BEFORE You Buy a Half Ton Towable 5th Wheel - Watch This!

[@kennethgoss8962]

Great info and great video. We had a 24’ travel trailer and decided to move up to a 31’2” half-ton towable 5th wheel. Although our Ram 1500 pulled the 5th wheel fine, it was at the high end of the pickup’s towing capacity. And just the hitch weight and the hitch itself put us almost to our payload capacity max. So every time we loaded up our stuff and went camping we were at least 300 lbs over payload capacity. It didn’t take me long to trade the Ram 1500 in for a Ram 2500. Dang glad I did too.

[@gregwalker731]

You got my subscription! Well put information. A RV salesman will sell you any trailer they can, they don’t care if you’re trying to pull a 5th wheel with a Datsun. Most RV salesmen have never pulled a trailer, they get to work in a Prius. Your safety is up to you!

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks for subscribing sir! They are certainly very convincing to new folks though. Research is always key when purchasing anything. Very true! Just glad I am done buying a trailer for a while...always a headache dealing with sales people haha. Have a good one - Shane

[@sbridd1450]

@ I have this rig plus an Anderson 5th wheel hitch 35lbs. 2015 F150 Ecoboost, 2,200lbs and 10.800lbs. Over 18,000 miles traveled, very easy and comfortable towing. Like all rigs you have to do your research before you buy.

[@haulinodie5548]

Very good, I actually had an F150 Max Tow 3.5 Ecoboost and for 1 season towed our new 24ft FW, dry 7,200. The manufacturer specs would show that the F150 was capable, which it was, however stability and braking is an issue for half ton. I knew that was replacing the truck this year, it really provided the opportunity to know the difference, new truck is 2019 F250 6.2l 4x4, the stability is night and day difference. Braking is better, handling and overall control. The half ton managed the old travel trailer well, was 5,300 dry, but in a head or cross wind with FW, the half ton is weak on control. Safe travels!

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks for speaking about your experience! All I really know are the numbers and never had the opportunity to tow with a half ton. However, we towed a 21ft rig before with a Nissan Frontier and I definitely know how unstable and unsafe feels lol. Glad you found something that fits the bill better! Already enough things to worry about while towing rather than wondering if the vehicle towing is truly capable. Have a great week and thanks again for sharing! - Shane

[@paulkuehn3352]

We have been towing for 20 Yrs. IF you want stopping power go with bigger truck. I have tried towing against 35 mph wind you need the power and its not good to rev your rpm's at 2-3000 all the time. Upgrade to 3/4 ton gas or Diesel you will not be disappointed. Great video

[@nevysadventuresllc9074]

Glad to hear this information I was planning on a 3/4 ton as well when I upgrade. I would to know more about the struggles and fuel efficiency of your gas engine. I wanted a diesel truck but the fuel is out of control in price and maintenance costs.

[@jdawgbosshogg7384]

Thanks for doing the homework for us. I was a little skeptical of this.........seemed like a great way to tear up a 1/2 ton truck. However a “half ton towable” trailer and a well equipped 3/4 ton or one ton with gas or Diesel engine seems like a great way to not stress out any equipment and make life easy.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks for watching! Yea, we decided to go with a F250 and a lighter 5th wheel for flexibility. Seems to work well thus far. Have a good one - Shane

[@georgecook1374]

this is a great vid for anyone that just walks in and the sales guy says oh you got a 1/2 ton you can tow any of these next thing you know you got a person out there breaking the law and possibly hurting themselves or others. I personally would say don't tow 5th or travel trailer with anything less the a 2500/250 3/4 ton truck. Also always make sure you are able to tow what the max GVRW for the RV is with your truck.

[@darklord0568]

Can't thank you enough!!! Exactly what I needed to hear.

[@winnguyen443]

I can’t believe I didn’t find your video sooner. I’ve went thru this great video of yours and it matches my research almost exactly. I agree with everything you said. Reflection 150 series with a properly configured F-150 is the way I’ve decided to go. The payload for the truck is almost 3000 pounds. The trailer gross weight is 9000. I figure I’ve got a decent buffer with both specs. Thanks again!

[@WallaceDunn]

Dude at 2:50 did you fart? LMAO great video... looking at doing the exact same thing. Just sold a motor home and planning to buy a 5er. I have a Tundra with tow package rated at 10,200.

[@DnSAdventures]

Lol, it was my immature brain fart humor, but glad it sounded real haha! Good luck! I would definitely pay close attention to payload and your rear axle limitations. After you find something that works out with #s on paper, I would test drive it before purchasing. When I first started hauling our current 5th wheel around with our previously owned F250 with the 6.2L gas engine, I was surprised how sluggish it pulled. We still ended up making it over all the mountain passes we threw at it out west, but holy cow some of those were nerve racking haha. Ended up getting a diesel F350 (350 rather than 250 mainly because the diesel engine weighs a lot more and we were already cutting in close # wise living in our RV fulltime). The power difference isn't even comparable though and we (me, my wife never tows lol) are so much happier and less stressed when towing on hills. Sorry, probably TMI, but basically just wanted to say test drive it first so you don't run into the same issue that I did. - Shane

[@YHE_Trickner]

great content, I have explained this to many friends. however, in case no one already pointed this out you are looking at the wrong chart. Ford has a separate chart for F150-5th wheel towing. The first time you show the tow rating chart I can see that you were looking at the conventional towing chart. The #'s do change slightly.

[@Dave-nf7rc]

I was looking at a half ton towable then, I crunched the numbers. No way, with the 5th wheel dry I would have only 260 pounds left in capacity. I weigh 230, my wife is petite but we would have been overweight even before adding gas to the truck. Traded it in a d bought a Ram 3500 with the Cummins diesel. Kernersville gave me 27k on the FX4 so, I was a happy camper or will be .....

[@DnSAdventures]

Glad you crunched the numbers first! If I were to do it all over again I would probably get a 350 or 3500 diesel myself. Puts the mind at ease and gives you the extra power to get over those steep hills/mountains. Have fun on your adventures! Always makes them more fun not worrying about the truck struggling going down the road. - Shane

[@kyrek387]

I have a 2018 f-150 3.5l ecoboost and towing capacity is 13,100. Tows 12,400 travel trailer up hills and doesnt even slow down. I had a 2500 2011 turbo cummings diesel, and my version out tows it any day of the week. But not all f-150s are the same. The only things I would add is balance your load and if you are concerned add air bags to the suspension. And with a fifth wheel make sure you have a trailer brake.

