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Started By
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Converting trucks for 5th wheels
Posted on 9/8/10 at 8:47 am
Posted on 9/8/10 at 8:47 am
I have a F-150 truck, nothing fancy. How much am I looking at total in "converting" the truck to be able to pull a fifth wheel?
3
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:11 am to Chad504boy
Depends what kind of hitch you want...I like the B & W style with removeable ball. but they are expensive
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:34 am to TexasTiger
don't i need to add airbags or something to the truck?
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:43 am to Chad504boy
No that I am aware of. And i know the pic is huge...its the best I could do on short notice. The only issue you may have is the shorter bed on a F150 and where you put the hitch if you have a tool box or something in the back of your truck.
This post was edited on 9/8/10 at 10:46 am
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:44 am to TexasTiger
Just put width=600 behind url address
This post was edited on 9/8/10 at 10:45 am
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:47 am to Chad504boy
learn something new everyday.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:48 am to Chad504boy
Most fifth wheels will have pin weights that push the limits of a F-150. I had a Reese 16k lb slider hitch installed at berry land when I bought my 5th wheel. I think it was around $1400 for the hitch and installation including adding a 7 pin connection in the bed of my truck.
ETA: I have a chevy 2500HD crew cab short bed with a tool box. Have to make sure your 5th wheel has an extended pin box so you don't crush your cab with the short bed.
ETA: I have a chevy 2500HD crew cab short bed with a tool box. Have to make sure your 5th wheel has an extended pin box so you don't crush your cab with the short bed.
This post was edited on 9/8/10 at 10:50 am
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:54 am to bayoudude
And if he has a F-150 Crew his bed is even shorter than yours.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 10:59 am to TexasTiger
Yeah best advice would be to trade that F-150 in on a F-250 and be done with it. The 2011 has a factory 5th wheel hitch prep option 
Just my opinion but I would not tow a travel trailer or 5th wheel with anything less than a 3/4ton. I am still kicking myself for not stepping up to the 1 ton when I bought my truck two years ago.
Just my opinion but I would not tow a travel trailer or 5th wheel with anything less than a 3/4ton. I am still kicking myself for not stepping up to the 1 ton when I bought my truck two years ago.Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:03 pm to bayoudude
quote:
Yeah best advice would be to trade that F-150 in on a F-250 and be done with it. The 2011 has a factory 5th wheel hitch prep option Just my opinion but I would not tow a travel trailer or 5th wheel with anything less than a 3/4ton. I am still kicking myself for not stepping up to the 1 ton when I bought my truck two years ago.
You are probably right. Ideally, i'm more ready to get the travel trailer before the truck but really i don't have the ideal truck yet. I'm in a frick me situation.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:07 pm to Chad504boy
I did see some 1/2 tons pulling fifth wheels at the last campground I went to. I am sure it is possible but you will really have to watch your weights. My Wildcat 32QBBS weighs about 9800 lbs and puts 1500 lbs on the pin. I am sure you could get something in the 25-26 ft range that would put less weight on the pin but probably not under 500-800 lbs pin weight for a fiver. No problem with a travel trailer though. My uncle pulls a 26' puma bunkhouse with a F-150 that has a 6" fabtech lift with 35x13.50 tires but he does get 5-7 mpg doing so
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:17 pm to bayoudude
quote:
My uncle pulls a 26' puma bunkhouse with a F-150 that has a 6" fabtech lift with 35x13.50 tires but he does get 5-7 mpg doing so
That's ghetto fab.
I do want something closer to the 30 ft range so I guess i really do need the 250.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:19 pm to Chad504boy
Sadly I think so, if you want to tow it in any comfort. Travel trailer probably with a F-150 but I can't see a 30' 5th wheel.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:20 pm to Chad504boy
So why not a bumper pull? If you don't want to spend the 50K on a 250.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:23 pm to TexasTiger
quote:
So why not a bumper pull? If you don't want to spend the 50K on a 250.
The fifth wheels are just freaking nice as hell and give you much more options. Plus, the truck i have is a 2001 so really I would have the truck for only a few more years max anyways. Maybe by the time i'm ready, it'd be close enough to pull the trigger on getting a new truck.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:24 pm to TexasTiger
An Airstream is light and really nice inside unless you have to have slides. The 30' limited is about 7300 lbs and has a 773 lb hitch weight.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:27 pm to Chad504boy
quote:
Plus, the truck i have is a 2001
Well then yeah I think you will be pretty limited on options...I think even a 30ft pull behind might already be over the capacity of an 01. Espeically once you load it up.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:31 pm to Chad504boy
In that case wait and get what you want. I bought a new travel trailer in 2008 and by January of this year we traded it in on a new 5th wheel. It is much like owning a boat you will always want bigger and better. Also try to crawl as many makes and models as you can to get a good idea of what you want. We had a lounge model travel trailer a Spree 290RLS and got a bunk house fifth wheel now that we have kids. Also exterior storage is a must and get one that has the most. it is unbelievable how much crap you end up dragging with you.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:40 pm to Chad504boy
quote:
I would have the truck for only a few more years max anyways
Well you could always just buy a good used smaller pull behind and use it for a few years until you get ready to get rid of the truck, and this gives you time to see if its really something you want to go full blown into.
And then you can make the call on a diesel truck and 35ft 5th wheel.
Posted on 9/8/10 at 2:47 pm to TexasTiger
quote:
Well you could always just buy a good used smaller pull behind and use it for a few years until you get ready to get rid of the truck, and this gives you time to see if its really something you want to go full blown into.
And then you can make the call on a diesel truck and 35ft 5th wheel.
sound advice. I don't always make sound purchases though. I could rock the shite out of a 250... plus i'm not commuting like i used to so would be able to go from 3 vehicles to 2.
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