1/2 ton tow

[CORattler]

Like the old saying goes, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should"

[JandC]

I think a lot of RV salesmen guide folks in the wrong direction when it comes to the TV. They see a sale slipping away because the buyers don't want to pony up for a $40,000 pickup so they convince them that their SUV will pull the new TT or 5er just fine. Friend of mine just went through it when he bought a new "light weight" 28' TT. He was going to pull it home with a Tahoe which was ok on weight but of course his mirrors would not allow him to see around it plus no brake controller. Salesmen said he was fine and my advise was ignored. His trip home with it was horrible! He now has mirror extensions, brake controller, and beefed up rear end.

[triplehorn]

How long before we see the new diesel 1/2 ton rams with fivers connected to them?

[richfaa]

we have a member of our local camping group pulling a Cougar High Country with a 2013 Ford 150 and is within spec's. There are several in the cougar line under 10K GVW.

[Neil.M]

The new High Country I am waiting delivery on weighs less than 10,000 lbs but there is no way I would even consider hooking it up to a 1/2 ton truck. Just asking for problems, especially after loading all our belongings in it. My neighbor is looking at a Flagstaff 5th wheel weighing in at 7,700 lbs dry and I have convinced him to buy a 3/4 ton before buying the Flagstaff. Hope he listens.

[richfaa]

The High Country 315res has a GVW of 11K. The 309RKs has a GVW of 10K that is within the 12/13 6.2L Ford V8. I personally would go with a bigger truck. .There is also the 1/2 ton towable line. We see plenty of various brand 5th wheel s being pulled by the newer 1/2 ton trucks and upon looking note they are within specs.The 5th wheels that can be pulled by a 1/2 ton are to small for our use but they appeal to the weekend camper.

[mlh]

Some of these new 1\2 ton trucks are awesome. Ford's F150 3.5 EchBoost has 365 HP at 5000 RPM and 420 pound feet of torque at 2500 RPM and will tow over 11000 pounds. This is what the 3\4 ton trucks were rated at a few years ago. My wife has a Escape with the 2L EcoBoost that has more usable power than the 3.5 L Ford Edge that she had before. There is a mountain we go up, the Edge would be turning 3400 RPMs the Escape is only turning 2200 RPMs at 55 MPH. I still cant believe I have a 4 cylinder car, and like it. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
Lynwood
Lynwood

[HOOK]

You should hear some of the conversations I have with people on the sales lot. They want you to say what they want to hear. I advise them about safety and controlling the load. Some thank you and some leave angry. I sleep well.

[richfaa]

I hear you Larry. When we were selling Rv's the two most common questions we got were 'what are the monthly payments" and "will my truck pull it". When we would show them the spec's and say "you do not have enough truck" they would usually insist they did and leave.

[Flymutt]

Isn't the real issue between what a truck can PULL verses what can be placed IN or ON the truck? Is seems that a lot of the 1/2 ton truck specs tout what it can pull (like 11,000#). It also seems to me that the truck and RV salespeople (not all) don't talk about the pin weight on 5ers. At an RV show last year in Albuquerque I had a sales guy tell me that the pin weight on a 30' fifth wheel was "about 300 pounds". Say what?!!!

[Hooker]

quote:Originally posted by Flymutt

Isn't the real issue between what a truck can PULL verses what can be placed IN or ON the truck? Is seems that a lot of the 1/2 ton truck specs tout what it can pull (like 11,000#). It also seems to me that the truck and RV salespeople (not all) don't talk about the pin weight on 5ers. At an RV show last year in Albuquerque I had a sales guy tell me that the pin weight on a 30' fifth wheel was "about 300 pounds". Say what?!!!

Agree...that is a key issue. Using the standard 20% rule for PW, that 11k 5th wheel is going to have at least 2,200# PW.

[1retired06]

I have always been interested in my truck being able to stay together and stop as well as pull.

[mlh]

I agree Mike. Look at this:
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/01...ooks-like.html
Lynwood

[richfaa]

One can see the 5th wheel tow rating for 1/2 ton trucks in the trailer life tow guide. Most salespeople as well as 5th wheel owners do not understand pin weight as can be evidenced in the SWD vs Dual wheel drive on forum threads. Pin weight is simply part of the Carry capacity of the truck. It is part of what goes in the truck not what can be pulled by the truck. Never in the material provided me by a dealer when we were selling these things did we see a explanation of Pin weight. we always had to explain it to a customer and usually they did not believe us.

[Tomg]

Check the specs and talk to the new cadre of owners of the liteweight RV's and their 1/2 tons. The new 1/2 tons have better stopping power and more pulling power and now have computerized lateral control and braking that is better than any 3/4 ton of days gone by. A lot of old timers haven't kept up with the times and won't be convinced, but everyone to their own convictions.

[JandC]

The truck I had before my F350 was the F150 with the new EchoBoost. It came with a "heavy tow" package and most of the numbers looked impressive, especially the amount of weight it could actually pull down the road. The problem with pulling my Montana with it would have been the cargo carrying, or hitch weight limitations, to name a few. After pulling my two different construction trailers with the "heavy duty" F150 and my new F350, there is a huge difference even pulling weights of 5,000 - 7,000 pounds.

[kdeiss]

No one has mentioned 1/2 Vs 3/4 Larger Frame,,Rear End,Brake Pads,Rotors,Suspention,Tires,Wheels and in most cases transmission
I have owned Pickups for a lot of years always purchased 3/4 tons for the $ difference well worth it even when you do not need the towing or hauling capacity

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by kdeiss

No one has mentioned 1/2 Vs 3/4 Larger Frame,,Rear End,Brake Pads,Rotors,Suspention,Tires,Wheels and in most cases transmission
I have owned Pickups for a lot of years always purchased 3/4 tons for the $ difference well worth it even when you do not need the towing or hauling capacity

Roger that

[richfaa]

All this is true however the fact remains that the new breed of 1/2 ton trucks do have the specs to tow some of the light weight 5th wheels and they do a good job doing it. It is always better to have a bigger truck. There are many folks who pull these big Montana's and other brands with a 3/4 ton truck when a one ton or ever bigger would be a better truck. Back in the day when we pulled A TT with a 1/2 ton truck there was no way it could tow a 5th wheel camper.

Things change.

[Rspradling]

1/2 ton and a very lightweight fifth wheel would be fine.

1/2 ton with over 10k lbs behind it, you will learn on your first big downgrade of a winding mountain you just made a big mistake.