pulling a fith wheel camper with a 1/2 ton

[ozarkgem]

I was thinking of getting a Dodge(don't start a brand debate) 1500 4x4 with a hemi and using it to pull a small 5th wheel camper with. What kind of gas mileage should I expect. One of the Dodge's with the 8 speed auto tranny. Anyone have any experience with this setup. I am selling out and will no longer need a 3/4 ton.

[Magicman]

How small is "small"?  What is the total weight and tongue weight?  Does it have operational electric brakes?

Your gas mileage will probably be less than 10 no matter what it is due to wind resistance and weight.

[coxy]

i use to pull a 24ft one with a 06 gmc1/2 some times i thought i was going to have to put it in low range going up hill it was gutless i moved a 40fter about 15miles down the road with it  one time never again good thing there was no up hill one little down hill grade and thought i was going to die the truck just wasn't heavy enough

[breederman]

You will have to do the math. May be over rear axel weight ?

[ozarkgem]

There are plenty of 5th wheels light enough for 1/2 tons. Thinking 24-26 ft. MM it will have to have brakes. Won't buy one without them. I know the wind resistance will be the killer. Didn't know if I was looking at 5 mpg or maybe 10.

[red]

It's all about gears. If you need to climb hills then you need something like 3:73 rear axle. If you are mostly highway then look for overdrive. A factory tow package is a good start. But for big brakes and heavier tie rods a 3/4 ton is recommended.

[gspren]

   I've towed 5th wheel & conventional campers coast to coast and the few 1/2 ton trucks I've seen towing 5th wheels were over loaded. If your just towing local with no mountains you can get away with some over loading but when going down a twisty mountain road at speed you need a stiffer suspension for safety.

[Magicman]

Jim, we bought the 219 from LINK which has a pin weight of 500 lbs and a total weight of 4,000.  The 199 is slightly smaller with a pin weight of 500 lbs and a total weight of 3,400 lbs.  Allen Camper Mfg.

That is what we were in at Larry's place last year.  A ½ ton pickup would handle either and the fuel mileage would probably be somewhere ~8 mpg.  Gary added some valuable information above.

(If you are looking "new", PM me for additional information about Allen Mfg.)

[sawguy21]

With a fifth wheel you need to be concerned with pin weight. Figure on 20% of the GVW, empty weight is meaningless for your purposes. Now add 200 lb for the hitch, throw in the family, dog, propane grill and all the other necessities. You will reach the payload capacity of any 1500 in a hurry. Our 25' no frills Fleetwood gross rating is 5600 lb which is right on the edge of 1500 territory, we pull it with a 2500 ctd which is overkill but we like it that way.
We made the mistake of trying to pull our first one with an under sized truck. The specs indicated we were within limits but it was not a pleasant experience. Got passed by a fat kid on a bicycle climbing Coquihalla Pass and the trip down was a white knuckle ride.

[DelawhereJoe]

A buddy of mine has a new dodge 4x4 with a 5.7 in it, he also has a small 6x10 box trailer he tower to Florida his average mpg was 9. He used to have a 2500 with the same motor and it would get 12 mpg towing or not.

[ozarkgem]

I know a 3/4 ton would be better. If I was going to do a lot of pulling I would get an F550 or a small Freightliner. Just wanted to make a couple of trips without having to buy a 3/4 ton come back and lose money selling it and then by the 1/2 ton. I will have no need for a 3/4 once I am sold out.
   Interesting take on some of your experiences. Maybe a class c motor home.

[Corley5]

If only for a couple trips why not rent an RV ???

[Magicman]

Maybe a class c motor home. 

Been there and there is nothing wrong with that decision, but it is another vehicle to maintain.  Last year I gave our '90 Coachmen E350 with less than 90k miles to my Grandson.  He had plans but his oil patch job played out so now it sits.  :-\

[celliott]

I know Ford sells an F150 with a heavy duty high GVWR package. It's different than other models, more than just a tow package. Higher axle ratio, heavier brakes, 7 lug wheels with LT tires, etc. Maybe Dodge sells a similar "heavy 1\2 ton" package.

I would not expect anything more than 10-12 mpg. I pulled a big bumper pull camper with my F150, ecoboost engine, and it had plenty of power on the interstate but man did it suck the fuel. 11mpg, unloaded I can get reasonable mileage with that truck.

[ozarkgem]

Maybe a class c motor home. 

Been there and there is nothing wrong with that decision, but it is another vehicle to maintain.  Last year I gave our '90 Coachmen E350 with less than 90k miles to my Grandson.  He had plans but his oil patch job played out so now it sits.  :-\

I had several motor homes and liked the class c the best . easy to get around in. Even
had a 40' bus conversion.

