10 Best Half Ton 5th Wheels for 2024

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Updated February 19, 2024

In 2024, we have seen more and more half-ton fifth wheels at RV Shows and dealerships across the country.

Years ago, if you had a half-ton truck, while you had a cargo bed, half-ton 5th wheels weren’t an option. In recent years, lightweight fifth-wheel camper trailers made fivers a reality for those with 150/1500 series trucks.

There are so many out there to choose from; we’ll show you the 10 best half-ton 5th wheels for 2024 that match well with ½ ton pickup trucks.

Does My Half-Ton Pickup Truck Need a Tow Package to Haul a 5th Wheel?

Some pickup trucks don’t come with a standard tow package. Even though you’re using a fifth-wheel hitch in the truck’s cargo bed, there are components in a tow package you need to keep your truck healthy. 

Besides the rear receiver that’s connected to the truck’s chassis, tow packages come with:

• Heavy-duty suspensions
• Reinforced chassis
• Upgraded engine radiators
• Bigger transmission radiators
• Electrical wiring to operate the DOT lights on the trailer through an umbilical cord
• A ball hitch in the cargo bed to connect the fifth wheel hitch

When towing, the pickup truck has additional stress from the added weight of the coach. The engine and transmission run hotter, so they need to be cooled better. Having these parts installed through the factory gives your truck the best performance to tow your fifth-wheel trailer.

The Best Half-Ton 5th Wheels On the Market in 2024

A 2024 half-ton 5th wheel offers some versatility and, ultimately, a better option for those who own a half-ton. No need to upgrade your truck when some of the best half-ton 5th wheels are right here, ready to go.

1. Scamp 19

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Two fiberglass halves, molded together — virtually eliminating leaks

⛔ May have to wait for months to get your hands on one

• Dry Weight: 2,000 lbs
• GVWR: 3,500 lbs
• CCC: 1,500 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 400 lbs
• Length: 19′
• Sleep: 6

You have to love Scamp. Their unique style and practically impervious campers are exceptional in every way. You can kick a Scamp down a mountain and the impacts would have difficulty breaking it. The clamshell, fiberglass design also makes it virtually leakproof.

The interiors are generally sterile, aesthetics-wise, but nothing a little aftermarket creativity can’t handle. The Scamp 19 is also one of the smallest half-ton 5th wheels out there, making it a no-brainer for even the weakest of 1/2-tons.

2. Grand Design Reflection 150 260RD

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Includes the MorRyde CRE 3000 suspension system and Goodyear Endurance tires

⛔ A larger solar package would be nice, especially considering the size of the fridge

• Dry Weight: 7,534 lbs
• GVWR: 9,995 lbs
• CCC: 2,461 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,269 lbs
• Length: 29′ 10″
• Sleep: 4

The Grand Design Reflection 150 260RD continues an excellent legacy in RV design and innovation. This one, in particular, is more into the off-road lifestyle, with the MorRyde CRE 3000 suspension and standard Goodyear Endurance tires.

If you like boondocking in some of the most out-there places, this is a good RV to have behind your half-ton. This is especially true if you decide to upgrade the solar package, as the standard variation is slightly underwhelming for long-term boondocking standards.

3. Keystone Cougar 23MLE

Our Pros and Cons

✅ 2023 model introduced expanded storage options, especially in the wardrobes

⛔ If you want a midnight snack, you’ll have to walk clear across the length of the RV

• Dry Weight: 7,577 lbs
• GVWR: 9,900 lbs
• CCC: 2,323 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,200 lbs
• Length: 27′ 11″
• Sleep: 2 to 6

The Keystone Cougar 23MLE is an exceptional half-ton 5th wheel. It also has a ton of storage options, which are especially useful if you’re maxing out the sleeping capacity at 6 people.

The theater seating is optional, but it’s worth considering seeing as the TV is located directly across, something that isn’t always the case in many RVs. The L-shaped design of the counters makes for plenty of space when cooking, and most of the remaining areas throughout the RV are spacious as well.

