campingmama
Newnan GA USA
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Joined: 10/08/2003
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We are a home schooling family of four, planning to travel more extensively in the near future. We've had a pop-up, a class A MH, and several TT. We are wanting to go to a bunkhouse fifth wheel. (Cover all the bases, right? LOL)
Our current TV is a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab with 5.7L Hemi V8. It has the 6 ft bed. We've been looking at Flagstaff/Rockwood model 8528BHSS. The UVW is 6500 and GVWR is 8089. The dealer claims this to be one of the few 1/2 ton towable bunkhouse models. Is it advisable, doable, recommended, or simply dealer hype? Can you tow more than just on a flat road?
We appreciate any advice! We can't afford to make that kind of mistake. If we do have to get a more heavy duty TV, we may not limit ourselves to the particular weight ranges we are now considering.
Kris
2003 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi towing 2005 Salem LE 27BHSS
2 kids, 1 dog
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Texas Jim S
Belton, TX
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Joined: 08/22/2008
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I went through the same dilema that you are having last year. I looked, I talked, I read and it all came around to me needing a diesel 3/4 ton in order acomplish what I wanted to do. I now have a 2007 F250 4 X 4 Crew Cab sort bed Diesel. I know that diesel fuel costs more than gas BUT it has the power and torque that you will need and the fuel mileage will be much better than a gas. Getting the truck that I needed enabled me to get the trailer that I wanted and I am delighted with both of them. I have a 33' Cedar Creek with a empty weight of 9,000 Lbs. and a loaded weight of 12,000. I didn't particularly want four wheel drive but since diesels are so much heavier than gas I did get the diesel and that was a good decision when you need to pull out of a steep or muddy campsite. I suggest that you get what you want and not just settle for something. The campgrounds are full of people that wish they hadn't just settled on what they have and trading something in later only helps the dealer and not you.
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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Joined: 07/26/2004
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Unfortunately your Ram has a payload at the low end of the 1/2 ton range. Some of them are as little as 1250#.
What you need to do is:
Weight the truck ready to roll, all occupants, fuel, tools, cooler, bikes etc.
Deduct that weight from your truck GVWR (from the label on your driver's door).
The remaining number is the additional weight you can load onto the truck while keeping withing the manufacturer's rating.
That weight will be the pin weight of the trailer (probably close to 1600#, which is a typical 20% pin weight) plus the weight of the fifth wheel hitch.
With a 6' box you should seriously consider a sliding hitch to make sure you don't put the trailer through the back of the cab. But sliders are heavier than non-sliders, which is not going to help your weight.
That dealer is trying to make a sale. While that fiver may be 1/2 ton towable, the dealer is NOT defining WHICH 1/2 tons can do it.
Check out your weights, do the math; only you can decide how comfortable you are with an overloaded truck. (which is what I suspect the numbers will tell you). The other number to watch is the Gross Combination Weight rating or GCWR. That is the max the manufacturer has rated your total rig (truck plus trailer) to weigh. That's not on a label - it's hidden in the owners manual somewhere.
IMHO A couple of hundred pounds will not break your truck; 500# will start stressing some of your driveline and suspension components; 1000# over and it's time to look for a 3/4 ton!
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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A family of 4 and a bunk house to tow with a 1/2 ton pick up???? I know it is a Hemi, but I don't think it is doable.
When the manufacturers make the claim "1/2 ton towable", they are generally basing it dry trailer weight and max towing capacity with a base model truck.
To know fro sure, load up the kiddos and Mama and all of the normal trip supplies in the truck and head for the scales and gt front and rear axles and total weight. This is you laden vehicle weight or LVW. Add about 200# fro the 5er hitch.
On the door jam is a sticker which shows a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). In the owners manual you will find towing data and a listing of Gross Combined Vehicle Weight rating (GCWR or GCVWR).
GCWR - LVW = max loaded trailer weight you can tow.
GVWR - LVW = max loaded trailer pin weight.
Typically for a 5er you can estimate the pin weight at close to 20% of the trailer GVWR ....sticker on the left front corner and also inside of a cabinet.
So a 5er with a GVWR of 8090# will have a pin weight close to 1618# when loaded to the max rating. I doubt if the 1/2 ton truck will have 1618# or payload capacity to carry the 5er.
Be very careful when listening to the advice of an RV sales person...it is easy to tell when they are lying...their lips move ......
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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just5erit
Zebulon, NC
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Joined: 07/27/2008
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I have the exact model and pull it with no problem.
2001 Chevy 1500HD 6.0L (stock)3/4 frame
DrawTite brake controller
DrawTite 15K Hitch
Firestone Airbags
2006 Flagstaff 30' 8528DS Bunk Slide/Super Slide
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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Joined: 07/26/2004
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just5erit wrote:I have the exact model and pull it with no problem. Yup, Lots of discussion on how the 1500HD was really (almost) a 3/4 ton without the HD rating. Your truck can carry a lot more than the OPs.
Maybe that was one of the trucks the dealer was thinking of when he referred to the trailer as "1/2 ton towable" 
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coachman05
Minnesota
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Joined: 08/07/2005
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We have a Rockwood 8244 which weighs 6100 lbs dry with a pin weight of about 1100 lbs that we pull with our 1/2 ton which pulls it quite well. We get in the 10 mpg range which isn't great but, not terrible either. I see the unit your looking at weighs 6500 lbs dry but, actually probably weighs closer to 6800-7000 lbs and the pin weight is probably 1300=1400lbs too. I'm sure your truck could pull the unit just fine but, you may have to add some air bags to level the rear end of your truck. I know I wouldn't go any bigger with your camper since I think its pushing the limits with our truck already. Having said that I wouldn't trade our 5er for anything we absolutely love our camper.
If you have any questions just send me a message and I can try help answer questions you may have. Good luck
2008 8244 Rockwood
2003 1500 5.3 liter Silverado
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Supercharged
Az.
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Joined: 01/01/2005
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I pull with a 1/2 and may buy a second unit to pull doubles.
2005 Chev 5.3 Supercharged 395HP 425 T hp. Two wheels on front, 2 on back. one seat, tint windows. front and rear bumpers, headlights, windows. Door on each side. Heater, floor mats, junk behind seats, some dirt. Pulls so hard.
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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Supercharged wrote:I pull with a 1/2 and may buy a second unit to pull doubles. OK, as long as it's a double bumper pull 
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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Do a search for "1/2 ton trucks" and stand back. That subject comes up weekly, I think.
Frank
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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