smokeywren

Most people that try to tow a small 5er with a half-ton pickup will be overloaded. They can tow the load, but their suspension and brakes are overloaded because they exceed the GVWR of their tow vehicle.


Example: Keystone Sprinter 25' 5er with one slide, wet and loaded weight 8,000 pounds, including pin weight of 1,200 pounds. With that trailer my front axle weighed 3,300 pounds, my rear axle weighed 4,680, and my trailer axles weighed 6,800 pounds for a combined weight of 14,780


So my GVW was 3300 + 4680 = 7980. I didn't have the HD Payload Pkg, so that 7980 GVW means I was overloaded over my GVWR.


And 4.680 on the rear axle exceeded my rear GAWR. So that small 25' 5er overloaded my F-150. And it will overload yours too if you don't have the very rare HD Payload pkg.


That 5er just happens to have only 15% pin weight. Most smaller 5ers have 17% or more pin weight.


So yes, a TT is a better fit for an F-150. Most TTs have 12% to 13% tongue weight, and a WD hitch will distribute about 20% of that tongue weight back go the trailer axles. So you have a better chance of not being overloaded.

RedOne

Actually we do use a 5th Airborne Sidewinder and we could have got by with just the regular Sidewinder but this one is so smooth you really don't know you are tugging a BIG box back there most of the time running down the highway. It did add a little more weight but some was offset by taking the original pin box off too! Weight wise it was the best choice as a slider hitch was way too heavy. Hundreds of pounds too heavy... We never have to worry about hitting the cab as we have 4-6" clearance at over 90 deg turns...going forward or backing up.

SkiSmuggs

I towed my 9500 lb fiver for 3 seasons and over 12,000 miles without issue with my 2011 Ecoboost CCSB Max Tow. Payload was 1848. I have the Sidewinder pinbox to prevent cab contact. While I was near my GCWR, I was about 600 lbs over my rear GAWR. I compensated the same way that Ford does with the HD Payload package; SuperSprings and Bilstein HD shocks. I know, we didn't have the HD axle.
The truck rode level and with a tow tune pulled strong. I am now towing the same fiver with an F350 CCSB PSD. While it is even stronger and a little more stable, it is a rough ride compared to the F150. I am not blown away by how much better it is, but just faced the reality of being maxed out on the F150. I've converted to dual 6v batteries and added solar to the roof, and now have the capacity to carry stuff (water, diesel fuel, etc) in the bed and don't have to think about weight.
To summarize, be smart about it, configure your truck and fifth wheel correctly as Red One does and I did, and enjoy!

RedOne

A little wet but ready to go.


Heading out again tomorrow...just for a long weekend jaunt to Kansas City...

MichaelInCalifornia

Red,

I'd love to see a close up of the hitch and also see how it jack-knifes. Not that I'm buying one, but I am curious how it all works together.

RedOne

I can turn over 90 degrees with nothing even coming close. We have covered the Eastern half of the country and have over 12000 miles towing. From upper state NY to Florida from East coast to not quite Rocky Mountains...no problems at all. Heading over to KC for a Jazz and wine Festival.

MichaelInCalifornia

Thanks. That is a sweet set-up.

SkiSmuggs

Keystone does have an extended pin box on many models, but that is not enough for a 5'7" bed. The Reese Sidewinder/Revolution, an option with some fivers, makes it work really well and no slider is needed or wanted to make over 90 degree turns.
After reading about it, I had my dealer add it almost 4 years ago and am now in my second short bed truck.
Having a relatively low pin weight is part of the planning for an F150, typically under 1200 lbs dry. Mine was 1410 dry and the loaded pin weight prior to extra batteries, etc was 1650 and is now probably 1700 or so. You need to configure the F150 with towing a fifth wheel in mind with a MINIMUM of Max Tow, and better yet, the HD Payload for a 2300 lb payload.

MichaelInCalifornia

The truck is what it is. I'm stickered at 19xx lbs cargo weight. I figure if I went 5th wheel, all cargo that didn't breathe would have to go in the trailer. One would really have to optimize one's choice of 5th wheel. But, it appears some here have done well.

RedOne

Yea, we are 1800+ payload on the truck and probably over by a little when traveling. It will work out just like SkiSmuggs did for a while. When we get to doing this stuff more often we will move up to a 350 and then maybe a bigger 5er as our friends want to go a out a lot more often when we all retire. Right now, we weekend warrior with just the two of us and it works out perfect for us. Just drove 300+ miles today towing the 5er and got almost 14 mph (Midwest flatland driving and a tailwind). It is going to take a lot more to move up to something bigger as we have enough power and stopping power to do everything we want.