[@Chrissers2010]

Very good video. It is also interesting to realize not all fifth wheels are towable with a 1 ton diesel pick-up for the very same reasons. I have a 2006 F350 crew cab 6.0 diesel 4x4 single rear wheel, and our truck can handle up to a 14,400 pound fully loaded fifth wheel as we are most limited by the GCVW (gross combines vehicle weight) of 23,000 pounds. Our pickup is at 8600 pounds full of fuel, with my wife, dog and myself in it. With that we are looking at around 35' to 37' fifth wheels to stay within that GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating). Pretty much all 40 footers are out for us. Always do your homework.

[@AlaskaErik]

The one thing anyone thinking about towing a so-called half ton towable 5th wheel with a half ton pickup is that advertised pin weight is a fairy tale figure. Your pin weight will be so much heavier and you'll be grossly exceeding your payload capacity. You could even exceed the payload capacity of some 3/4 ton diesel pickups, especially if they are highly optioned. A gas 3/4 ton will have a higher payload capacity due to the much lighter weight of the engine, so if it's advertised as half ton towable, your best bet is to tow it with a gas 3/4 ton, at the very least. I pretty much agree with DnSAdventures, although he should have emphasized the huge disparity between advertised unloaded pin weight and real world fully loaded pin weights. When looking at 5th wheels, multiply the max gross trailer weight by .2 or .22 for a better idea of what the pin weight actually will be. Never use the empty trailer pin weight because you're never going to be towing empty trailer.

[@terrydriggers5217]

This!

[@metalmaster8320]

Stop trying to beef up small trucks and get one that is built to carry the load

[@garymccarver5006]

When 5th wheels first came out, most people towed them with half tons and nobody freaked out about it. Trucks didn't even have tow ratings. Few people even owned trucks and if they did, they were half tons. Only contractors and farmers owned anything bigger. Trucks were weaker and 5th wheels were heavier. If the truck would move it, you towed it. It's just the way it was. But the truth is, these days, half tons are are more capable than yesterday's three quarter tons and today's three quarter tons are more capable than yesterday's one tons. Don't remember there being anymore accidents due to overloading than there are today. Probably fewer. But people didn't try to tow at 70 and 80 miles an hour like folks do today. That's what gets them in trouble. Not necessarily being over loaded. But since numbers have been established, I guess that's a good thing and it's best to stay within them.

[@paulsylvester1394]

Excellent! Some drivers think their truck can do anything. Yet they put tens of thousands of dollars at risk for a truck and trailer while risking the lives of their families! A bigger truck has better stability and bigger brakes! This is like life insurance except you don’t have to die to collect. I was pulling a bumper pull 28’ trailer with a GVWR loaded of 7200 lbs. Just two of us so not fully loaded at all. I towed with an older F250. It was great! Replaced the truck last year after 20 years. Spent a few hundred more for an F350. Nice! Safe!

[@blake_isnt_here5642]

I dont have a 5th wheel but I got a jayco 224bh hitch but I got a gmc sierra 1500 6.2 lieter

[@MountainTopHomestead316]

Best video I've seen on this so far. Sound effects and pop ups were hilarious. Good job

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks so much! Really hoping this video saves a lot of people time and money. I know when I first started researching I was really surprised what the true limitations were for the half-ton trucks. Haha, yea..kind of a dry subject so I tried to spice it up the best I can. Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@MountainTopHomestead316]

@@DnSAdventures lol you did a good job, when it comes to facts us guys dont mind the dry stuff lol.

[@DestinationEarth]

Wow, there really is a lot of variance on what you can tow with a truck. Guess people really need to look into things before buying them!

[@DnSAdventures]

Indeed! When we first started looking, this was really an eye opener. Thanks for watching sir! - Shane

[@UBBERTANKER]

the half ton trucks have the power but do not have the axles, suspension, brakes and transmission required. I all depends how far and how often you tow, if you are only going a couple hours away a few times a year a half ton will get it done but day in and day out you need bigger

[@Soladaddy]

Right on the money. I pull a 2016 Open Range Light (1/2 ton towable) 5th wheel, LFW295FBH, that is 9300 dry, GVWR 11,995. It maxes out a 1999 F-350 dually diesel crew cab rated at 13,200 towing and 20,000 CGVWR. At the scales, loaded for a trip the truck had 4700 lbs on the front axle, 6,000 on the rear and 9350 on the trailer axles. That's 20,050 lbs. Truck had a skinny family of 5 (650 lbs), 3 dogs, 100 lbs generator, 100 lbs gas, 150 lbs of water and maybe 200 lbs of tools. And this was a cross-country trip with no, bikes, fishing gear, kayaks, fire pit, fire wood. True a new F-150 3.5 can do it on paper, but I'll stick with the 20 year old dually that can control that weight.

[@DnSAdventures]

Sounds like a nice setup you have! If I had to do it again, I would get a F350 to tow even my lighter 7500 dry rig just to give us more room for junk...since we live in our 5th wheel fulltime. F250 makes it on the #s...but would still like that extra cushion. Thanks for watching and commenting! - Shane

[@Soladaddy]

The dually and CC long bed makes everyday driving a bit more work with parking and maneuvering. It shines when loading stuff in the bed and that comfort of feeling in control when towing. My wife stresses everything, but will fall asleep when towing. She would never do that with our first rig; a 1500 suburban and a 7k TT.

[@Wishmeluck1976]

Very helpful. Just bought an “ultra-lite” fifth wheel advertised as half ton towable. I have an F-150 5.0 V8 and thought I’d be ok but more and more I research more I realize I need more. Getting the F-250. Thanks!

[@DnSAdventures]

Happy for you and sorry for you at the same time. I know the feeling when you have a truck too small to tow the trailer. Had the same thing happen to me when I owned a Nissan Frontier at one point haha.

[@samanthaisraelsen6823]

Get a 350

[@robertcolpitts4534]

With some half-ton trucks, you might could tow it, but can you stop it in a pinch? The 10-ply tires help a lot, but can you stop the trailer? Better off with a 2500HD or heavier.

