Mid- and full-size pickup trucks are a popular choice when it comes to tow vehicles because of their ability to tow and fit passengers comfortably. They also have fuel-efficient engines, easier driveability when compared to larger trucks, and RV-friendly add-on options. But when selecting a trailer, you need to carefully consider the payload and towing capacity of your half-ton truck.
What Does Half-Ton Towable Mean?
Half-ton towable is a confusing term in reference to RVing. Half-ton traditionally refers to the payload capacity of the truck, meaning that it can generally carry about 1,000 pounds of cargo, passengers, and trailer tongue weight. A half-ton towable refers to trailers that can theoretically be towed by a half-ton vehicle. In real life, however, truck payload capacity varies greatly in this category, making the classification very misleading. Make sure to check your specific truck’s payload capacity as these classifications vary from make and model.
What Is a Half-Ton Fifth Wheel?
A half-ton fifth wheel is a fifth wheel trailer that can be towed by the majority of half-ton trucks on the market. Pay careful attention to numbers when shopping in this category: Many fifth wheels that are classified as half-ton towables would max out the payload capacity of virtually every pickup truck in the half-ton class.
Can a Half-Ton Pull a Travel Trailer?
Half-ton trucks are extremely popular tow vehicles. Travel trailers that fit within their payload and towing capacities average from 1,000 to 2,000 pounds and 5,000 to 13,000 pounds respectively. Popular half-ton trucks include the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Titan, and GMC Sierra 1500.
Important Features to Look for in Half-Ton Towable RVs
If you’re looking for a trailer to tow with a half-ton truck, consider the following:
Tongue Weight
It’s imperative that you include the tongue weight of the trailer, or the weight placed on the hitch, when calculating your payload capacity. We’ve listed each featured trailer’s hitch weight in the specs below.
Length
Since you can tow a decent-sized trailer with a half-ton towable, consider its length, especially if you’re looking to camp in national and state parks. You’ll need to add your rig’s length to your vehicle’s length to determine what size site you’ll need. According to the Camper Report, if you have a combined length of 35 feet, you’ll fit at 73 percent of all national park campgrounds.
Also, many travel trailers are lightweight and can be towed by a range of vehicles, but remember that the longer your trailer is, the more susceptible it will be to crosswinds and other weather conditions.
GVWR
When shopping for a half-ton towable, you should pay attention to the trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) instead of the dry weight, or unloaded vehicle weight (UVW), since this number will need to be below—ideally, well below—your truck’s towing capacity.
Half-Ton Towable RVs
If a half-ton towable fits your RV lifestyle, here are some options with a variety of different floor plans to consider with gross vehicle weight ratings under 10,500 pounds. These seven trailers can easily be towed by many half-ton trucks on the market.
CrossRoads RV Sunset Trail SS212RB
Couples will be super comfortable in this half-ton towable layout. Complete with a king-sized bed, sectional style sofa with a chaise lounge, spacious shower, large sink, open layout, and walk-in pantry, the lightweight Sunset Trail doesn’t sacrifice space, even though it’s just below 26 feet long. For its size, this floor plan packs a lot in, making it ideal for couples looking to enjoy smaller campsites in national and state parks.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 4,889 pounds |
| GVWR | 7,819 pounds |
| Hitch Weight | 518 pounds |
| Exterior Length | 25 feet, 11 inches |
| Exterior Height | 11 feet, 1 inches |
| Fresh Water Tank | 45 gallons |
| Black Tank | 30 gallons |
| Gray Tank | 30 gallons |
| MSRP | Starting at $46,646 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
Camping in the summer heat? You can add a second air conditioner to this rig. Add the Solar Freedom 2 package for two 190-watt panels and a 2000-watt inverter.
More information on this half-ton towable can be found here.
Keystone Outback 342CG
Keystone’s award-winning Outback is an ideal option for those looking to match a toy hauler with their mid- or full-size pickup truck. While lengthy, the Outback’s GVWR comes in at 10,500 pounds, so you have more than 2,500 pounds of cargo capacity for your toys. This floor plan sleeps eight and has a separate main bedroom with plenty of storage and a king-sized bed. The garage area has flip-down bunk beds, and you’ll also find a sofa sleeper in the main area. Ideal for families, sliding barn doors add privacy while a fireplace gives warmth in the main gathering area. There’s even a built-in kennel for pets.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 8,040 pounds |
| GVWR | 10,500 pounds |
| Hitch Weight | 960 pounds |
| Exterior Length | 38 feet |
| Exterior Height | 11 feet, 4 inches |
| Fresh Water Tank | 54 gallons |
| Black Tank | 38 gallons |
| Gray Tank | 76 gallons |
| MSRP | $64,493 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
The Outback 342CG’s layout is designed to be wheelchair accessible and has a 56-inch-wide extended ramp door.
More information on this half-ton towable can be found here.
Heartland North Trail 24BHS
Small families will feel right at home in this half-ton towable. It sleeps seven to eight people and has a roomy back bedroom area that’s perfect for kids and a king-sized bedroom at the front of the rig, both of which can be closed off from the main living area. There’s a lot that comes standard with this rig, including solar, cable, and WiFi prep as well as power stabilizer jacks, a power tongue jack, and LED lighting with quick-charge USB ports.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 5,640 pounds |
| GVWR | 7,510 pounds |
| Hitch Weight | 510 pounds |
| Exterior Length | 27 feet, 10 inches |
| Exterior Height | 11 feet, 4 inches |
| Fresh Water Tank | 45 gallons |
| Black Tank | 40 gallons |
| Gray Tank | 40 gallons |
| MSRP | $54,895 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
Families will appreciate the extra bedroom area in the back, which also has a second entertainment center.
