does any one in here use a fith wheel set up

truck specs:

2005 5.4
3.73
35 gal tank
tranny cooler
tranny temp gauge
diff temp gauge
32 inch bfg mud terrain tires
17 inch steel wheels

 

There are plenty that do it...Ford just doesn't recommend it.
It is very difficult to stay inside most of the F150's GVWR's when you remember to add driver, passengers, hitch and anything elses put in the truck's weight together and subtract it from the GVWR to come up with an allowable tongue weight for the trailer.

 

I don't think I've ever seen a 1.2 ton with fifth wheel. Didn't know it was possible to be honest. I am looking to buy a 24' trailer. I wonder if it would be better to get a gooseneck style? What are the limitations or drawbacks to doing so? (aside from taking up bed space) What are the advantages?

 

I've seen plenty of 1/2 ton trucks pulling fifth wheel RV's. They scare me. The problem is 5th wheels have more pin weight than same sized bumper pull. Take a 6000 pound RV, with 10% tounge weight on a bumper pull and 20% for 5th wheel. That's 1200 pounds in your truck bed, plus the hitch, people, and misc camping/travel gear. It's very easy to go over your payload rating which is in the 1600 pound range. While most people will say that pound for pound, a 5th wheel will tow better, that problem is it isn't pound for pound in your bed.

This has been painfully hashed out before.

 

Ooh that has been hashed out

Makes perfect sense to me though. I plan on towing 7000lbs plus 250lbs for hitch that would take me to 1650lb pay load. My truck is rated at 1780 max payload. That means unless I get my weight down to 130lbs I will be over the limit. That's before personal luggage, dealer options on the truck etc.

It looks like staying with a TAG trailer and only 10% of the trailer weight is the way to go for our trucks.

Thanks!

 

I have a 2006 Screw with the 5.4, 3.73, tranny cooler and I tow a 29' fifth wheel...6300lbs before loading!

To help out the rear springs with the pin weight of 1300lbs I added the Timbren SES rubber blocks!

No issues... loaded trailer is within recommended fifth wheel towing capacities...tranny has to drop two gears to make it up really steep hills but that is a rare event!!

 

nightz1

You seem to be going against popular thought here however I am interested in your set up because I would like to tow a 5th wheel with my F150. I have 2004 F150 4WD Supercrew (5'5") with the towing package. I am considering a Springdale 249 Bunkhouse. GVWR of 7860 with hitch weight of 860 lbs. My question for you is what brand of hitch are you using?