5th wheel towing reality check 2015 short bed
05-28-2015, 12:33 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
5th wheel towing reality check 2015 short bed
New to the world of heavy towing, but have towed utility trailers since forever. The reality is I'm going to rent a TT for a few times before I commit to any purchase anyway.
I'm looking into the reality of 5th wheel towing purely because it seems that used 5th wheels are more prevalent in my area than convention towed TTs.
My impression is that a 5th wheel is not realistic due to payload capacity and the higher tongue weight of a 5th wheel. My door sticker shows a payload capacity of 1900 lbs.
Less line-x (50 lbs) and two pax (400 lbs) and hitch (200 lbs), I'm down to 1250 lbs payload and for a 25% tongue weight, that yields a 6k wet trailer weight. That weight pretty much eliminates most 5th wheels and everything I've seen used locally.
The above doesn't account for gross axle weight, tires, etc, which I know I have to account for, but since its unrealistic anyway, I guess a 5th wheel is unrealistic.
Just looking for a confirmation on my assessment, nothing in depth.
This doesn't address the need for a sliding hitch and/or kingpin extension either for maneuverability.
I'd be way better off with a conventional TT and WD hitch, correct?
I'm looking into the reality of 5th wheel towing purely because it seems that used 5th wheels are more prevalent in my area than convention towed TTs.
My impression is that a 5th wheel is not realistic due to payload capacity and the higher tongue weight of a 5th wheel. My door sticker shows a payload capacity of 1900 lbs.
Less line-x (50 lbs) and two pax (400 lbs) and hitch (200 lbs), I'm down to 1250 lbs payload and for a 25% tongue weight, that yields a 6k wet trailer weight. That weight pretty much eliminates most 5th wheels and everything I've seen used locally.
The above doesn't account for gross axle weight, tires, etc, which I know I have to account for, but since its unrealistic anyway, I guess a 5th wheel is unrealistic.
Just looking for a confirmation on my assessment, nothing in depth.
This doesn't address the need for a sliding hitch and/or kingpin extension either for maneuverability.
I'd be way better off with a conventional TT and WD hitch, correct?
05-28-2015, 12:45 PM
#2
Senior Member
Michael:
This post is not in the spirit of this section of the forum. You're supposed to say things like:
"I want to tow a 20,000 pound trailer off my bumper"
"If I use air bags, I know I can tow 34,000 pounds"
"What's a Payload Sticker?"
"How do you get from 1,900 pounds payload to 1,250 pounds?"
Clearly you have some good experience. Based on postings by the experts that I've read - you are correct - towing a 5th wheel with a regular F-150, especially a short bed, is not a great idea. A conventional TT and a WD hitch are what an F-150 is designed to tow, and as you note even then limited by Payload.
This post is not in the spirit of this section of the forum. You're supposed to say things like:
"I want to tow a 20,000 pound trailer off my bumper"
"If I use air bags, I know I can tow 34,000 pounds"
"What's a Payload Sticker?"
"How do you get from 1,900 pounds payload to 1,250 pounds?"
Clearly you have some good experience. Based on postings by the experts that I've read - you are correct - towing a 5th wheel with a regular F-150, especially a short bed, is not a great idea. A conventional TT and a WD hitch are what an F-150 is designed to tow, and as you note even then limited by Payload.
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05-28-2015, 12:59 PM
#3
Rickwuhk is right... you're supposed to either go by the commercials, go buy the tow rating guide that gives you only the tow capacity and doesn't mention payload... or just use your friend's advice that with the hp and torque you have, you can pull a house.
You're spot on on the upper end... i thought pin weight was recommended between 15% and 25%. that could put you in the realm of a loaded ~8k pd 5th wheel maxing most every number you have out.
I have seen some lighter weight 5th wheels but the ones i've seen are pretty small to where i question where the benefit is in having it (i know they pull nicer and i certainly prefer backing them up to a TT)
You're spot on on the upper end... i thought pin weight was recommended between 15% and 25%. that could put you in the realm of a loaded ~8k pd 5th wheel maxing most every number you have out.
I have seen some lighter weight 5th wheels but the ones i've seen are pretty small to where i question where the benefit is in having it (i know they pull nicer and i certainly prefer backing them up to a TT)
05-28-2015, 01:13 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
No experience with TTs yet, but I can and do read. Even at a 15% pin weight, finding a light weight 5th wheel limits you to the smallest of the bunch. I'd rather have more room and be able to carry 4 pax, hauling a hitch mount TT.
I'll certainly be apprehensive when I haul a TT for the first time. I'll be scanning the market for a decent WD hitch in the mean time. My local Navy base has TTs to rent for $65/day, so my near-term plan is to rent that a few times to decide if I like the lifestyle. I know so many people who have a TT they take out every other year. For the price, you could stay in some really nice hotels instead.
I don't even what to think of the poor folks with the Class A that cost as much as their house that sits rusting in the back yard. Certainly fine if you use it, but I look at them as eating up 4 or more years of retirement income if you don't.
I'll certainly be apprehensive when I haul a TT for the first time. I'll be scanning the market for a decent WD hitch in the mean time. My local Navy base has TTs to rent for $65/day, so my near-term plan is to rent that a few times to decide if I like the lifestyle. I know so many people who have a TT they take out every other year. For the price, you could stay in some really nice hotels instead.
I don't even what to think of the poor folks with the Class A that cost as much as their house that sits rusting in the back yard. Certainly fine if you use it, but I look at them as eating up 4 or more years of retirement income if you don't.
05-28-2015, 02:07 PM
#5
Senior Member
Short Beds and Fivers don't coexist that well. It can be done but you could get a bumper pull TT with just as much room with a lot less hassle. I know fivers have taller ceilings and such...but the size fiver that you could pull with your truck will limit choices IMO.
I would definitely look into a Travel Trailer and see if you find something that meets all your needs.
I would definitely look into a Travel Trailer and see if you find something that meets all your needs.
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SkiSmuggs (06-11-2015)
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06-04-2015, 07:09 AM
#8
ColdWar Vet-USN Shellback
Yep, but we are only weekend warriors and travel real light. Just the two of us...we don't take everything from the house with us. Empty pin weight is only #1190. Loaded is about 13-14% on the pin.
06-04-2015, 10:06 AM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Redone, that looks good and you definitely did your homework. Others have suggested higher pin weight percentages, but the RV website indicates your number.
I guess Keystone doesn't do an extended pinbox, thus the added expense of the Reese extension. Do you also have a sliding hitch or is the pinbox extension all you need to maneuver.
I guess Keystone doesn't do an extended pinbox, thus the added expense of the Reese extension. Do you also have a sliding hitch or is the pinbox extension all you need to maneuver.
06-04-2015, 10:33 AM
#10
Senior Member
Redone, that looks good and you definitely did your homework. Others have suggested higher pin weight percentages, but the RV website indicates your number.
I guess Keystone doesn't do an extended pinbox, thus the added expense of the Reese extension. Do you also have a sliding hitch or is the pinbox extension all you need to maneuver.
I guess Keystone doesn't do an extended pinbox, thus the added expense of the Reese extension. Do you also have a sliding hitch or is the pinbox extension all you need to maneuver.