Fifth Wheel towing with Half Ton

[Figure8Dave]

I have pulled a Jayco 27.5 RLTS with my 2017 Silverado double cab 4x4 Z71 5.3L from Michigan to Florida twice and San Antonio, Texas once. I get 8mpg @ 75mph on the expressway. When I drive normally @ 60-65 I get 10-11 mpg. Much better than my 36ft. Motor Home 6-7.5mpg.
I hate the ride of those 2500 & 3500 trucks. I have had no problems with my Silverado 1500.

[Chrisb-24]

If your total weight of your trailer doesn't exceed 8500 to 9000 in my opinion your good. My first HT trailers total weight was 7800. I was using a Chevy 1500 Crewcab 4x4. I then upgraded to a bigger trailer, total loaded weight of 10,100. It was to much for my HT pickup. I upgraded to a Dodge 3/4 pickup. This was the smart thing to do. I was putting my wife, myself, and everyone traveling around me endanger. They say HT towable but you really need to look in the total weight your towing.

[TxLoser]

I think I may have one of the lightest of the HT trailers. 7600 lbs advertised. 8140 weighed with a pin weight of 1760 per the cat scale.

Loaded with a full water tank, and stuff for a week the trailer weighed in at 9100 lbs and had my truck right at 10.1K on the scales. 100lbs over weight. We’re a family of three. For reference, on the cat scale I’ve got 2180 lbs of payload available. I’m sure there’s 1/2 ton trucks out there with similar and probably more payload. If your only focus is payload, then yes, mathematically speaking there’s 1/2 tons trucks that’ll do it just fine.

By the numbers game it works, but for a good towing experience, I’d think these HT fivers are an ideal match for a 3/4 ton gasser. For those who think they ride rough, try a GM with the independent front end and tires aired down when not towing. You may be surprised. Then again, I may be surprised with the experience using a well setup 1/2 ton.