[@MileHighCampers]

I would have to agree with your skepticism. From personal experience I have burned up a transmission in a Ford Excursion and a GMC Sierra 3500 HD (Gas) just from pulling bumper pulls. With that said finding the right tow vehicle for your specific rig is critical. I’m praying I finally have the right combination, LOL!!

[@DnSAdventures]

Yikes! I imagine that was not a very cheap experience! Haha, well hopefully the numbers are matching up right for you now. Hard to get things exactly right without going to a weigh station and getting the real numbers...just never convenient to go to one haha. Thanks for watching sir, have a great week! - Shane

[@timothybockhoff1075]

I just came across your video. I was looking at “1/2 ton towable fifth wheel”. If you just take 20% of the GVWR of a Grand Design Reflection 150 Series 278BH. That makes the tongue weight 1,999#s. Add in a fifths wheel at roughly 150#s brings my it up to 2,149#s. My payload on my Ram 2500 Cummins is 2,222#s. Add if my fat but and we are over payload by 112#s before kids and wife and dog. I hate when rv manufacturers say you can tow things you definitely can’t unless you plan not putting anything in it ever.

[@DnSAdventures]

Yea, those manufacturer weight restrictions often don't give much wiggle room for actual cargo or hauling capabilities. We ended up upgrading our F250 later after this video to a diesel F350 for more power and payload to haul our 2019 Grand Design Reflection 150 series. Seems like a lot of folks are far too trusting of "experts" these days. Hope videos like this at least spark some more thoughts for people to do more of their own research. Especially since I am not an expert either haha.

[@franciscodomenech8198]

I own a 2019 High country with the 6.2 the factory numbers at the rear axle is 3,800 lbs. This new half ton has bigger brakes and better suspension, with the advantage tow package. The drivers makes a huge difference don't matter what you drivers. Driving at mountain if you connect the 4 low if a big difference,

[@atatistcheffs]

I'm interested in knowing how a 5th wheel tows compared to a bumper pull trailer. I have a 2015 F150 with the 3.5 EB and that max towing package so I'm at the 12,200 lbs towing capacity. When I pull our 29ft 6100 lbs dry trailer it pulls just fine but I wonder if it would be more stable in a 5th wheel configuration? The only reason I'd consider a 5th wheel is to reduce the overall length of trailer+truck and get a more stable ride since the connection point is over the rear wheels rather than on the bumper. Will I notice a marked towing improvement pulling an appropriately sized 5th wheel?

[@atatistcheffs]

@Jeff Spicolli Thanks, the real challenge is finding a 5th wheel that really is 1/2 ton towable. The pin weight on these is quite high and pushes my F150 payload to the max. I will probably stick with bumper pull and get a 3/4T if I ever decide to try a 5th wheel.

[@tufelhunden5795]

Nice video. The only half tons capable of towing most half ton fifth wheels are the 4X2 regular cabs. It's going to be the payload that sinks the deal. In my opinion you did it right by using at least a 3/4 ton truck to tow it.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks! Yea, the less weight added to the truck the more payload. Unfortunately not always advertised as clearly as it should be. After towing this thing for about 6 months now there is no way I would have used a F150. The Rocky Mountains were an eye opener lol. Have a good one - Shane

[@lionelhernandez34]

Great video, it's unreal how confusing it can get. Wife was insistent that we could tow a small travel trailer with her SUV. I tow utility trailers daily for work use and would never even think of it with an SUV or a half ton. My cougar "half ton" is supposedly within half ton range. That being said fully loaded for a week long trip, you can really feel it behind my f250 6.7.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks man. Yea for sure, definitely weigh it if you ever get a chance to. It is crazy how quick that weight can add up once you start throwing stuff in the trailer haha.

[@Masterchief68a]

If you opt for the heavy duty towing package and the (at least) 3.42 rear end then you can tow a “half ton towable” fifth wheel but be advised, be no larger than 30 foot! Not to mention that the local version of the state police will happily charge you if your over weight and in an accident. Remember that the dealers will tell you anything to get you to buy their product and don’t give a damn if your towing safely!

[@sum2automation]

Good topic, thanks for the facts. Some RV sales pepole will say anything for a sale... I knows some truck owners wishing they didn't go so big... Truly took the family fun out of RVing. Thank again!

[@rogerspalding2847]

Excellent analysis. I think that some vloggers must be on somebody's payroll. There are those so called "experts" who push really unsafe towing practices. People also believe the inherent sturdiness of 5th wheels will keep them out of trouble. They are only deluding themselves. Thanks for trying to spread the warning to all those novices. Maybe one of them will wake up and listen to you. You can only do so much to save some people. HAGD. SS.

[@stevemcmanigal3410]

Hey DnS, give yourself more credit. You made a good informative video. I own F150 Supercrew 2.7. Its numbers fall short of almost ALL 5th wheel trailers

[@DnSAdventures]

Hey thanks Steve. I don't make many videos like this because it takes a really long time to put together haha, but glad it is helping some folks out. Have a good one - Shane

[@IlIKRATOSIlI]

Why does no one seem to mention that the payload capacity sticker is based on stock suspension and light load tires? Yes the frame can be limiting as well but this is why you see that huge range. Sorry adding 4 inches of cabin space doesnt not eliminate a ton of payload. Outfit your truck correctly for towing. That is what's important.

[@bluecollarwatches7048]

Should have a yellow payload sticker on the drivers side door frame. No 1/2 truck should be pulling a 5th wheel, I had a 17 f150 with 1869 payload, which is high for a 1/2 truck, I still upgraded my truck to a 250 because we wanted a bigger trailer.

[@flyguy30263]

Great Video. This information needs to become more widely understood. I have a 2019 Super Duty with a Power Stroke, only has 2499 LBS of payload so many of these so called half ton towable RV's are pushing the limit with my 3/4 ton.

