Fifth wheel on a Crew Cab - Anyone?

TitanBillB · 07-27-2005, 08:20 AM

Does anyone tow a fifth wheel with their Crew Cab? I was camping recently and saw a the front end of a Titan in a spot near me with a fifth wheel. I was happy to see that until I went over and saw it was a King Cab with the longer bed. My wife and I would like to move up to the fifth wheel in the near future for the ammenities they have versus a standard trailer. I've read some threads about $4k glide hitches but would not want to incur that amount if possible. A friend of mine just showed me the damage she caused to both sides of the cab on her Dodge 1500 when she attempted to back into a small space. She apparently was aware of the "manuever" position on the hitch. My CC bed is amost half of that so have concerns on what is out there, if anyone is doing it or if I should stay with what I have.

Any feedback on your setup/equipment specifically on a CC would be greatly appreciated.

HackinHound · 07-27-2005, 09:01 AM

I know some here have done it. Here's a link to a sliding hitch (used) $299 - not sure if it would work or not.
http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/87163860.html

phlydude · 07-27-2005, 09:04 AM

I don't think you can tow a 5th wheel with the CC. Bed is too short and you won't be able to get the hitch over the wheels.

HackinHound · 07-27-2005, 11:41 AM

looks like I jumped the gun and didn't fully read the first post. Not sure if anyone with a crew cab has ventured into the 5th wheel world.

Here's some links on the subject.
CC titan with a 5th Wheel set-up?
As promised Pic With 5th Wheel
5TH Wheel hitch

ptgarcia · 07-27-2005, 12:50 PM

With a crew cab its not going to happen. There just isn't enough room for the hitch. Even with the longer bed of a King Cab I think you have to have a sliding hitch.

And actually you can probably pull a larger travel trailer with the Titan than you could a 5th wheel. 5th wheels have pin weights that are typically 20-25% of the trailers weight. So a 6000-lb 5th wheel (about the lightest you'll find, not many are lighter than this, at least when loaded) will have a 1200-1500lb pin weight which will over-load your Titan before you even get in it! I pull an 8000-lb loaded travel trailer (I admit my combo's a few pounds over weight). I have about 1000-lb on my tongue and when loaded for travel with my wife, son and dog and all their crap I'm over the Titan's 6400-lb GVWR by about 300-lb.

Now I know people are over the GVWR without any problems (I'm one of them) but I won't recommend anyone be in that situation. Anyway, good luck!

TitanBillB · 07-27-2005, 01:06 PM

Thanks for all of your input. I know it's probably just a pipe dream but thought if anyone knew, the folks on this forum would. I completely forgot about "wife, son and dog and all their crap" (as ptgarcia put it) and I have 2 boys which equates to about 500lbs of unnecessary crap.

I suppose I can go larger on the trailer and get more slideouts to make up for the difference.

ptgarcia · 07-27-2005, 01:13 PM

TitanBillB,

There are a lot of really nice, kinda light-weight travel trailers in the 28'-30' range with super-slides that have a tone of interior space and will easily accomodateyou and your family. Spend a couple weekends to look and you'll end up finding the right one. Good luck!

CoachBoone · 07-27-2005, 02:33 PM

Here's a good site for towing tips, some are extremely useful. I found that I'm towing a trailer that's slightly longer than what's recommended based on my wheel-base length. Check it out, and like ptgarcia said, good luck to ya.

http://www.rvtowingtips.com/

mgtitan · 08-04-2005, 09:32 PM

Sorry to say there's no 5th wheel hitch option for the Crew Cab. We had just picked out a 5th wheel trailer and couldn't get it becasue there was no normally availbale hitch. this came from our RV dealer and from a third party hitch specialist. you may be able to rig something up, but the Crew Cab bed is about 6" shorter than the normal short bed, so slide hitches made for short beds don't work on our trucks. it's travel trailer time...

**HudsonValleyTitan** · 08-04-2005, 10:16 PM

I've seen a 5th wheel on a new F-150 CrewCab but not on a Titan. Look around though, you can find some awsome, HUGE TTs w/o going the 5th wheel route.