4. Coachmen Chaparral Lite 25RE

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Excellent window placement and size give it an airy, spacious feel

⛔ Furnace vents are in the floor

• Dry Weight: 7,273 lbs
• GVWR: 9,800 lbs
• CCC: 2,527 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,115 lbs
• Length: 29′ 10″
• Sleep: 3

5. Jayco Eagle HT 26REC

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Very spacious living area that includes a large, walk-in pantry

⛔ Fireplace is only optional, rather than standard

• Dry Weight: 8,055 lbs
• GVWR: 9,750 lbs
• CCC: 1,695 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,615 lbs
• Length: 29′ 5″
• Sleep: 6

No list is complete without a Jayco, and the Jayco Eagle HT 26REC is an excellent option in its own right. The single slide provides the perfect, roomy environment for an entertainment space, including the walk-in pantry.

Opt for the fireplace, and it starts to feel like a residential home, rather than one on wheels. While this model doesn’t offer a king, going with the queen makes sense, because the design was clearly meant to lean toward a spacious living experience. Speaking of space, the bathroom isn’t too shabby in that category either.

6. KZ Durango D250RED

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Fully-enclosed, four-season 5th wheel with Lamilux gel-coat fiberglass and a Tufflex roof

⛔ On the upper end of what only a few half-tons can pull

• Dry Weight: 8,260 lbs
• GVWR: 10,000 lbs
• CCC: 1,740 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,610 lbs
• Length: 29′ 1″
• Sleep: 4

It may not sleep a large family, but the KZ Durango D250RED is the perfect half-ton 5th wheel for four-season living. It features an enclosed, heated underbelly, a single-piece Tufflex roof, and Lamilux fiberglass throughout.

It’s a great option for couples as well. If you’re looking for romantic nights in front of the fireplace, simply pull out the Hide-A-Bed directly in front of the fireplace and warm your toes for the rest of the evening.

7. Palomino Puma 255RKS

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Large, roomy kitchen with a residential fridge and decent counter space

⛔ TV is at a 90-degree angle from the sofa

• Dry Weight: 6,754 lbs
• GVWR: 8,800 lbs
• CCC: 2,046 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,102 lbs
• Length: 28′ 5″
• Sleep: 2

The Palomino Puma 255RKS is one of the sleekest-looking offerings on this list, thanks to the unique LED lighting placement on the exterior. It resembles an Alienware laptop on wheels. Fortunately, the RV is not relying on its unique looks, as it’s also one of the best half-ton 5th wheels.

It’s a snug camper, however, Palomino still found ways to offer cabinetry and storage options throughout. The kitchen is fairly spacious, with the L-counter providing RVers with plenty of counter space. The queen bed in the back is plenty comfy and includes flanking wardrobes on each side for even more storage options.

8. Escape 5.0

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Two-piece fiberglass shell over a proprietary metal frame for excellent durability

⛔ It’s one of the smallest 5th wheels out there, small for couples in the long term

• Dry Weight: 3,910 lbs
• GVWR: 5,500 lbs
• CCC: 1,590 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 646 lbs
• Length: 21′ 2″
• Sleep: 2

At first glance, you might mistake the Escape 5.0 for a Scamp 19. The only thing that separates them aesthetically is the color patterns on the exterior. Like the Scamp, the Escape 5.0 features a clamshell, fiberglass construction that seals the interior away from water leaks.

It’s a tough little camper, with different aesthetic floorplan choices so you can choose the one that closely matches your own, personal vibe. This is truly a couple’s camper, but it has a surprising amount of space, thanks to a small but economical wet bath and a short kitchen counter.

9. Forest River Arctic Wolf 278BHS

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Extra sleeping space with a private slide door for the bunks in the back

⛔ Only a limited number of half-tons could haul this

• Dry Weight: 8,293 lbs
• GVWR: 10,295 lbs
• CCC: 2,002 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,310 lbs
• Length: 34′ 2″
• Sleep: 6

The Forest River Arctic Wolf 278BHS is all about keeping a slim interior profile, expanding the feeling of a spacious environment with narrow but useable countertops and a rectangular table that runs parallel with the RV.

It’s capable of sleeping 6, with a private bunk house in the back and a dinette that converts into a bed. The queen bed polishes off the sleeping capacity with flanking wardrobes for extra space to put your clothes.

