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Old 05-27-2012, 08:20 PM   #21
LC Hauler
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I just purchased a 33ft fifth wheel and am towing it with a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500, 6.5ft box with trailering package. I contacted Keystone directly to inquire about the towing capacity after our salesperson showed us the unit and stated it was built for 1/2tons specifically.

I gave them the specs of the truck and they said the trailer would be perfect for the truck and to expect a bit of sag. We loaded the trailer at the dealership and noted a bit of sag, not a major amount as many people were expecting. I did Purchase a bag kit which should help with the sag and but the trailer did look level and the 1hr 1/2 long drive home was fine at 120kms/hr on the highway.

you would be surprised to find what rv builders are doing to open up a bigger market to 1/2 ton owners. We were almost closing the deal on a 31ft bumper pull from another rv dealer before we saw the fifth wheel.
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Old 05-27-2012, 09:52 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by LC Hauler View Post
I just purchased a 33ft fifth wheel and am towing it with a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500, 6.5ft box with trailering package. I contact Keystone directly to inquire about the towing capacity after our salesperson showed us the unit and stated it was built for 1/2tons specifically.

I gave them the specs of the truck and they said the trailer would be perfect for the truck and to expect a bit of sag. We loaded the trailer at the dealership and noted a bit of sag, not a major amount as many people were expecting. I did Purchase a bag kit which should help with the sag and but the trailer did look level and the 1hr 1/2 long drive home was fine at 120kms/hr on the highway.

you would be surprised to find what rv builders are doing to open up a bigger market to 1/2 ton owners. We were almost closing the deal on a 31ft bumper pull from another rv dealer before we saw the fifth wheel.
Well I would hope you don't have a major amount of sag with an empty trailer, and driving close to 75 mph, is a little insane.

Lets see how it weighs out once you get the "normal stuff" loaded in it you, DW, and the kids.

Looks like a crew cab, so looks lie you are close on several counts.
Crew cab

GVWR: 6,800 pounds (4x2 and 4x4) Payload: 1,650-1,690 pounds* (4x2), 1,430-1,470 pounds* (4x4)
4x2 maximum towing capacity: 6,150-7,200 pounds* (4.7-liter V-8), 5,700-10,200 pounds* (5.7-liter V-8)
4x4 maximum towing capacity: 5,950-7,000 pounds* (4.7-liter V-8), 7,400-9,950 pounds* (5.7-liter V-8)

Sorry but even with an ultra light, you are pushing the limits.

The part of a 1/2 ton and 5th wheels is the load on the rear axle, what is the load range of you tires, and max load on the rear axle?
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Old 05-27-2012, 10:27 PM   #23
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LC Hauler wrote -
".....the 1 1/2 hour drive home was fine at 120 kph..."

This works out to 74.5 mph. I hope the rest of your driving is on an isolated stretch of prairie road, you are alone in the truck and the only one on the highway! Whether you're towing with a 1/2 T, 3/4T or 1T, it is just way too fast.
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Old 05-27-2012, 11:10 PM   #24
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A good first post for me. How long will it be before we see the Feds stop this insanity of big trailer, little truck syndrome.

People will continue to pull something way more then they should until Johnny Law gets them. I seen an older F250 (90's) pulling a mobile home (yes mobile home). I estimated it at 57 feet long and 10 feet wide. No signs, no chase vehicles, no trailer brakes, no mirror extensions, on the bumper of the truck. Local PD stopped him, DOT showed up and impounded everything. I heard after pleading out he walked away with forfeit of all equipment and $5000 in fines.

So it is just a matter of time before someone has an accident, hurts someone and sues the manufacturers, dealers and who every else can be included to get the Feds to stop this insanity.

Remember all the BS after Katrina and all those guys that were transporters moving things under "emergency conditions". Just a matter of time. Just a matter of time.

Trailer Life may make themselves liable by printing an article that endorses this practice.
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Old 05-28-2012, 04:07 AM   #25
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Originally Posted by Festus2 View Post
LC Hauler wrote -
".....the 1 1/2 hour drive home was fine at 120 kph..."

