How to Pick Out a Truck for Towing a Fifth Wheel Trailer  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Starting with the truck series itself, I would go with a 3/4 ton or 1 ton. Ultimately a 1-ton would be better. Between gas and diesel I would choose a diesel if it were me. They are capable of more power and torque than gas motors. The cab style does not matter all that much but the bed size does.

You will want to avoid a step side bed and a Dodge model that has a Rambox feature because they cannot have a 5th wheel hitch installed. Long beds are the way to go. A short bed can cause issues and extra expense. Even if a trailer is advertised as having a turn-friendly front design it ultimately depends on distance from the back of the truck cab to the center of the hitch jaws. Sliders are going to provide travel to be able to make tighter turns when needed on a short bed. A short bed should not require a Sidewinder unless it is under 6 feet long.

Factory installed hitches add extra expense at the time of purchase of the vehicle. It is more cost effective to go with an aftermarket hitch. But if you find one that has a hitch installed and you like it then it is still a viable option. The new Dodge trucks with factory installed 5th wheel prep package do not currently have a hitch that will fit and you would likely be waiting a while. A Ford with the factory installed prep package would be better. You can buy the hitch from the dealer or from us. I would comparison shop ahead of time. The Fords require a Reese Elite Series hitch.

You will want a hitch that exceeds the gross trailer weight, in this case 16,389 pounds. I like the Reese 20K hitches like # RP30081 for a fixed hitch or # RP30083 for a slider.

So to recap:
3/4 or 1-ton
Diesel preferred over gas
Cab does not matter
Long bed preferred, no step side or Rambox
Would have to use slider for short bed
Sidewinder required for bed less than 6 feet
18 to 20K capacity
Aftermarket will cost less

If you can tell me the truck you want along with the width of the front of the trailer I can make some more specific recommendations.

expert reply by: Jameson C

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