totally green to truck & 5th wheel - looking for advice

sandito · 04-27-2016, 12:04 AM

We have just sold our motor home because we have decided to go with a truck and 5th wheel (better suits our travelling needs). We plan to purchase an older 19 or 20 ft 5th wheel. We are looking (on line, various sites) at several trucks, ranging from 2002 to 2006 - Chev Silverado, Nissan Frontier, GMC Sierra....would these be big enough/able to easily handle a 20 ft 5th wheel? Any pros/cons on these vehicles? Any recommendations?

Any info much appreciated!

**wingnut60** · 04-27-2016, 09:37 AM

Easily is a relative term. Definite no on the Frontier, any of the 250/2500 series trucks should be ok. It is hard to suggest anything without knowing the weight of the probable fiver. If you want a 150/1500, then it gets harder to come up with anything, again, because there are a lot of variables in the fiver weights.
Find a trailer, then ask the question...

sandito · 04-27-2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut60

Easily is a relative term. Definite no on the Frontier, any of the 250/2500 series trucks should be ok. It is hard to suggest anything without knowing the weight of the probable fiver. If you want a 150/1500, then it gets harder to come up with anything, again, because there are a lot of variables in the fiver weights.
Find a trailer, then ask the question...

Thank you for your reply. The 5th wheel we are looking at is a 19 ft Salem and GVW is 2500 lbs. Would a 150/1500 be able to hand this with no problem?

oldbird · 04-27-2016, 11:56 PM

Yes, I believe so because that's a small one. If you got a diesel it wouldn't even know its back there.

**wingnut60** · 04-28-2016, 08:27 AM

Glenn is right, I rarely look at that light of a fiver. If GVW is 2500, even the Frontier might work, but you would be happier with a 1/2 ton.
Might want to be concerned about the towing stance with a newer 1/2 ton--they are higher in the bed area, and a short wheelbase fiver will be nose-high in tow and might have a clearance problem near the tailgate. Be sure and address this before a truck purchase with the dealer, being aware most salesman will say what they think you want to hear.
Joe