Easy lifehacks

Do you need a dual wheel truck to tow a 5th Wheel?

Do you need a dual wheel truck to tow a 5th Wheel?

In short, the answer is no—you don’t necessarily need a dually (dual rear wheel) truck to tow a fifth-wheel trailer, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want one. On one hand, single rear wheel trucks enjoy slightly greater fuel efficiency and offer greater visibility than dually trucks.

What kind of truck is best for 5th Wheel?

Long-Bed Trucks: 8 Feet An 8-foot bed, also referred to as a long bed, is ideal for towing a fifth-wheel trailer. Fifth-wheel hitches must remain in front of a truck’s rear axle, so the camper sits close to the cab.

Do you need a dually truck for heavy duty?

First, you need a turbo-diesel heavy duty truck for this job. However, it does not have to be a dually. It will have to be a 1-ton Single Rear Wheel (SRW) truck to handle the extra payload and provide additional max. towing rating.

What’s the maximum weight for a fifth wheel?

If you go with Ford’s fifth-wheel kit from the factory (and we recommend you do for ease of installation and a factory-backed warranty), the maximum you can tow is 18,000 lbs with the SRW and 27,500 on the DRW thanks to the weight ratings on the hitches themselves. So either truck will do the job, but the DRW will feel more stable doing it.

In short, the answer is no—you don’t necessarily need a dually (dual rear wheel) truck to tow a fifth-wheel trailer, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want one. On one hand, single rear wheel trucks enjoy slightly greater fuel efficiency and offer greater visibility than dually trucks.

Long-Bed Trucks: 8 Feet An 8-foot bed, also referred to as a long bed, is ideal for towing a fifth-wheel trailer. Fifth-wheel hitches must remain in front of a truck’s rear axle, so the camper sits close to the cab.

First, you need a turbo-diesel heavy duty truck for this job. However, it does not have to be a dually. It will have to be a 1-ton Single Rear Wheel (SRW) truck to handle the extra payload and provide additional max. towing rating.

If you go with Ford’s fifth-wheel kit from the factory (and we recommend you do for ease of installation and a factory-backed warranty), the maximum you can tow is 18,000 lbs with the SRW and 27,500 on the DRW thanks to the weight ratings on the hitches themselves. So either truck will do the job, but the DRW will feel more stable doing it.

Author Image
Ruth Doyle