lewisra

According to Ford's towing specs, it says that a 145in wheel base(5 1/2ft box) won't tow a light 5th wheel camper. Anyone out there doing it? Feedback?

smokeywren

Ford says don't do it. However, Reese says you can tow a 5er with a 5.5' bed if you use a Sidewinder extended kingpin on the trailer.
https://www.etrailer.com/Fifth-Wheel...e/RP61420.html


No, I haven't tried it. I don't like towing a 5er with anything less than an 8' bed.

Pugga

iTrader: (1)

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/5th-wh...m-doing-52823/

Check out that thread, it can be done if you do your homework.

PerryB

With the right gizmos/gadgets (like the Sidewinder) you might get away with it, assuming you don't create a new problem like a stress-induced trailer frame failure. My short answer would be NO.

lewisra

Why is that? Would I still have issues with a 6 1/2 foot bed?

lewisra

I agree, after reading the thread pugga referenced I'm def not going to attempt it. What about a 6 1/2 ft bed?

Pugga

iTrader: (1)

It looks like the issues are more what the truck is rated to handle vs. the bed size. With the short bed, you just have to be very careful with geometry so the trailer doesn't hit the truck, or get the correct gizmos to help avoid that situation. A 6.5' bed is perfectly acceptable to tow a fifth wheel trailer. If you go through any given campground, you're going to see mostly 3/4 or 1 ton extended cab trucks with a 6.5' bed hooked up to fifth wheel trailers.

lewisra

Thanks, understand tow ratings very well. I've been towing TT's for over 30 years, just never a 5th wheel. I need to get a newer tow vehicle and want to have options in a few years if/when I decide to look at new campers.

Pugga

iTrader: (1)

My parents just went through that with their camper, they've always had travel trailers but wanted a fifth wheel. Fortunately, my dad's job required him to get a diesel for towing a couple years back so he already had the truck for the job. He has a 3/4 ton extended cab pickup with a 6.5' bed and was not very limited with what he could tow based on the box size. Even with the 3/4 ton, it came down to payload.

smokeywren

With a 6.5' bed, I'd want a sliding hitch or a Sidewinder extended pin box. Best would be the Pullrite Superglide automatic sliding hitch. A manual sliding hitch works good if you don't forget to slide the hitch every time before you put the tow vehicle in reverse gear.


Some newer 5ers are designed with rounded front corners so a sliding hitch is not required for a 90° jackknife, provided you mount the hitch so the kingpin is centered over the rear axle of the tow vehicle (TV). But the TV handles better with the kingpin centered about 4" in front of the rear axle. Rounded front corners reduce the room inside the 5er, so I prefer the flat front end. But I want at least a 90° jackknife capability, and for most 5ers towed with a short-bed pickup, that requires a sliding hitch.

I have towed 5ers with a 6.5' bed without a sliding hitch, but the experience is nerve wracking. When backing a 5er, you can go into a jackknife in a heartbeat, and that can result in a CRUNCH between cab and trailer. So for peace of mind, I want either an 8' bed, or if I have to tow with a 6.5' bed I want a SuperGlide hitch.
http://www.pullrite.com/products/tra...ort-bed-trucks