. Maybe it's because i'm GM, and we can tow , so i can give the facts....unlike those other manufacturers who wanna be big 3 pickups!

We certainly appreciate an honest and educated dealer, but I still agree with wags on this issue. You should RELY on what the dealer says, because the dealer isn't the one driving down the road in a potentially unsafe or overloaded vehicle, the owner is.

My experience has been that I've known more details and specifications for both my trucks and both my trailers than any of the dealers that I have interacted with. I prefer it that way, because at the end of the day I am the one responsible for my decisions, not anyone else.

Thank you for being knowledgeable about your product and sharing that information with your customers.

[vcbice]

Yes, we did tow a fiver with a 1/2T, a 2006 Tundra. At the time it was the one truck in the Toyota lineup that had the capacity to tow a fifth wheel, 1600lb (extended cab, 2wd). Our fiver at the time was a 24ft, 7000lb when towing. It towed very well. And, yes, the brakes worked fine. Every found out they would stop both truck and trailer one day when the trailer brakes stopped working (electrical issue). Easily handled 6% grades.

After three years and about 15k miles towing the transmission started objecting (90k total).

So, yes you can.

Short bed. Does not just apply to 1/2T. I had a dealer and a truck accessories shop tell me that my F250 std bed is not recommended for a fifth wheel non-slide hitch. The shop that put in my hitch had me sign a waiver. FWIW, I've never had a long bed truck in over 10 years of towing fifth wheels.

[DonaandDon]

Not wanting to be pushy on what will and what will not but GVRW is GVRW. I agree with what is posted on the drivers door sticker and that trailer brakes are to stop the trailer. In my opinion GMC has the lower ratings for GVWR. Normally around the 7000lb rating. In most fifth wheel RVs that is the ultra light division. If your intent is to just get by on camping at once a year or so then this maybe for you. However if your planning on a keeper RV, then you'll need to upgrade to a diesel. Most all new diesels has close to the same GVWRs and will accommodate 90% of all 5th wheel trailers. The big differences in diesels are SRW and dually's. SRW diesels can have Timbers and or additional leafs installed or both to achieve the needed pin weight. Yes several band wagon fans of the big three will turn up the mic to be heard but give yourself some room to grow. Put another log on the fire, a drink in your hand, and trade to a diesel and a 15k, 5r you'll be happier.

[Archie]

Originally Posted by hyperactive

VE6CPU, Is your truck 4 wheel drive, does your camper sit high in the front ? I am thinking of a 2500 hd 4x4 Chevy but am concerned about the bed rails being so high. I have a ht 28.5 with 15" tires.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

We have a 2016 Chev. 2500 HD 6.0 4x4 dbbl cab 20" tires and pull a 2017 27.5RLTS. 5er sat about 2" high, bed rail clearance was 5". Installed MORryde Heavy Duty Shackle Upgrade Kit relocated springs on the hangars to raise trailer. Have about 6" clearance on rails and less than 1" high. Couldn't be happier with the truck and 5er combo--Also the truck fits in our garage.

[VE6CPU]

Originally Posted by hyperactive

VE6CPU, Is your truck 4 wheel drive, does your camper sit high in the front ? I am thinking of a 2500 hd 4x4 Chevy but am concerned about the bed rails being so high. I have a ht 28.5 with 15" tires.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

It is 4z4. The back end is about 2 inches higher the the front of the truck. The bed rails do come with in a couple of inches of the bottom of the trailer but only when on an angle. On a flat road it's about 6 inches of clearence. The weight of the trailer doesn't even drop the back end an inch so it rides a little high in the front of the trailer. Our HT 26.5 has 16" tires and the truck has 20".

Hope that helps. I won't be pulling it again until mid May as it's to darn cold up here right now!

[hyperactive]

I have until spring ,Over 2' of snow and 15 degrees here in SW Michigan.

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[SkiSmuggs]

This site has a worksheet to help determine safe fifth wheel tow limits. They also discuss 1/2 ton towing for 2016-2018 model half-tons. According to their data, the F150 is the only half-ton capable of towing small fivers safely. RV Safety|RV Towing Calculator|Tow Ratings|GCWR

[dhawken]

Originally Posted by jaycojay

I take offence to this statement ..... i am a dealer (GM), and i am always answering towing questions regarding tow ratings etc. Maybe it's because i'm GM, and we can tow , so i can give the facts....unlike those other manufacturers who wanna be big 3 pickups!

Maybe you're in the minority amongst dealers then. I would love to find a dealer (of any brand) with salespeople who know anything about the trucks they're selling. I have had terrible experiences at every manufacturer with knowledge of the trucks they're selling, to the point that I'll believe nothing they say. Its really only forums like these that have any actionable info.

[SkiSmuggs]

Originally Posted by vcbice

Short bed. Does not just apply to 1/2T. I had a dealer and a truck accessories shop tell me that my F250 std bed is not recommended for a fifth wheel non-slide hitch. The shop that put in my hitch had me sign a waiver. FWIW, I've never had a long bed truck in over 10 years of towing fifth wheels.

I've towed my 10K fiver with an F150 SB (5'7") and Reese Sidewinder pin box, and with my current F350 SB (6'9") and an Andersen Ultimate Hitch. Neither truck had clearance issues.
However, I just read in another forum about a guy who bought a long bed SRW with the much bigger fuel tank, and after taking it to the scales, found he didn't have enough payload for the 15K GVWR fiver he wanted. Ironic.

[theguyoverthere]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

I guess he should have said many dealers not imply that all dealers lie. My experience is with the previous poster's statement. We were at Camping World in Dathan Ala getting a feeling if we could handle a 5'er with our 2008 Silverado 1500. The salesman was all to reassuring that our crew cab 1/2 ton with a short bed would be fine to pull one and was working up a sweat trying to sell us a used unit that was not anything close to a a light weight. But since we were just starting our search his efforts fell on deaf ears. Later when we go home and I did some research, I was directed to the section in our manual that clearly stated that you should NOT pull a 5er with a short bed. So much for honest dealers.

Had a similar issue at Camping World dealership. Bought a pull camping trailer with a max weight of 7,500k lbs that was 33 ft long. Said my Suburban could tow it no problem. 4 months later and a $2,300 repair bill I found out they didn't know what they were talking about. Then add the $35k more for the replacement vehicle so I could tow my new trailer. Had my Suburban had the towing package it would have been fine. Mine didn't so my max towing weight was 5k unbeknownst to me. It was my first time in my life towing anything and owning a camping trailer. I was a newb and didn't know what to ask or find out about. Just trusted they knew what they were talking about.

[mp5234]

Originally Posted by Bigdomino

I have a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500. Crew care with short bed. Has the 6.2 liter engine 420 hp.

I am wondering if any of the Japco 5th wheels are being pulled by 1/2 ton trucks.

Steve

1/2 ton vehicles really do not have the gonads for trailers 6000lbs and up. one major problem is braking...too much strain. suspension would be another problem. I recently went from a class A to a 5th wheel and the minimum vehicle I would even consider was a 2500, either chev or ram. I chose the ram only because of the Cummins diesel. I think your 6.2 liter engine is okay, but everything else is weak....my thoughts.