[@Overland-460]

I currently own a 2017 F150 Lariat 5.0 V8 and class b rv. I'm not happy with my class b bc it's a little too small for me, my wife and a cat. I'm looking to trade my class b to a 5th wheel or trailer. But I'm in love with the 5th wheel over a trailer. So I'd love to get a 5th wheel and figure out to tow it to a rental property. Then will trade the f150 to f350 later. Thank you for this video..🙏

[@cameronloeffel8099]

I tow a 10,000 pound fifth wheel with my 2006 Chevy 2500 we added airbags in the suspension so it will tow better

[@johnstangel8918]

Great video you helped me convince my wife that it's a bad idea even if they sell slide hitches she is all hell bent on getting rid of our 38' motorhome for one of these. thanks again

[@DnSAdventures]

Haha, rut ro, hope I'm not in trouble haha. Definitely want to be safe out there on the road! We actually just bought a F350 to tow our lighter 5th wheel. (Not a dually haha) Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@22gstepp]

Great info and accurate. I have a GD 295RL 150 series and tow it with a Silverado 2500. I am probably very close to maxing out the payload of my truck (2568pounds). I recently went on a trip through Maryland on I68. Well I had a really hard time pulling this thing up those hills. Probably took 10 years off the life of the truck. I don't care what anyone says. You can't pull anything close to 10k with a half ton truck and even then you should have a maxed out 3/4.

[@metalmaster8320]

Those trailers need a 1 ton dually and a Diesel. Why do people kid themselves

[@nonrevhogan8938]

I love how when the manufacturers of RV only show the hitch weight of the RV empty. Leaves it to you to grab your calculator and do the math for 20% of GVWR of full RV which it will be at least. Ha. And its surprising that people don’t count the hitch, tools, people, into the cargo weight. With HT RV’s boy soon as you fill water, propane, there isn’t a lot left over. Sure people pack them up too heavy and that put more on truck. Why I mentioned in your cougar/Ht comparison why I traded 250 for 350. Weight adds up quick. But don’t want to go dully yet. And thats the only way to get up over that 3400 cargo weight. You would love to have a 350 with diesel for sure. Glad you are keeping your family safe. I have been doing the same learning. Dealers could care less (most off the time, did find a one that looked at truck door sticker, rare) Such a line of bull with half ton towable truck. Yea, with no people, tools, and empty Rv , your good to go. LOL. keep up the great content. Have you weighed everything yet? I see good stuff on HaulGauge. Just subscribed and catching up on your channel. 👍👍👍👍

[@DnSAdventures]

Weight certainly does add up quick. Whenever we get something new we try to think of something we can get rid of that is at least equal weight. We haven't weighed everything in the new rig yet, we should, but we haven't really gained much since our 21ft travel trailer. So as far as weight goes, we should have it fairly well distributed and within the limits. You are right though, we really should take it to a weigh station to get our exact numbers again just to be sure. Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@donnaschindlbeck7457]

Thank you so much for spelling this out so well. We were considering the exact GD you currently own. Doing the math put us at the max payload with our F150 3.5 Eco-boost with 10,700 tow capabilities. Our current Winnebago (7000lbs max) pulls great. We were not convinced our F150 was up to the challenge of the GD 150 series even with the lightest model they make. Darn! Really loved that floor plan.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks for watching! That really stinks, but definitely better safe than sorry! I would rather drive a F150 around on adventures than our larger F250, but it puts our minds at ease in most scenarios towing down the road. Love our GD though! Pretty sure we will be keeping it for quite a while! :) Have a great week! - Shane

[@paullutz457]

If you really want to know the true tow capacity of your truck. Take the Gross Combined Weight Rating of the tow rig and subtract the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the tow rig. You’ll be surprised to find that this number is usually lower than what the manufacturers guide tells you.

[@Bushpilot1948]

I have a 1997 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 5.0 extended cab short wheel base. Is there a different chart each manufacture? I like the layout of your chart.

[@DnSAdventures]

Not sure how far back charts like these go quite honestly. I would hope they would have something similar for a 1997 Chevy though. I didnt dig too deep into it, but I think this might be yours. www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1997-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf

[@Bushpilot1948]

@@DnSAdventures Thank you. I am interested in getting a travel trailer and started looking for small 5th wheels but also looking at traditional trailers. Thanks for replying.

[@jamielcua]

THANK YOU SHANE!!! Great info I wanted so badly to make my 2014 F150 5.0 V8 work w/a 1/2 ton towable 5th wheel. It would work if we were only hauling marshmallows, hersey bars and gram crakers....

[@DnSAdventures]

There are definitely some pretty light 5th wheels out there, but they are so small that I'd rather have a bumper pull myself. Hope you find something that fits your truck! :) - Shane

[@cassidydem]

Awesome research. But I bet power wise the ecoboost would out pull the 6.2l. I’ve have airbags on my 150 and ecoboost as well. I beat a person up a hill in there car pulling my 23ft toyhauler lol. However I wish they’d put the ecoboost in a 250. That would be perfect.

[@johnbyrne5867]

Half ton 1500 PU can easily tow an Escape 5.0 TA 5th Wheel safely. It's one exception more trailer manufacturers should consider. Almost a two yr wait to get a new Escape 5.0 TA.

[@clarencemcgregor8568]

Altitude can reduce towing capacity by 20% or more so what works in Kansas may not work in Colorado!

[@tommays2865]

I too drank the cool aid and bought a ½ ton towable 5th wheel to tow with my F150. My new tow vehicle is a F250, night and day difference. Yes it can be done, but I’m glad I got the F250!

[@cb4498]

We purchased a reflection 290bh 150 series. We towed with it twice with my 2012 f150 the way my 150 was configured the capacity was 11,300#. My gross fifth wheel was 10,195 #. This half ton fifth just about killed my truck, it had the 3.5 eco boost. Just not enough torque, stopping power. We’ve since upgraded to a ram 2500 6.7 Cummins and it gives us the all around performance and the stability we need to feel safe and everyone else around us. The inline 6 is a tow pig. In my opinion if we ever upgrade our fifth wheel to a heavier we will probably look for a 1 ton dually.

[@DnSAdventures]

Glad you made the upgrade to tow more safely. Can be expensive, but certainly pays to keep the family in good health! :) Thanks for sharing you personal experience with a half ton. Have a good one - Shane

[@TheTeeshot22]

Great video with great information. We tow a Jayco Eagle HT 29.5FBDS (34.5 ft) with 2017 Ram 3500 Crew Cab Diesel Dually, i can tell you it squats my truck pretty good when we hook up. I am a firm believer in overkill for many reasons. I am a semi tanker driver by trade and see plenty of questionable configuration going down the road. My bigger concern with most people towing is stopping ability not towing ability.

