Keystone 5th wheel with a 1/2 ton tow vehicle

Steve-o · 10-25-2023, 03:46 PM

I recently saw a 2017 Keystone Cougar 26 RLS for sale. Seller says dry weight of 6770 lb. My F150 is rated to tow 10k lb. I really don't want to (can't afford) to upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck. Has anyone had experience with this model, and towing with a 1/2 ton pickup? What problems would be likely? TIA.

jsb5717 · 10-25-2023, 04:02 PM

That trailer has a GVWR of 10k lbs...that's the number to use for your calcs. That will give you a calculated pin weight of over 2k lbs.

The "1/2 ton towable" marketing is one of the huge lies of the RV industry. There are some smaller conventional trailers that can work OK behind a 1/2 ton truck. But I wouldn't put a 5th wheel on one. You could end up with the tail wagging the dog...not a pleasant drive.

Look at the sticker inside the driver door on your truck and check the payload rating. Is it over 2300 lbs? Probably not. It's payload (cargo capacity) rating, not tow rating, that will usually be the biggest "gotcha".

However, you're already up against your truck's tow capacity with just the trailer. Add people, hitch, other gear, and you're over by quite a bit on tow rating alone.

Sorry to rain on your parade...but safety first.

govols380 · 10-25-2023, 04:23 PM

Is your half ton long wheel base, 4 door, long bed? If you're a half ton standard cab, short bed...no. My Ram 1500 was 5k#, short wheelbase, and got pushed around by a 19" bumper pull.

It pulled it, but I shouldn't have.

Steve-o · 10-25-2023, 04:57 PM

Thanks for the reply. I'd rather have my parade rained on than deal with a $^!+ storm of regret. Much appreciated.

TXiceman · 10-25-2023, 07:27 PM

Another don't do it. Half ton trucks have too little cargo capacity and can't handle the pin weight plus the hitch and the cargo and passengers.

The half-ton towable marketing is full of lies and untruths. You might get by with a half-ton truck if it is a stripped base model and you never even add a toothbrush to the trailer.

Ken

Ken

jfk69 · 10-25-2023, 08:19 PM

I pulled an ‘06 Jayco 30.5 RLS with an ‘18 Ram 1500 ultra short box crew cab with a 5.7 Hemi and 392 rear end with the 8 speed tranny. Truck had something like 1300 and change payload. Did it pull it? Yes, surprisingly ok. However, the minute I dropped the pin I was about 400# over payload. And it did NOT like winds of any type, including being in the wash of any semi I was behind. I did it only because I was locked in the truck (lease), and my bride’s former boss gave us a killer deal on the rig. I upgraded tires to E rated, used bags to level the truck and dreamed every single time I pulled it about the day when I would have a proper tow vehicle….

Canonman · 10-26-2023, 06:08 AM

The 26 RLS is very similar to our 5er in size and weight. Our "older" Ram 2500 pulls it like a dream. Even at 3/4 ton we are very close to our payload limit.
Perhaps a pre-owned 3/4 ton truck is an option. Still not cheap but they are out there at about 1/2 the cost of new.
Besides, every red blooded man wants a new truck

SargeW · 10-27-2023, 07:29 AM

I pulled my Keystone 2400RBWE with a new 22' Ram 1500 gasser. It did OK, but it was NOT comfortable or relaxing to drive. Even though my TT weighed 5800 pounds loaded, it still struggled to handle the weight. I even added air bags to the truck that helped, but still not enjoyable to drive. The payload on the 1500 was 1791 pounds without passengers or cargo. Loaded up we were within 20 pounds of max payload.

I bit the bullet and traded up to a 2500 Hemi and the payload went to 3103 pounds. Night and day difference. Pulling the TT now is effortless, and I can even load the truck bed with as much cargo as needed. Both trucks were 4X4

Steve-o · 10-27-2023, 02:21 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience. I will definitely not go the 5ver route without an upgrade to a 3/4 ton!

**JRTJH** · 10-27-2023, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Thanks for sharing your experience. I will definitely not go the 5ver route without an upgrade to a 3/4 ton!

If you're going to upgrade to a 3/4 ton with the specific goal of being able to tow a fifth wheel RV, then you might not want to make the same mistake I made.... I bought a 3/4 ton because it worked with the Springdale 244FWSS that we had at the time. When a tree fell on it in a campground and it was "totalled", we started looking for a new fifth wheel.

The SMALLEST we could find that met most of our needs was the 27RKS that we bought. It is/was the smallest Cougar fifth wheel that was even close to our needs. EVERY TRIP WITH IT AND THE F250 IS A CHALLENGE !!!!!

If you're going to buy a new truck in the future with the goal of towing a fifth wheel, SKIP THE F250 AND GET A F350 !!!!!

You'll find the extra 1000 pounds of payload is the buffer you need to buy a fifth wheel that you want, not restrict yourself to a fifth wheel that almost is OK but our truck can barely tow it.....

SKIP THE F250 or the competition's 2500 series if a fifth wheel is the goal !!!!!

**sourdough** · 10-27-2023, 05:36 PM

^^^^Can't agree more. BTDT as well.

cougar23 · 10-28-2023, 08:35 AM

Check the truck door sticker for cargo capacity. Some 3/4 ton trucks have more capacity than 1 ton models. It all depends on the trim and engine.

jfk69 · 10-28-2023, 10:03 AM

JRTJH nailed it. One ton or bust. You won’t regret and the price difference is negligible.

Ddaddyo · 11-02-2023, 07:14 AM

Not Enough Truck, Nuff Said.

JRD · 11-02-2023, 10:03 AM

We have a 2022 25RES Cougar Half Ton and we pull it with a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton. I added an extra spring leaf to assist with the payload. We have no issues pulling the trailer but are well aware that we are at the top of the capability of the truck.

John

cougar23 · 11-02-2023, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRD

We have a 2022 25RES Cougar Half Ton and we pull it with a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton. I added an extra spring leaf to assist with the payload. We have no issues pulling the trailer but are well aware that we are at the top of the capability of the truck.

John

Your pin weight is around 2000 lbs. Yes your truck can pull it, but look at all of the stresses you are putting on your transmission, engine and brakes.

SargeW · 11-02-2023, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougar23

Your pin weight is around 2000 lbs. Yes your truck can pull it, but look at all of the stresses you are putting on your transmission, engine and brakes.

My half ton Ram had a payload of 1791 pounds, without me in it. I would not have been able to safely pull that load. And I did put air bags on the truck, but it doesn't increase the payload.

FL Jeff · 11-03-2023, 02:33 AM

Very simply, don't do it. Any hint of windy conditions will be treacherous and your ability to stop quickly won't be there.

travelin texans · 11-03-2023, 07:52 AM

The 2 most meaningless weights to use to pair a rv to a tow vehicle are the max tow rating of any tow vehicle vs the dry weight of any rv. Using these 2 weights for any calculations will only result in too much rv with not near enough tow vehicle.

GeneralEbby · 11-05-2023, 06:04 AM

Had a Ford Excursion pulling a 34 foot Open Range TT. BIG MISTAKE. Sold both and bought a 41 foot Cardinal 5er. Had to buy a diesel 1 ton to pull the 16,000 pounds. Recently sold the Cardinal and downsized to a Cougar 2700BH. 10 feet shorter and 7,000 pounds lighter but will stay with the 1 ton. I don’t ever want to get back into another unstable RV pulling situation. My suggestion if you want a 5er go with the 1 ton. The road stability just makes it well worth it.

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