1/2 ton tow

[stiles watson]

I don't see this very often, but did the other day. It was a 1/2-ton p/u towing a fifth wheel. It was a smaller one, but the sag was very evident. Even at 60 mph, he was towing beyond his stopping power.

[DQDick]

Bet both salesmen told him he wouldn't have any problems.

[Alwims]

Nothing amazes me anymore it seems. We sold our 20k older Valley 5th wheel hitch to a young guy in Texas. Him and his dad came and picked it up in an 80's Chevy 1/2 ton pickup. When his dad stepped up on the tailgate the truck bed went down about 3 ". They hauled the hitch into the bed. Then they both got in the bed to move it around. I looked at the bottom out bumpers on the axles and they were both bottomed out. I asked them what truck they were going to use it on and they said, "this one", pointing to the Chevy. I tried to back out, but they wanted the hitch, so I just shook my head all the way to the bank.

[K0LCB]

Never underestimate the willingness so a person to try to do the impossible

[WeBeFulltime]

Scary!

[1retired06]

Even without an accident, has to create significant wear and tear on the truck.

[BB_TX]

Not to defend those who obviously exceed their ratings, but with the higher tow and payload ratings of the newer 1/2 tons and some manufacturers making extra lightweight 5ers specifically for 1/2 tons, not all are exceeding the truck ratings. Still, I would have to look at the numbers very closely before I would consider it.

[mhs4771]

I just can't understand why someone would buy an undersized TV, then spend thousands of dollars trying to upgrade it to try and do the job.

[Recumbent]

When farming we hauled cattle to market for many years using our 1989 F150 5.7 gas (8 ft bed) Custom 4X4 with heavy duty springs and wheel/tires using a gooseneck 16 ft. dural axle steel trailer. Never tried to overload, but always filled up the available space with cattle in the trailer. We typically fit in about 12 head of calves that weighed about 500+ pounds each or 5 cows that were about 1000+ each. Always traveled slowly at say 45mph along 15 miles of good road in a rural area. We still see this same adventure happening in our community on the weekly auction days and once a month for the feeder calf sales. Recently searched for the gooseneck trailer GVWR and found a plate etched at 6750 lb. No need to look for the truck rating as the beefed up springs and extra steel platting for the gooseneck and bigger wheels and tires changed everything. The truck is worn-out, but we still put about 1000 miles a year on it.

[ole dude]

There ya go the old proverbial--pee ant pulling a bale of hay--

[bethandkevin]

Up until 2010, you would have seen me doing the same. My 1500 GMC 4x4 was rated for 8500# and I added leaves to the springs for additional loaded height. that light weight was 7000# and 28 feet long. That said, I knew my truck was getting old and didn't venture far from home. As for stopping, remember our trailers have brakes. The burden of stopping is not entirely the TV's. In fact, under normal braking, very little burden should be on the TV if controllers are set correctly.

[Flymutt]

Is it true or false that the TV brakes are responsible for stopping the pin weight of a 5er? I've often wondered this because the "word" is that the trailer brakes are responsible for stopping the trailer but what about the weight placed on/in the truck bed? Is that load stopped by the truck brakes or the trailer brakes? Just wondering cuz I never heard anyone say definitively.

[RickW]

Last year when looking for a new pickup for a daily driver I stopped and looked at the full size Toyota. Nice truck but the kid who came out to help me was less than knowledgeable. He watched a few too many of the Toyota commercials and believed them 100%. His words .... the Toyota could pull anything you can put behind it.

[RickW]

quote:Originally posted by Flymutt

Is it true or false that the TV brakes are responsible for stopping the pin weight of a 5er? I've often wondered this because the "word" is that the trailer brakes are responsible for stopping the trailer but what about the weight placed on/in the truck bed? Is that load stopped by the truck brakes or the trailer brakes? Just wondering cuz I never heard anyone say definitively.

THink of it this way, using my 3400 as an example, it has a GVW of almost 16k. Stock it came with 2 7k axles under it. i bet my original axles had 7k breaks since they were 7k axles. I just don't have the faith that Keystone (or most other RV manufactures for that matter) would spend a few extra dollars to put larger breaks on the axle other wise they would just used the 8k axles.

[stiles watson]

This was neither a new i/2-ton nor a lightweight 5er.

[bethandkevin]

Stiles, it sounds like it was one of those instances of " you just had to be there to appreciate the situation" to me. As for the braking question, I prefer to think of it as a team effort, rather than who should stop what.

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by Flymutt

Is it true or false that the TV brakes are responsible for stopping the pin weight of a 5er? I've often wondered this because the "word" is that the trailer brakes are responsible for stopping the trailer but what about the weight placed on/in the truck bed? Is that load stopped by the truck brakes or the trailer brakes? Just wondering cuz I never heard anyone say definitively.

- The TVs brakes are designed to stop up to its GVWR. Included in that GVW is the pin weight of the 5th wheel.

- If the 5th wheel has two 7k axles, I'd think it would be designed to stop 14k worth of weight.

[Montana Sky]

I've seen more 1/2 tons towing 5th wheels this summer than in years past. The scariest thing I've seen so far was a 38-40' motor home towing a 30' travel trailer behind it. I briefly talked to the owners - their reason was simple: the motorhome is for the adults and the travel trailer is for their 4 kids (ages 8-16). I smiled and continued on my walk as I figured I did not want to get into a stability, lengths, and risks, discussion with these folks.

[Recumbent]

We occasionally see large Class A diesel pushers towing 16ft or longer box trailers carrying perhaps motorcycles, tools, or work supplies, and we just keep on wondering, but at a greater distance.

[Art-n-Marge]

I've seen Motor homes towing trailers and while there are guideline limits for length, height and weight, this does not mean it can't be done. Hopefully the weights are maintained and they have the proper training and licenses for what they own for length, weight, and height. Sometimes it's more obvious and most times you wish for they are compliant.

Maybe that person doesn't like their kids but let's just hope they get to travel in the Motor Home and not the TT.