[@DnSAdventures]

Agreed! We tow ours with a F250 gas...but kind of wish we had a F350 diesel for the added payload and power. Honestly the 250 does pretty well with braking so it has worked out in that aspect. Thanks for commenting and letting me know your thoughts. Always good to hear from other people's experiences. Have a great weekend - Shane

[@fedguy9182]

@@DnSAdventures We pull out 7500lb GD travel trailer with a 2019 F350 power stroke. We found that our trailer overloaded our payload on on 2018 F150. The F350 with the higher GVWR make for a well planted tow experience particularly doing up and down mountain grades. Truck and trailer matching cannot be overstated

[@harveyhenry3598]

Very few people tow 5th wheel trailers with 1/2 tons. I expect or at least hope the ones that do have done the math because they know the edge is really close. A lot of people tow 5th wheels with 3/4 ton trucks and the majority those 5th wheel pins plus gear and passengers put them over the CGVWR of 10,000lbs of a 3/4 ton, some of them by a lot, but most of them pay no attention to the math.

[@robertrodriguez7659]

Ok first of all thank you for the info. My question is how do I know what gear ratio and all the other info I need to know as to how much I can actually pull with my truck? A 2017 eco Diesel 4x4 crew cab

[@DnSAdventures]

Howdy, thanks for watching. From the bit I've researched, the gear ratio isn't as easy to find. I think some manufacturers might include that info searchable from the VIN # itself. I only knew mine from asking when I purchased the vehicle. Maybe someone with more knowledge can answer that question for you. Payload and tow capacity stickers are usually located on or near the drivers side door. I think this information might be searchable by your particular VIN, but keep in mind that if any modifications have been done to the truck, those numbers may no longer be completely accurate. For example, my current truck had an aftermarket 50 gallon diesel tank added...which would increase the weight and decrease the payload I could carry. That among other reasons is why it is good to leave a good amount of wiggle room to make sure your truck can properly tow your rig. If your stickers are gone, you can always try to go by the manufacturer's fleet brochure for your particular make and model, just remember these are ballpark #s and not exact to your particular configured truck.

[@allusiongg7386]

surprised to see no one talking about the fart at 2:55 🤣

[@chicnwing4519]

You may be able to lift 200 lbs over your head but how long can you hold it there? Same with 1/2 ton compared to a 3/4 ton , power isn't the issue , it's rear axle design 1/2 ton are nothing but a larger car axle . A 3/4 ton full floater set up axle design same as semi truck

[@evolrider8996]

I just bought a new 3/4 ton truck so I can tow one of these 1/2 ton towable trailers. My current F150 has tons of pulling power with the 3.5 eco but only 1100 lbs payload.. sad.

[@RVBarndominium]

Hey Shane..You found your new job..Full time KZbin Creator 😀👍. This is important information. My dad has a fifth wheel and blew out the radial belts in his side tire walls from being over loaded. I hope i said that right?..Tires are not my speciality..guy stuff. Haha. ~ Cindy Lynn

[@DnSAdventures]

Haha thanks for watching Cindy! Maybe in a couple years I will be at that stage just before KZbin changes their monetization policies again. :-P Yikes! Hope everyone was ok during that event!? Tires are not my specialty either haha. I'm sure I'll learn all about it once we eventually blow one :-P. Have an awesome weekend if we don't talk sooner! - Shane

[@RVBarndominium]

@@DnSAdventures yeah..u never know with KZbin for sure! Everyone was fine but they could only go like 15mph because the issue created a terrible bump while moving.

[@joswearingen4521]

We have a 2016 F150 with the ecoboost engine. It has plenty of power to haul our >6K# ultralight 27' trailer. We borrowed an F250 to move the trailer--it had a gas engine, not diesel. While the 250 was more stable (laterally) it struggled to pull the trailer uphill. I'm wishing for a bigger trailer, AND an F350. First world problems, I guess.

[@DnSAdventures]

Yea, we ended up going with a F350 diesel recently. The power between the 6.2L gas and 6.7 diesel isn't even comparable in my opinion. So much easier with the diesel. - Shane

[@marksigler175]

Very well done! Most Every camper at dealership can be towed by 1/2 which is total BS. The dealership should be fined for saying such, not the person buying the trailer. The Salesman Shoud be the expert for the customers. Makes me mad hearing the term 1/2 Towable!

[@sjeverett75]

Every dealer I've ever been to asks me what my tow vehicle is, then they show me something my truck can pull. Ive never even been shown much less sold something ny truck couldn't easily handle. Maybe its a Texas thing, but I've never dealt with a salesman shady enough to try and sell me something that would require a 3/4 or 1 ton if I told them I had a half ton truck, 4 runner, or Tahoe.

[@marksigler175]

@@sjeverett75 You can pull anything with 1/2 until it won't. I live in the mountains in Montana. A half ton pulling even a 7k trailer on mnt grade will tow it but struggle, gurantee it. My thought is go with the bigger truck to tow with,better to be TOO big then not big enough where the trailer bosses the truck In any heavy wind storm you'll be glad you choose bigger, that's my honest opinion.

[@raniloasuncion970]

Your suppose to talk about half ton towable fifth wheel but you don’t use a half ton truck. Pretty helpful.

[@JHA6100]

Love your sound effects!! Great content.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks so much! Hoping this saves people some money...or at the very least keeps them safer. Have a great week! - Shane

[@henk376]

I have a 2010 Nissan titan with tow package... i'm planing to buy a Forest River Cherokee 235B... what do you think?

