Fifth Wheel towing with Half Ton

Chevy 1500

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 

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