This works out to 74.5 mph. I hope the rest of your driving is on an isolated stretch of prairie road, you are alone in the truck and the only one on the highway! Whether you're towing with a 1/2 T, 3/4T or 1T, it is just way too fast.
you guys are forgetting that here in alberta we our posted speed limit is 110kms/hr on our major highways, 5-10kms more isn't rocket speed here folks, and we aren't climbing any hills, it's pretty much all flat highways in our parts, so I'm not being some hot rod.

the truck actually is a quad cab, not a crew cab with a 6.5box, i also had the truck built through dodge at the Brampton (Ont.) plant with a few upgrades to the suspension as I pull a 19ft deck trailer with it normally.
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Old 05-28-2012, 04:40 AM   #26
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, i also had the truck built through dodge at the Brampton (Ont.) plant with a few upgrades to the suspension....
Interested. Please elaborate.
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Old 05-28-2012, 04:52 AM   #27
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you guys are forgetting that here in alberta we our posted speed limit is 110kms/hr on our major highways, 5-10kms more isn't rocket speed here folks, and we aren't climbing any hills, it's pretty much all flat highways in our parts, so I'm not being some hot rod.

the truck actually is a quad cab, not a crew cab with a 6.5box, i also had the truck built through dodge at the Brampton (Ont.) plant with a few upgrades to the suspension as I pull a 19ft deck trailer with it normally.
What you failed to observe is that the tires on the that rolling house are only rated for 65 mph, SLOW DOWN
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:00 AM   #28
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......... i also had the truck built through dodge at the Brampton (Ont.) plant with a few upgrades to the suspension as I pull a 19ft deck trailer with it normally.
Well the way I look at it is is still a 1/2 ton truck, 5 lug wheels, 1/2 ton tires (what rating), 1/2 ton frame, semi floating 1/2 ton rear axle, and pushing the weight limits. Then driving an what most on this site would consider an dangerous speed.

There are many who tow safely with 1/2 ton trucks, as they buy a trailer that safely fits within the Payload and tow capacity of the TV!

Why go to the effort of having the "Suspension Upgraded" just buy a 3/4 ton truck to start with.
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:12 AM   #29
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LC Hauler -
Having spent a bit of time on Alberta highways, I am aware of your higher posted speed limits and how flat and straight many of your roads are. Having said that, driving down a freeway, whether it be in Alberta or Alabama, uphill, downhill or on the flats at 120 kph or almost 75 mph pulling an RV is, IMHO, dangerous.
If the posted speed limit was for example, 130 kph (81 mph) -- 10 kph over what it is now, would you be driving at 140 kph -- just a few "klicks" over? What's to get excited about?
Mention has already been made about your tires but that poster is correct when he stated that you are driving beyond the speed rating of your tires. Something else to think about. And I haven't even mentioned the gas mileage issue yet with driving at that speed. Yes, I know, Alberta gas is cheaper.
Wouldn't it be easier and safer just to slow down?
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:16 AM   #30
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Posted Speed Limit

Quote:
Originally Posted by LC Hauler View Post
you guys are forgetting that here in alberta we our posted speed limit is 110kms/hr on our major highways, 5-10kms more isn't rocket speed here folks, and we aren't climbing any hills, it's pretty much all flat highways in our parts, so I'm not being some hot rod.

the truck actually is a quad cab, not a crew cab with a 6.5box, i also had the truck built through dodge at the Brampton (Ont.) plant with a few upgrades to the suspension as I pull a 19ft deck trailer with it normally.
The posted speed limit should not and does not dictate for me the speed I drive when towing. When traveling out West some speed limits were posted at 75MPH but IMHO, no one should ever tow at that speed, regardless of the TV or RV. It is an accident waiting to happen, you are not only putting your life, your families lives, and other unfortunate peoples lives, who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time! I know from experience, I was driving on I 64E outside of St Louis, MO, in a 35' motorhome - towing a Jeep Liberty - driving at 60 MPH - had a tire blow out and it was sure a white knuckle experience keeping it under control and out of harms way for my passengers and the others on the highway. Had no one passing me at the time, which saved being involved in an accident because with the blown tire, it took both lanes to get it under control but at 75MPH I would have been SOL. THINK
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Old 05-28-2012, 06:58 AM   #31
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O yea....

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smiller, The worst "white knuckle" experience I've had while towing RV's for the considerable time I've been behind the wheel was in a 3/4 ton superduty turbodiesel towing a 34' Holiday Rambler travel trailer. Trailer weight of 7600 lbs with a GVW of 10000 lbs. Properly set up weight distribution hitch, good tires, good sway control and excellent driving conditions on a new stretch of super highway at 65 MPH. A sudden gust of wind, a semi passing at the same time and I was all over the road, trying to control a trailer that desperately wanted to pass my truck. I got it stopped, quite shaken and not really wanting to drive any further. I've never experienced that kind of situation in a half ton truck. (I'm not suggesting it isn't possible, just that I've never experienced it)