[@DnSAdventures]

I don't know how I feel about making recommendations on specific combos as I am still not an expert myself. However, I recommend looking at the exact #s posted on both the truck (should be on the door) and the 5th wheel (ours is located on the front driver side) getting the GVWRs, payload capacities, the GCVWR of your truck. And then estimate the weight of what you will be hauling within the trailer and truck as that could make a huge difference. Don't forget to include the weight of passengers, hitch equipment, and also water if you plan on boondocking. Even if you meet the capacities based on what you are hauling, I would try to give a 10-20% padding of wiggle room underneath the max capacities. Especially if what you are hauling may vary from trip to trip. Unfortunately most half-ton pickup configurations leave little to no room for a 5th wheel's payload. Some lighter 5th wheels do come within the max tow capacities of the truck, but really maxes out the payload. Sometimes the payload is ok with the 5th wheel alone, but exceeded with any cargo added. Sorry that this isn't a yes or no answer, just too many variables involved to comfortably point you in a direction. - Shane

[@46fd04]

Some hard facts; My 2019 RAM 2500 with Cummins has a 1960lb. payload cap. My brother in law's 2019 RAM 1500 with gas engine has a 1426lb payload cap. My 32' KZ Durango 1500 5th wheel has a loaded pin weight of 1850lbs. which is TOO HEAVY for the Half Ton truck.

[@3sticksoutdoors]

That diesel engine eats a lot of payload! Technically, it's too heavy for your truck after you calculate in cargo, passengers and hitch weight. My 3/4 ton gasser has 2982 lbs payload and plenty of pulling power with the 7.3L.

[@46fd04]

@@3sticksoutdoors You're correct. I weighed my truck with my wife, cat, full fuel tank, and trailer attached; 10,700lbs. The GVW is 9,900lbs. It's a great example of why people should NOT be using Half-Ton's to pull 5th wheels.

[@robertjasoncanha]

How do u put a 5th wheel hitch on f150 when Ford f150 doesnt come with that option

[@DnSAdventures]

Not sure what the options are on F150s, but we had a body shop install the rail system on our F250 along with a 7 pin plug in the bed. I am sure there are aftermarket solutions out there though for F150s.

[@robertjasoncanha]

@@DnSAdventures thank you for your response

[@truckerbj]

That's why I stuck with a 34ft travel trailer, and pull it with my ram 1500 megacab

[@brianlundsr1489]

Good video! You are articulate and you explained well! Thanks!

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks so much! This one took quite a while to put together, but want folks to tow as safely as possible. Have a great weekend! - Shane

[@rogerclark8681]

We have a GD 273 MK as well. You mentioned you were hauling with a F250 short bed, are you using the Turning Point pin box? If so how is it performing? We are thinking of upgrading trucks and have heard negative comments on the Turning Point.

[@DnSAdventures]

Nice! How do you like it so far? I think the biggest knock against the turning point pin box is the maintenance that needs to be done on it. We are already over due, but you apparently need to take the bottom half of the pin box off in order to repack the bearings with grease. Only squeaking noises we have heard though were from just below where the turning point pin box turns. We just sprayed in some white lithium spray and that seemed to fix the squeak...but we still need to get it properly repacked. I will try to make a video on that once we do as I can't seem to find anything online about it. Reese Sidewinder? has an instructional video online though on how to maintain there pin box. So might be something fairly similar. We actually just upgraded to a F350 diesel just for even more payload and power. Tows SO much better, but now we are going to have to lower the rear on the truck since the turning point doesn't have any height adjustments. ALWAYS something in the world of RVs that needs modified haha.

[@jonbuswell1385]

I have the same 5th wheel that you have, GD 273mk, and I tow with a 3500 dodge with a cummins in it, I also have a 16 foot car trailer hooked behind the 5th wheel, I put my RZR side by side on it or my old jeep wrangler, half the time yhat im towing I dont even know that anything is behind me...

[@DnSAdventures]

Nice, how do you like it thus far? Oh man, I would love to have a diesel engine after towing this thing over the Rocky Mountains haha. A little jealous. Sounds like quite the fun setup! Thanks for watching and commenting! - Shane

[@KeystoneTexan]

Bullshit

[@luislucero1625]

Can u make the comparison for a cougar 25res half ton with a 2015 toyota tundra 4x4?

[@DnSAdventures]

Been super busy lately and haven't had the chance to record or edit much, but if I make another video like this I will definitely consider it. I recommend looking at the payload and tow stickers on the vehicles and trailers themselves though for specifics. So much can change with slightly different variations between the models.

[@chlebowg]

Thanks for the info. I'm considering a 5th W for my 1/2 ton for the reason of sway. Winnebago just has one that is 7' wide and 5800 lbs.

[@DnSAdventures]

Cool that might be a good option. I bet the pin weight is pretty low on that as well. Definitely have seen many shorter 5th wheels that could be towed by half ton trucks, just not too many made that way any more. Have a good one and thanks for watching! - Shane

[@stevemcmanigal3410]

@Khaldoun Samman Wnnebago 2405. I looked at them for the same reason. It really is 1/2 ton towable.

[@jimquantic]

One thing for sure, DO NOT put yourself in the hands of the friendly salesman. He may--or may not know crap about it. But once you buy it--get it home, then do "your homework" and find it is not even RATED to pull your boat, or your trailer, or carry your load, you are S O of luck.

[@RedShiftedDollar]

You made a critical mistake in your tow capacity calculations. The fifth wheel hitch adds a lot to the max capacity of the truck and you didn’t factor that in. You show the “conventional towing” table but need to find the “fifth wheel towing” table.

[@patriot8087]

Good work. Thanks for sharing your research. very informative.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks so much for the kind comment! I hope to put more videos like this together in the future when time allows. :) Have a Happy New Year! - Shane

[@patriot8087]

Shane I have been thinking I would buy a fifth wheel like yours or the Fox Mountain by Northwood? I now know that a half ton 1500 or F150 isn't going to do the job the way I would want it equipped. It is way to close if it did not enough excess for me. to feel safe. thanks to your research has been very helpful to make my decision. Any problems or issues with your Reflections 150 fifth wheel. I'm new to your channel.

[@JaridOrgeron]

I like your style, subscribed.

[@PeeWeeHenson]

YOU WOUND UP BUYING THE REFLECTION 150. WHAT SWAYED YOU IN THAT DIRECTION?

[@DnSAdventures]

We told ourselves we would never buy a brand new trailer, but this one had the perfect layout for us. It had a built in desk where one of us could work at and has a nice open living area where we wouldn't get too cramped. Really have been impressed with the Grand Design build quality thus far, although we still live in a mobile earthquake so things do need repaired here and there. We also liked the lower pin weight due to it not having a slide in the bedroom area. A bit tighter fit when trying to walk around (I have to shuffle my feet)...but usually just in there to sleep anyways. With an overall dry weight of 7600 and nearly 2000 lbs of carrying capacity, it seemed perfect for us. Can't say much bad about it thus far. - Shane

[@brandonj.williams4661]

The ram 1500 megacab vs the standard ram 1500 is like night and day. Both are considered half ton trucks.

