Since the deal I had going on a F350 didn't work out we are looking for a camper. I would prefer to get a 5th wheel over a TT, the only problem is that I don't want rails mounted to the bed floor like most 5th wheel hitches have. So I have been looking at gooseneck hitches that will allow the use of a 5th wheel hitch. I have found 1 that I really like called drop n lock. But they don't make a kit for the 04+ F150.

Does anyone else know of any gooseneck or 5th wheel hitches that may work for my needs?
Also is there anything that would limit my use of a 5th wheel camper being that I have the flareside bed?

Thanks guys!
Paul

 

No contest....
B&W flip over ball

www.turnoverball.com

You can get a "companion" 5th wheel hitch that slides in the ball hole when you need a 5th wheel hitch.
You can also get a ladder rack that slips in the ball hole as well for a very versatile system.

They are really the only system anyone needs if they will do any towing with a bed mount hitch.

 

But half ton trucks are not rated to tow just about any recent 5th wheel RV.

 

I used to tow a 30' 5th wheel travel trailer with a 1978 F-150 with a 400m/C6 combo all the time....

No one can tell me these new trucks can't pull a 5th wheel/goose neck.

 

APT will, and then he'll link you to 17 other threads where he's posted the same info. Unfortunately for him, none of his posts come from first hand experience.

To the OP, get the B&W. I've installed them in two trucks and they are definitely the way to go.

 

Maybe that 1978 F150 had the same frame and engine/trans as the F250 and F350. Could that be the reason it worked?
The newer F150's are build nothing like the Super Duty trucks.

I also agree that bed mount hitches are best left to bigger trucks, but I was answering the OP question in my 1st response.... not giving my opion on his truck choice.

Will the newer F150's pull a GN or 5'er, you bet. Well...Not well, when compares to the F250's and 350's. You can also put the 150's easily over weight with the bed mount hitch/trailers causing liability issues and or criminal traffic violations and possibly voiding your warranty and doing damage to the truck.

Is it a good idea to tow with a bed mount hitch trailer in an F150... Generally, No.

BUT, the OP didn't say what he was towing. There are plenty of small 2-horse GN trailers and small 5'er campers that they will be just fine.

 

Even the F-350 frames back in the day where no not even close to the strength of any new F-150.

The F-350 brakes back in the day was not even close to the factory brakes of the new F-150.

The F-350 power wasn't even close to the factory ratings of the 5.4L

Hell F-250's up until the late 80's came with INLINE 6, and those pulled heavy loads day in, and day out.

The only thing that 78 had going for it was the 3spd non overdrive c6 and a 9inch. Those were some bullet proof transmissions/rearends out of the factory. The 400m had a whopping 170hp and maybe 275tq and made 8mpg towing or empty.

 

He did mention that he was considering a F-350, the deal fell thru and trying to decide between a TT or 5th.
Pretty good odds he plans on hauling a family around and I guess APT just wants to able to sleep at night. Maybe the guy doesn't know there's a good chance he'll be overloaded.

Personally, if it was me comtemplating laying out a lot of cash, I'd do some research rather than asking a bunch of yahoos on the internet and calling it research.

OP here is Ford Fleet data:
Take notice of Note(1) and the bottom Note, so you go in with eyes open.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...nvFifthTow.pdf

 

Thanks guys!

I was looking at a F350 7.3L with 73000 miles, the 2 main reasons that I was wanting the F350 was because it was a low mileage 7.3L and also because it was going to allow us to use my parents 4100 lb slide in pickup camper, which in turn would save us the money of buying a camper. But the truck has its fair share of rust, so I am no longer looking at it, instead we are looking at buying a camper of our own.

We are looking at 5er's in the 23-26' range. We have found a 1998 25' Jayco Eagle, no slides, just the plain jane model. The dealer was guessing a pin wieght of 1100-1200 lbs, and loaded weight of 7000ish.

 

I have yet to see a half ton owner towing a 5th wheel RV post a weight scale slip that show the truck was under GVWR. I have (17 times?) given theoretical examples of how the math does not work for optimistically light and realistic examples of trucks/trailers. Lots of guesses, dry weight examples, etc, warm fuzzy so and so has done it for years so it must be safe.

I keep saying this (17 times?) and will until someone proves me wrong about being within all Ford's ratings for an F-150, even properly equipped.

 

Ford's ratings has a super safe factor involved....

What the ratings are, and what the truck can actually do are two different things...

Should a 1978 F-150 with 170 hp be able to pull a 30' 5th wheel travel trailer AND a ski boat according to ford specs?

No, but my father, and I both did for many many many many years. Along with many many many many many other people since trucks were trucks.

Was it safe? Yes. Did it have a 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds while pulling like the modern diesels do? nope...

So please, just don't type about things you have no real world experience with

 

Still, in this sue happy world we live in, I would want to stay with in the posted factory numbers. I have gone over mine by a few thousand lbs on a few occasions and my truck pulled with no problems at all. However, if I were to do this on a more frequent basis, I would make sure I get the proper truck for the job. I'm not disagreeing with the fact that the OP's truck would'nt have any issues what so ever pulling a 5th wheel, I just don't think it's worth it legally to tow anything well over the ratings of your truck on a constant basis. ... just my 2cents.

 

Do yall know of anyone that has ever been sued? I mean really the ONLY place i have ever read this was on this forum...

 

That is a good point. Maybe reading this for the past 5 years has put me in a state of towing paranoia? Either way, I would rather be safe then sorry and read up on the laws and limitations of towing over your vehicles weight restrictions.

 

Well I agree, if YOU aren't comfortable with it then don't. But people don't need to come on here saying it won't work when it will, and has for many many many years.