So, to suggest that replacing a half ton truck with a 3/4 ton truck somehow will "improve quiet confidence while eliminating white knuckle driving" and decrease laboring engines is just not what I've found to be the situation. A "white knuckle" situation can --and does-- happen in 3/4 ton trucks, in fact, it probably happens regardless of the size of the truck being driven.
Last year we started to 'Dolphin' on a bridge over the James River on Rt 95. Mostly my fault for not getting the cruise control off fast enough, have had issues on this stretch of road before.... Anyway, a one ton dually can get pretty out of shape like anything else with the 'perfect storm' of conditions....
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Old 05-28-2012, 07:54 AM   #32
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Talking

HI I HAVE A F150 2011 ECOBOOST WE GO ALL OVER WITH R 327RES I GET 12.5 WITH CAMPER ON
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Old 05-28-2012, 08:36 AM   #33
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In California, regardless of posted speed limits, the maximum speed for Trucks and Cars w/trailers is 55 (VC Sec. 22406).
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Old 05-28-2012, 09:32 AM   #34
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Originally Posted by mjhaa43 View Post
HI I HAVE A F150 2011 ECOBOOST WE GO ALL OVER WITH R 327RES I GET 12.5 WITH CAMPER ON
Here is another one that thinks is is safe to haul a 12,000# 5er with a 1/2 ton. Must be one heck of a 1/2 ton as that is more than I haul with my 3/4 ton Diesel! Don't know what your payload is, but even if it is 2,000# you are almost there with pin (DRY) and hitch!

327RES Specifications (2011)
Shipping Weight 10154
Carrying Capacity 1791
Hitch 1545
Length 36' 5
Width 8'
Height 12'
Fresh Water 60
Waste Water 38
Gray Water 76
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Old 05-28-2012, 09:59 AM   #35
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What....???

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Originally Posted by mjhaa43 View Post
HI I HAVE A F150 2011 ECOBOOST WE GO ALL OVER WITH R 327RES I GET 12.5 WITH CAMPER ON
Dude, are you serious or winding us up? Your doing this with an F150?

327RES Specifications
Shipping Weight 10160
Carrying Capacity 1785
Hitch 1545
Length 36' 5"
Width 8'
Height 12'
Fresh Water 60
Waste Water 38
Gray Water 76

Just me, however I think this is pretty over the top, most likely illegal and not what I would subject my family (or anyone else) to with spec's. That unit is something that my F350 would be pulling "WE GO ALL OVER WITH R 327RES I GET 12.5 WITH CAMPER ON..." Just me, but I'd be worrying more about safety than fuel mileage.
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Old 05-28-2012, 11:28 AM   #36
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His photo gallery shows his setup. Payload capacity looks to be about 1900 lbs, so he’s cutting it close. Just about as close as he is with the towing capacity.
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Old 05-28-2012, 12:16 PM   #37
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His photo gallery shows his setup. Payload capacity looks to be about 1900 lbs, so he’s cutting it close. Just about as close as he is with the towing capacity.
Well lets see
Payload 1,900 #

Pin 1,545#
Driver 175#
DW 100#

That leaves 80# Dry!

Well at least the F150 has 6 lug wheels!
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Old 05-28-2012, 12:27 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo View Post
Pin 1,545#
And we all know that the actual pin is always heavier (usually by 15% to 25%) than manufacturer's spec which is a dry pin weight.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rhagfo View Post
That leaves 80# Dry!
More likely it is over by several hundred or more.

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Originally Posted by rhagfo View Post
Well at least the F150 has 6 lug wheels!
Noticed that yesterday. A friend was showing off his new F150 and the 6 lug wheels really caught my eye. Well done, Ford!
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Old 05-28-2012, 02:19 PM   #39
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The F150 HD package has 7-lug wheels.
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Old 05-28-2012, 05:28 PM   #40
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The F150 HD package has 7-lug wheels.
7 lug 17" wheels. None of the 18" or 20" 6 lug wheels on the workhorse F150 (heavy duty payload package) GM has also had 6 lug wheels on their half ton "HD" trucks for a number of years. Ford has had 6 lug wheels since at least 2005.

As for towing a 327RES with an F150. I tow with a properly equipped F150 and I feel I'm at my max "safe load" with a 26' Springdale 242. I balked at the 253 which was only 800 lbs more total weight because I felt it was pushing my truck a bit more than I felt comfortable. I couldn't imagine feeling "comfortable" towing an extra 10' and almost 5000 lbs more than I currently tow....

All I can say is WOW, that's a load for any 3/4 ton truck, I'd never try it with my equipment !!!
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