[@DnSAdventures]

Ive never towed anything with a Ram but I bet you are right. A lot depends on the exact configuration you get.

[@michaelcollins6080]

This is the specs for this particular truck. It will EASILY pull and handle the Grand Design 150 series 5th wheel. Especially the 2021 260RD F-150 SuperCrew Cab Short Bed Drivetrain 2 Wheel Drive Engine 5.0L V-8 Towing Type Fifth Wheel Axle/Gear Ratio 3.55:1 Max Towing Capacity 10,100 lbs

[@CJ-sm7tp]

I got a Ford ranger 3.2 wildcat 2015 it's supposed to be able to pull three and a half tons I'm not sure yes that would be suitable to tow most of the 5 wheels and it's a diesel thank you

[@DnSAdventures]

Hey there. I haven't heard of many 5th wheels that can be towed by midsized trucks, but maybe the Scamp 5th wheel? I know it is quite a bit lighter than your average 5th wheel. I would definitely pay attention to the payload stickers and the GVWRs of both the truck and 5th wheel before making any purchases though. Weight definitely adds up quickly. - Shane

[@HalfCrazy520]

Just because a truck's specs say it will tow 12,000 lbs, that doesn't mean the truck will be happy doing it. Always use more truck than you need.

[@metalmaster8320]

Good idea

[@minihub67]

Here is an example of a situation.. to show how these things can play out. I am looking at fifth wheel towing with 04 Ram 2500.. using 20% of the trailer (Grand Design 230RL) GVWR 9495x20% would be close to 1900lb of pin weight, I only have 1980 to spare. Here is what this user ended up with, on the specific unit I am interested in.. Some F-150 can surely tow this if accurate. Owner:. Maybe these number can help. We took our 230 RL all set up for camping across the CAT scales a couple of weeks ago. Out actual trailer weight came in at 8040 lbs. Our UVW from the factory was 7076 lbs delivered. Our pin weight loaded for camping was 1480 lbs. We tow with a 2019 F250 4x4 crew, 6.75 box with the 6.2 gas. Payload is 3196 lbs on the yellow sticker. Happy travels! Hide or report this Like · Reply · 2h Me: Douglas Ingram Well thats interesting since the UVW pin weight is 1195, so you only went up 285lbs from that? That sure flies against the idea of 20% of the trailer GVWR of 9495x.20= 1899lbs. I have 1980lbs to spare so if that's accurate, I would be a "happy camper" pun intended.

[@05xlt]

Towing capacity is not a “real” number per say. A max towing capacity of 12,200 is nowhere near enough for a 12k# 5er, or TT for that matter. Whenever someone starts talking about max towing capacity, ask them how much wind weighs. Ever stood up on a roller coaster, or go for a walk in a tornado? The resistance of the wind is a constant force pushing against your 96” wide 12ft tall box as you go down the road. It will easily put you over your “towing capacity”. If you’re still unsure, hook your truck up to an 8k flat bed/tractor/mini ex/pay loader, and then pull an 8k camper. It’s different which makes that max towing capacity completely relative. Dry weights? Those numbers will literally never matter. Base your pin weight on the GVWR, 20-25% and then look at your payload. Again, stay away from your max on payload, give yourself at least a 25-30% buffer. Your towing experience will be much better. You, your family, and those sharing the road with will also be significantly safer!

[@patsysherrill6697]

We have a diesel 2020 dodge 1500 would you recommend a half ton with this type of engine

[@patsysherrill6697]

also its 3.0 LITER v6 ECO DESIEL

[@DnSAdventures]

@@patsysherrill6697 Hey there Patsy! I doubt the engine would be the weakest leak on your dodge 1500. I would closely examine the payload and towing capacities for your truck and whichever rig you think you may purchase. That sticker just inside the driver door can help a ton with your towing needs. For half ton trucks, payload can be the biggest issue as they don't have that extra leaf spring and beefier rear axle that heavy/super duty trucks have. There are definitely some lighter 5th wheels out there that might work out, but I definitely recommend working out the math first.

[@mikegifford3121]

What's the weight of your trailer loaded

[@DnSAdventures]

Honestly we never weighed our current setup, we just went off of the gear we had weighed in our previous trailer/truck combo. We ended up adding quite a bit of tools etc to our setup and bought a 1 ton truck to make up for the difference just to be safe...and to get a diesel engine for more power going up mountain passes. - Shane

[@unowhotravelchannel]

Useful information, liked the screen insert too, great stuff! Thanks for sharing 😎👍👍👍😎

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks guys! Not my most exciting video for sure haha, but hopefully it'll help some folks out! Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@Mike-01234]

Why did you use ford towing specs from 2015 when this video was made in 2019?

[@DnSAdventures]

Hey there, I just happened to own a 2015 F250 at the time when making this video so I had the specs handy and compared it to a similar year F150. - Shane

[@OBHarding]

Use extreme caution when buying a truck, in my case a F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine, as most salesmen will not know the ACTUAL tow and cargo capacity of the truck that you are looking at. When I bought my F150 I was told that it had a 13,200# tow capacity and a 3,230# payload capacity. 2 days after I bought the truck I found out that it actually has a 10,700# tow capacity and 1,664# payload capacity. I went back to the dealer and they refused to take the truck back even though they had lied to me. If you are buying a Ford in North Carolina there is no protection to you if a dealer lies to you - none at all.

[@DnSAdventures]

Wow that is really awful! Sorry that happened to you! I will take that to heart next time we purchase a truck. Thanks for sharing the story and sorry that it wasn't exactly a good ending. - Shane

[@davidkinasevych8439]

Really informative and explained well. Thanks for this.

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the kind comment. Hope to get some more informative videos out there rather than just adventure videos haha. Have a good one - Shane

[@rojo7261]

I think your on target ... always get a bigger truck, and always do the research it's better to be save then sorry thanks for being detailed and honest ...

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks! And for sure, always better to be safe than sorry. I see so many folks on the road that seem to be towing more than they should. Hopefully some will catch wind of this video or others like it! Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@ChadBlackburn1]

Thank you for the video. That’s the same truck I have. What’s your average miles per gallon?