[ozarkgem]

If only for a couple trips why not rent an RV ???

$5850.00  for rent  3240.00 for mileage . I'll pass.

[red]

Maybe rent a HD pickup truck ?

[Woodhauler]

Maybe rent a HD pickup truck ?

Maybe they wouldn't like you mounting 5th wheel hook up in rented truck ??? ???

[Corley5]

Having the appropriate equipment makes the experience much more enjoyable.

[Woodhauler]

I have towed my 28 ft 5th wheel camper with a 1/2 ton since 2011. It has a tow package. All I added was airbags on rear of pickup. Plenty of power and handled good. Got 10mpg on average.

[SamB]

I tow a 7000# travel trailer with a RAM 1500 4x4 crew cab 5.7 hemi 8600# towing rating 6 speed transmission equalizing hitch. I get half the mpg towing as I would get not towing but loaded 8-9 opposed to 16-18. I have added heavy duty rear shocks and 6 ply tires, the 1500 Rams have coil springs, nice ride but they squat with much of a load. As for power it is not the slowest on the inclines, more HP is better, on the down hills in towing mode I use very little brake. Hope this info helps, personally I would not think about a 5th wheel with the RAM 1500...Sam 

[gspren]

  Something for anybody that tows, or hauls, anything to keep in mind, no matter what you do to beef up your truck it doesn't change what you can legally tow or haul, it's what the door jam sticker says that counts. When some idiot pulls out in front of you and gets hurt their lawyer will say if you weren't overloaded you could have avoided the wreck, you saying you modified the suspension or brakes will make it worse.

[Kbeitz]

I pulled 8500lbs of pumps for years with a 1/2 ton truck.
I also had a heavy camper and a BIG dog along...
I'm not saying it was right but I had no problems.



 



 

[dgdrls]

Another option, Skip the 4x4 and look to the 3 liter diesel in the 1500 series

D

[sawguy21]

That is to bring up fuel economy ratings, definitely not for serious towing.

[dgdrls]

That is to bring up fuel economy ratings, definitely not for serious towing.

I wouldn't place a 1500 1/2 ton P.U. in the "serious" towing category,
FWIW, its reported the 3 liter diesel matches the 5.7 gasser in torque and gets better mileage.

[DelawhereJoe]

I've talked to a few people that have that 3.0L diesel, it under preforms but they didn't purchase it for power just fuel economy.

[DR Buck]

I went the other extreme a few years ago.   I had the single axle F350 when I bought the toyhauler.  The toyhauler is the small one at 36' but gross weight is 16k.  I didn't feel comfortable at interstate speeds or going down large hills and mountains so I bought the F450.   I get 11mpg with the 6.7 diesel and 411 axle.  And, now I'm comfortable.    ;D

[sawguy21]

Atta boy!! :D Seriously, you are doing it right. That makes the journey so much safer and enjoyable.

[gspren]

  The F450 with it's tighter turning radius is about as good as it gets for towing. Now get a Titan Tank replacement fuel tank with over 60 gallons capacity and go.

[red]

next jump up is an RV TOTER usually an International sometimes a crew cab . Regestered as an RV gives a break on insurance and DOT regulations. But that's a far jump from a half ton pickup. My friends International Flatbed gets much better MPG than his F550.

[roger 4400]

Since 2015 Ford do not have a 7 lugs .
I have a f150 supercab 8 ft box with  HEAVY DUTY PAYLOAD PACKAGE. My 2016 F150 XLT has a 2603 pounds of Payload, 4800 pound on the rear axle. It can tow 10,700 pounds ( V8 5.0L 385 hp, 387 pounds of torq) the 3.5 ecoboost in 2017 is 375 hp but 470 pounds of torq a 10 speed transmission......but I still prefer my V8, a personal choice. I often pull a trailer weighting 6500 pounds and +- 1300 pounds in the truck, it pulls more than my previous 2000 F250, better handling and a lot softer ride.
On the Heavy Duty Payload F150, everything is special under the cab......thicker frame ( Ford did not any HDPP in 2015, they did not had the special frames) they do not use the 7 lugs because the truck is lighter. Torsion bars in the front is solid not hollow, bigger shocks, 9"75 in. HD differential, 3.73 gear. with electronic lock,thicker axle, special rims ( they call them HD)  LT tires that are 4 seasons (2535 pounds rated ),   with the V8, a transmission heater, To my knowledge Rams and Chevy do not do any Heavy Duty Payload.  When you pull you also need a good payload  ( I would not suggest pulling near the truck limits (10700 pounds ) . Most of the half ton will have a payload of 1500 to 1800 pounds.  With Ford you can have lot more payload.  Good luck with your decision. Roger