Choosing Between Standard or 5th Wheel Trailer for 2018 Ford F-150 Short Bed

Question:

Trying to decide if we want a tow behind or a fifth wheel rv trailer to be pulled with a 2018 Ford F-150 with max tow package, 3.5 liter Eco-boost engine, 4 wheel drive, and a short box. The tow behind would allow greater utility in the box, but would seem to be less a less stable unit truck and attached trailer than a truck and fifth wheel trailer. Part of the stability question is that we plan to spend a lot of time in the mountains with tight turning radii and roadways that might be less than smooth. The trailer weight would be around 7,000 pounds wet. Are there fifth wheel hitches that can be removed when not towing to increase utility in the box. Finally, at least for now, the F-150 is an aluminum bodied vehicle. Would a fifth wheel hitch compromise the integrity of the aluminum body at the point of attachment? Thanks for any response to a long drawn out group of questions.

asked by: Kenneth W

Helpful Expert Reply:

For your 2018 Ford F-150 with a short bed, I recommend going with a tow behind trailer over a fifth-wheel trailer for a couple of reasons.

The first thing you will want to consider is just the cost to get your truck set up to tow a trailer. Since your F-150 features a short bed, you will need to have a sliding fifth-wheel hitch if you went with a fifth-wheel trailer. This is needed to provide you with the required cab clearance when making tight turns and they tend to be quite a bit more expensive than fixed fifth-wheel hitches. Also note that you will still need to add a base rail kit with installation hardware for the hitch to be able to attach to the bed.

Since you mentioned having the max tow package on your F-150, you likely have most of what you need already to tow a standard travel trailer.

Then, related to the need for a sliding hitch, you will also want to consider the convenience factor. Operating a sliding hitch with a short bed truck isn't particularly fun. Since you specifically mentioned taking trips that will require a lot of tight maneuvers, this is definitely something you want to keep in mind. Also be aware that sliding hitches are pretty heavy, so while you can certainly remove the hitch when not in use to clear your bed, it is going to require a lot of effort. Towing a standard trailer clears up your bed at all times, without the need for any changes as you switch from towing to everyday driving.

Generally speaking, 3/4 ton and 1-ton trucks are typically better equipped at handling a fifth-wheel trailer when compared to 1/2 ton models like your F-150.

If you need any components (trailer hitch, fifth-wheel hitch, wiring, etc) just let me know and I will be happy to make some recommendations.

expert reply by: Chris R