[@DnSAdventures]

Thanks for watching! Honestly I haven't kept very good track of it since it isn't all that great while towing haha. I am guessing on good days we get 8-9mpg while towing depending on the terrain. Probably closed to about 15-16 when not towing anything at all. Again, more guesses than anything. - Shane

[@ChadBlackburn1]

You’re welcome! Thanks for the information. That helps me out 🙂.

[@LuisMartinez-ft9or]

3200lbs of payload for a single cab 3.5L Ecoboost F-150 is amazing! It would be possible to tow a 5th wheel with that. You won't have much room for additional cargo, but you can do it.

[@DnSAdventures]

Indeed the configuration does exist, just might not be easy to find out on the market. That combo likely has additional towing packages etc to reach that max GVWR of 7,850. Always good to check the stickers on each individual truck to make sure you are getting what you need. Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@2015_Rubicnn]

I wouldn't waste my time with a half ton towing a fifth wheel, period. Plus you'd be working that little turbo engine pretty hard. You'd be borderline with a 3/4 ton. It's not just about payload, it's about brakes, frame capability axle bearings etc. I'd rather be comfortable with a more capable truck, than stressed out and white knuckled driving.

[@LuisMartinez-ft9or]

@@2015_Rubicnn Yeah that little turbo that's been out on the market for over 10 years now and was engineered from the start with turbos. I don't disagree with the 1/2 ton argument, but the whole idea that the 3.5 eco boost is somehow going to blow up, or not reliable under heavy load is BS.

[@2015_Rubicnn]

@@LuisMartinez-ft9or I didn't say it will blow up, but it's a fact, any little engine will work harder to pull the same load a bigger engine can pull. Smaller parts and components vs more robust and bigger components. It's ok you love that little turbo engine.👍

[@samanthaisraelsen6823]

1 tons are just too expensive now. Not that long ago you could buy a decent used F150 Lariat Diesel with around 50k miles for around $30k or less. Now, you might be able to find one 9 years old with 200k + miles for about $45k. Watched my F150 Lariat I bought last year increase in value by about 6 grand..

[@DnSAdventures]

It took us quite a while to find a decent deal on a F350. Had about 90k miles on it at the time, but was in incredible shape in Arizona with zero rust. Definitely not easy to find these days.

[@ROF_85]

Just purchased my first diesel. 2012 F350 6.7 Lariat with 103k miles. Has been maintained well. Cost a pretty penny at 40k but hoping to get at least another 400k miles with proper maintenance. Will be pulling our 2018 Jayco Eagle HT 30.5 MBOK

[@genemcdaniel8514]

Good job!!! Good advice.

[@misters2837]

I bought the truck 2008 F250 4x4 V10 w/4.10 gears (14,200 5th Tow Capacity - 21K GCVWR)... I am looking to buy a Smaller 5'r Toyhauler (They Claim Half Ton Towable -I know better - LOL - 7000lb empty) and for local use "Double Pull" my 14' ATV trailer empty (1500LB)...Obviously I am a flat-lander with no plans to "Double Pull" outside the upper midwest, *but then again Western states are less Anal about allowing ATV's to Drive in/out RV parks* ... Around Here State Parks, and RV parks Frown upon that BADLY (Our state is run by idiots)...So the idea is when we get to our destination we can Unload the quads out of the 5'r and load/hook the 14' ATV trailer to the truck and pull to trailhead. - Looks like with My Quads/Water/Propane the 5'r is going to be 9000-9500 (trailer has 11,600 GVW) + 1500 Empty 14' Trailer...That puts me with a double unit together at 10.5K to 11K (and 17.5-18K GCVW) - Seems like a lot, but realistically this use would only be used at low elevations and within 500 miles of home....The greater distance locations, I will be leaving the 1500LB "Tail" at home.

[@kennethriley3678]

There are no half ton 5 wheel trailers

[@DnSAdventures]

After towing one with a F250 and F350 I would probably never tow many of them with a half ton truck. They do exist however, just not as many labeled as such. Here is a super light one for example. www.scamptrailers.com/showroom/19-deluxe-trailer#layout-b

[@joenissan]

I tow a 2019 Jayco Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS with a 2016 Titan XD diesel and you forget it’s even back there. A few hundred pounds either way isn’t a big deal, it’s how people tow. Slow the hell down when towing. In fact some states have a slower speed limit for towing. Slow down, it’s not a race.

[@DnSAdventures]

Agreed, no need to rush when towing! Not to mention the tires are only rated for a certain speed and not sure everyone really looks into that before flying down the interstate haha. Have a good one - Shane

[@ROF_85]

Agree 100%. Just because your truck can pull something like a feather at 70+ speeds doesn’t mean it should be done. I currently have a 2012 F350 6.7 Lariat pulling a Jayco Eagle HT 30.5 MBOK and won’t do over 55mph even tho I know I can easily do well over. No need to kill myself, my family or anyone else on the road to prove how strong my truck is. Get tired of seeing guys hauling ass past me in the left lane dragging a 30+ ft trailer in a truck loaded with wife and kids. Ridiculous.

[@azcharlie2009]

If you tow ANY trailer with ANYTHING other than a 3/4 ton diesel, you're going to have problems. PERIOD!!!

[@fattie2550]

Whats your MPG towing and not towing?

[@DnSAdventures]

Depending on how flat the road is, we usually get between 7-10mpg while towing the 5th wheel and 15-18 when not towing. Not amazing, but it gets the job done. Thanks for watching! - Shane

[@fattie2550]

Not bad numbers at all. thanks for responding back.

[@eaglewings7374]

Appreciate your honesty on it. Most people willing to take this risk are putting themselves and others in danger

[@jacobsonshaun01]

You nay sayers are crazy, I have a f150, 3.5l eco, 3.55 axle ratio with ford's max towing package, just recently purchased the reflection 150 278bh and it pulls it no problem at 60 to 65mph, hell it pulled at 70 no problem. Don't be an idiot when pulling and you'll be fine. It has lighter pin weight, it's all good. Pulled in rolling hills with a 30mph cross wind and was just fine. Sure a bigger truck would be better but ford's half ton is fine when equipped right and driven correctly