More information on this half-ton towable can be found here.
Grand Design RV Transcend Xplor 26BHX
This layout is perfect for grandparents that sometimes take their grandkids along. The double-sized bunks with step storage are located in the rear of the open-layout main area. There’s a U-shaped dinette and jackknife sofa to lounge on, a walk-in shower, and a queen-sized bed in the front of the rig. Owners note that even at nearly 33 feet long, this rig still tows like it’s under 30 feet.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 6,505 pounds |
| GVWR | 7,695 pounds |
| Hitch Weight | 635 pounds |
| Exterior Length | 30 feet, 11 inches |
| Exterior Height | 11 feet |
| Fresh Water Tank | 56 gallons |
| Black Tank | 39 gallons |
| Gray Tank | 78 gallons |
| MSRP | $40,129 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
Built in pet dishes are a fun addition for fur-friends.
More information on this half-ton towable can be found here.
nuCamp Cirrus 620
Designed specifically for half-ton trucks, this truck camper weighs in at 1,500 pounds and comes standard with a queen-sized bed, a 210-watt solar kit, a water management system, a hidden cassette toilet, and a decent amount of storage. For cooking, you have a small sink, two-burner stove, two-way fridge, a 20-pound propane compartment, and a patio outlet.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 1,593 pounds |
| Overall Length | 8 feet, 2 inches |
| Overall Height | 8 feet, 2 inches |
| Fresh Water Tank | 17 gallons |
| Black Tank | 5 gallons (Cassette) |
| Gray Tank | 13 gallons |
| MSRP | $50,744 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
You can control the fan and lighting with the nuCamp App.
More information on this half-ton compatible rig can be found here.
Jayco Eagle HT Fifth Wheel 25RUC
With a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds, this half-ton towable fifth wheel has a flexible layout. It comes in under 30 feet long, so it’s easily maneuverable and can fit at smaller campsites. Ideal for couples who tend to host guests, the front half of the rig is a suite with a queen-sized bed and lots of storage.
The back half of the rig houses the kitchen and living area, which has the option for theater seating in place of a tri-fold sofa or a booth dinette instead of a freestanding table and chairs. Cooks will love the walk-in pantry.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 8,010 pounds |
| GVWR | 9,500 pounds |
| Hitch Weight | 1,610 pounds |
| Exterior Length | 29 feet, 6 inches |
| Exterior Height | 12 feet, 6 inches |
| Fresh Water Tank | 52 gallons |
| Black Tank | 45 gallons |
| Gray Tank | 82 gallons |
| MSRP | $70,141 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
A linen closet in the bedroom is prepped for the addition of a washer and dryer.
More information on this half-ton towable can be found here.
Venture RV Stratus SR261VBH
There’s no shortage of storage with this floor plan. With three pantries, pass-through storage in the front bedroom, and plenty of other creatively hidden drawers and cabinets, you can take everything you need and more on the road. The floor plan sleeps four comfortably, with a true queen-sized bed and convertible sofa. There’s also a U-dinette that can be converted to more beds if needed.
Outside you’ll find a cooking station, shower, marine-grade speakers, and an 18-foot power awning, complete with LED lights. We love that this lightweight, 30-foot trailer can still comfortably fit a family.
| SPECS | |
|---|---|
| UVW | 6,780 pounds |
| GVWR | 8,300 pounds |
| Hitch Weight | 900 pounds |
| Exterior Length | 31 feet 11 inches |
| Exterior Height | 10 feet, 11 inches |
| Fresh Water Tank | 45 gallons |
| Black Tank | 32 gallons |
| Gray Tank | 64 gallons |
| MSRP | $61,532 |
FEATURES AND OPTIONS WE LOVE:
If you’re looking to complete your outdoor kitchen, you can add on an option with a swing-away, bumper-mounted griddle. And for easy maneuvering, you can add on a backup camera.
More information on this half-ton towable can be found here.
A Note on Rig Specs
It’s incredibly important to pay close attention to specs when shopping for a travel trailer. Use the VIN (vehicle identification number) to find the towing capacity and payload capacity for your specific tow vehicle.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum loaded weight of your trailer as determined by the manufacturer. You should never exceed this weight rating when your RV is stocked with all of your gear, propane, and fresh water.
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating): The maximum weight of both the vehicle and trailer, plus the passengers and cargo in both.
UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight): The weight of your trailer as manufactured with no cargo, propane, or water. This is often referred to as “dry weight.”
CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity): This is the difference between your UVW and your GVWR, telling you how much weight you can safely add to your trailer. Pay close attention to the cargo carrying capacity if you intend to travel with a lot of gear.
Tongue Weight: This is the amount of weight pressing down on the hitch ball that is attached to your tow vehicle. It is extremely important to make sure that the tongue weight of a travel trailer does not exceed your tow vehicle’s payload capacity.
Half-ton towable travel trailers have come a long way over the years. As you can see with our top picks above, you don’t have to sacrifice features when you want to tow an RV with a light-duty pickup you might already own.
Always be sure to double check the towing capacity of your truck to ensure you find the right camper for you. After that, check out our RV gps app for stress free camping.
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