This is true even with many of the fifth-wheels marketed as half-ton models. In terms of fifth-wheel RVs, many half-ton trucks can’t or can just barely handle the hitch weight or pin weight of a fifth-wheel RV. This usually refers to the amount of weight the cab and bed of the truck can handle. Simply put, payload capacity is how much the truck can carry. There’s an issue with half-ton pickup trucks that heavy-duty trucks don’t have when it comes to towing fifth-wheel RVs, and it isn’t usually towing capacity, it’s payload capacity. With that in mind, let’s look at half-ton fifth-wheels and the trucks that pull them. But the top trim level half-ton’s with high enough towing and payload ratings have the ability to do so. However, not all half-ton trucks can or should tow those models.Ī base level half-ton pickup may not be able to tow a fifth wheel. Many people already own half-ton trucks, so these options are attractive to potential buyers. When faced with the choice, buyers simply don’t want to or can’t afford to buy a heavy-duty truck such as a Ford F-350 or a Chevrolet Silverado 3500, in addition to the cost of a fifth-wheel RV.įortunately, there are fifth-wheel options out there marketed as towable with half-ton pickups, like an F-150. This dissuades many potential fifth-wheel owners from buying one. Heavy-duty pickup trucks are very large and powerful machines.
With that said, there is one glaring problem with fifth-wheel RVs-most require a heavy-duty pickup truck. The fifth-wheel hitch provides RVers with many options for floorplans, amenities, overall length, and much more. Fifth-wheel RVs offer many advantages to RV travel thanks to a unique towable design.