Towing a fifth wheel

Hey guys. I'd like to buy a fifth wheel but in the rv dealership the salesman ask if my truck is build ready for it ( sorry about my lack of knowledge ). I know in the specs the tow capacity of a platinum is 11'120lbs. My third generation tundra has a 5.5 bed length. Can I install a tow hitch for a fifth wheel? I also concern the nose of the trailer touching the top rear of the crew cab.

 

I have a feeling this is going to open up a can of worms kind of discussed several areas here already brace yourself OP

 

short answer: NO

long answer: depends on the entirety of details about the rig and trailer setup. And likely still ends in NO.

 

What model was shown in the commercial?

 

There is no way these are real questions

 

Hell no.

SPP

 

Here's 2 posts, 6.5' bed, what do I win???

https://www.tundras.com/threads/fifth-wheel-commercial.104239/
https://www.tundras.com/threads/5th-wheel-towing-on-new-2022-tundra.99061/page-2#post-2647456

 

Okay, so now that those useless comments are out of the way:

Towing capacity really doesn't matter when it comes to towing a 5th wheel. A 5th wheel pins a lot of weight onto the bed of the truck, so the number you should be paying attention to is actually your payload capacity, not your towing capacity. Sure, towing capacity matters, but you'll run out of payload loooonnngggg before you run out of towing capacity. There are a handful of 5th wheels that kinda maybe possibly be towable with a half-ton truck.

Take the Grand Design Reflection 150 278BH as an example. It's designed to be towable by a half-ton (Reflection 150, as in, you know, the F150):

https://www.granddesignrv.com/showroom/2021/fifth-wheel/reflection-150-series/floorplans/278bh

Scroll down to the "Specs / Features / Packages" section, and pay close attention to these 3 key specs:

UVW
8,345 lbs
Hitch Weight
1,321 lbs
GVWR
10,195 lbs

What does that all mean you ask? Well, UVW = Unloaded Vehicle Weight. So you pick up the base model 278BH from the dealership, and that's what it weighs right off the lot. You go home and add 100lbs worth of cargo, now it weighs 8,445lbs (8,345+100).

Hitch Weight is the most important component when it comes to a 5th wheel. That'll be directly equivalent to the payload. If your truck is completely empty with not even a single straw wrapper in it, and the truck is driving itself while you're sitting on the curb watching it drive away into the sunset, your payload needs to be AT LEAST 1,321lbs. You can find this information on the yellow sticker on your door. I'll get more into this in a bit.

GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Remember how I said the UVW is the base model weight with nothing in it? Well, this is the most the camper can weigh after adding everything to it. It's the rating that actually matters. UVW is there just for reference sake.

Now, back to the hitch weight/payload capacity. So, let's say you coincidentally have 1,321 payload capacity. Great! Time to load up that 5th wheel and take it out for a spin right? Wrong. Let's focus on the 5th wheel itself for a second. The general rule of thumb is to take 20-25% of the GVWR to estimate the hitch weight. So let's take the lower end of that range. 10,195 * 0.2 = 2,039. Uh oh, welp. Now you're 719 POUNDS OVER PAYLOAD. Or, to put it into percentages, 154.4% of your payload is being used up. So you'll need at least a payload capacity of 2,040lbs for that 5th wheel. See the problem?

"But @JamesAZ", you say, "As a matter of fact I do have 2,040lbs of payload!"

Great! That's wonderful! Now go ahead and load up that 5th whee- haha just kidding. Now the fun is getting started! Assuming you're an average man of average weight, with an average wife of average weight, and 2 average 10-year-old identical male twins of average weight, and the average weight of the average boy Golden Retriever that's driving in the truck with you.

Average male weight: 200lbs
Average female weight: 170lbs
Average 10-year-old boy weight: 70lbs
Average male Golden Retriever weight: 70lbs

So, now you've gotta take that ALL out of your payload. So 2,040 - 200 - 170 - 70 - 70 - 70. That makes your available payload now 1,460 pounds. Oof. That's only 100lbs over the hitch weight!

