Recommended Truck for Towing 16.5 K Fifth Wheel
Question:
Have a 41 ft 5th wheel with 16500 gross weight. How big of truck do I need to pull it? Want to convert to fit wheel ball hitch
asked by: AL
Expert Reply:
Recommending one make of truck over another would be a difficult task, as there are tons of opinions floating around out there. The help article links will provide some side by side comparison info that I hope will be helpful.
Most 2019/2020 three quarter ton Ram 2500 or Ford F250's would do the trick, but keep in mind the more equipment that goes onto the truck (such as a crew cab, and 4 wheel drive), the lower the towing capacity goes. This could potentially put the maximum towing capacity of your truck right at the GVWR of your fifth wheel. I'ts never good to use a piece of equipment at its capacity, so I believe you'd be best off with a 1 ton Ram 3500 or Ford F-350 with the Diesel engine. These machines are built to tow, and can do so all day, and would handle your large fifth wheel with no problem.
Both trucks are available with the factory tow/prep package that would provide a built in gooseneck hitch as well as pucks sunk into the truck bed that will accept a 5th wheel hitch.