Okay okay okay, now, let's say you did find that magical 5th wheel that has a GVWR of 7,300 (1,460 x 5). Did you add any type of modifications or any accessories at all? Got the factory all-weather floor liners in your truck? Go ahead and knock off about 15 pounds. Running boards? Go ahead and knock off another 60lbs. Literally, anything that is considered an "accessory", take the weight of that off your payload, and that's what you're left with. So let's say you just have those 2 accessories I just listed. That makes your final payload a *drum roll* 1,385lbs!

Now, considering no Tundra has a payload capacity of 2,040lbs, and you said you have a 5.5ft bed Platinum, assuming it's a 4x2 and not a 4x4, that leaves you AT MOST a payload rating of 1,720lbs. So, taking all that math I did on our hypothetical truck and applying it to your hypothetical payload capacity which is probably 300lbs more than what you really have, that leaves you with 1,720 - 2,039 = -319lbs of payload capacity before factoring in for your accessories, weight of you and any passengers, and any cargo or anything you have in the truck with you.

Factoring in for all those exact same components, you're left with -319 - 200 - 170 - 70 - 70 - 70 - 75 = -1,374lbs.

So in conclusion, unless you can remove 1,374lbs worth of weight from your truck, you won't be able to tow that 5th wheel. You can find a handful of lighter 5th wheels, but your selection is extremely limited.

 

Average female weight = 170 lbs.?

 

While I agree with what you've said above concerning payload, one other factor that I would be concerned with is rear axle capacity (GAWR).

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/w...ght-for-women#average-weight-around-the-world

GAWR is definitely an important factor as well, but that's a bit more complicated to measure and account for compared to just looking at the payload rating listed on your sticker and taking 20% of the 5th wheel's GVWR.

I can't imagine being under payload but over GAWR is a common occurance.

 

If you really want a 5th wheel get a 3/4 ton truck. When you hook up a 5th wheel on a 1/2 ton you will be over your GVWR as others stated and nose up. When you lighten the load on the steering wheels. Losing steering control when towing a trailer is not good.

 

Thank you for the detailed explanation of my reply.

SPP

 

Agree!! BUT of course only if you have a 2020 or 2021 which were trucks of the century, towed 15k while getting 19mpg , had crappy (non) infotainment system since the motor is only thing a real man needs to hear while towing that Raptor 3 axle toy hauler.
Otherwise please do not tow over 1500 pounds with the 22 mini truck. Good luck.

 

With the wind yesterday, I was getting 7 mpg at 60-65. Not bad for 14.5k combined.

 

Never, ever listen to an RV dealer when it comes to if you can tow a camper. The answer is always yes

 

Right? Come visit my local Wal Mart and you would double that number.

 

Anything is possible. Would not suggest it.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbWmh2oASd

 

I don't think there is a 5'er hitch made for the 22 yet but I'm sure eventually. I tow a 5th wheel with my 19, 6.5' box with no problem. 1050 hitch weight and 5700lb trailer. No issues with trailer and truck cab.

 

Just stay under the GSWR. Gross suggested weight rating

 

No, there are not any frame kits yet. That is what is keeping me from a new one for now.

 

5.5 ft bed - No go
P tires - Suspect
Payload - Suspect

Probably not but anything is doable if you put your mind to it.

You really want a 350/3500 and tire option that allows the highest rear GAWR.

 

Right? Have you looked at most of the people in campgrounds? I am guessing it is higher than that for your typical RV'r

 

Which is a measly 3800 lbs on a 2022 Tundra. Just based on what my F150 scaled at I am guessing the Tundra's unloaded axle weight is in the 2400-2500 lb range and then you gotta account for the 150 lb 5th wheel hitch. So he really only has 1200-1300 lbs available before anyone even gets in the truck.

 

And all the fat ones have tats

 

I look at this as a positive... I'm above average...

 

I probably rate at about 80% of average. Much like my IQ.

 

I'd totally use this if I ever have a need for it



Made in TX too.