10. Rockwood 282RD

Our Pros and Cons

✅ Ton of extra counter and storage space throughout

⛔ Cabinets are very shallow

• Dry Weight: 8,004 lbs
• GVWR: 10,000 lbs
• CCC: 1,996 lbs
• Hitch Weight: 1,500 lbs
• Length: 28′ 11″
• Sleep: 4

The Rockwood 282RD is often considered to be the perfect couple’s RV. It’s capable of sleeping 4, however, with a convertible dinette. The vaulted interior ceiling feels large and roomy. The bathroom is fairly large for a model this size, with a very large shower as well.

Interior and exterior storage options are numerous, including a large linen closet and a larger wardrobe in the bedroom. It’s always nice to see the theater seating across from the TV, so you don’t have to crane your neck to watch whatever is on.

Which Half-Ton Pickup Trucks Are Best for Towing a 5th Wheel?

You’ll see that the American brands have a higher towing capacity than the foreign manufacturers in the table below. Ford and GM offer a heavy-duty tow package on their half-ton pickup truck models. The two automakers build them in limited quantities, so your dealer may have to locate one. 

You’ll also see that American brands use different engines. If you look at the Good Sam’s Club Towing Guide published annually through Trailer Life Magazine, there’s a long list for each of these brands. The tow capacities differ depending on the engine, cab size, wheel configuration (4×2 or 4×4), and other factors. You won’t see this variation among Toyota or Nissan.

One truck you do want to avoid is the flare side beds. Truck manufacturers stopped making them a while ago, but they’re still floating around on the used market. The problem with flair sides is the narrowness of the bed. Most RV dealers won’t install a fifth-wheel hitch in them. When the hitch slides side-to-side, it crashes into the sidewall of the bed. 

You can use a long bed (8-foot), a standard bed (6.5-foot), and a short bed (5.5-foot) as long as the width is the full measurement. Ford stopped production of flair sides in 2010, so if you’re shopping for a used truck, either look at one after that year or make sure the bed is flush with the rear wheels.

*= Heavy Tow Package equipped

Truck	Displacement	Cylinders	Tow Capacity (in pounds)	Payload Capacity (in pounds)
Ford F-150	2.7L	V6	9,000	2,280
3.0L	V6	10,300
3.3L	V6	7,400
3.5L	V6	13,200*
5.0L	V8	11,300*
Nissan Titan	5.6L	V8	9,370	1,696
Dodge Ram 1500	3.0L	V6	9,950	2,302
3.6L	V6	7,620
5.7L	V8	11,540*
Toyota Tundra	5.7L	V8	10,200	1,730
Chevrolet Silverado 1500/ GMC Sierra 1500	2.7L	4-Cylinder	6,800	2,280
3.0L	V6	9,300
4.3L	V6	7,700
5.3L	V8	11,600*
6.2L	V8	13,400*

Do I Need a Special Hitch to Tow a 5th Wheel?

The original fifth-wheel hitch dates back to the 1850s. It gave loggers and heavy haulers the ability to load up their wagons with more cargo. Their horse teams could maneuver better on rough terrain and through mountain passes. In 1915, the Freuhalf Company designed the modern-day floating fifth-wheel hitch you see on long-haul semi-trucks.

RV fifth wheel hitches secure inside a pickup truck bed. The best fifth-wheel hitches for RVs have mechanisms on them that allow the connection to slide side-to-side, front-to-back, and also high-to-low. The adjustable hitch configuration lets you make tight turns, breeze through uneven roads, and tackle other road conditions. Sliding hitches are significantly crucial for short beds.

You’ll notice that the fifth wheel has a cylinder at the end of it. The cylinder is called the kingpin. Ideally, you want a hitch that has an “upside-down U-shape” to it that the kingpin connects.

Some gooseneck hitches (a ball hitch mounted on top of a base) on the market have conversion kits to connect to fifth wheels. There are many brands out there worth considering. As you research expert reviews, you can also get some consumer feedback by logging in to our Facebook page. Our RV Blogger friends have shared their knowledge and experience in the true spirit of the RV

Final Thoughts About Half Ton 5th Wheels

A half-ton 5th wheel was not something prospective RVers could even consider years ago. However, with time, improvements in engine design, chassis, and materials in the truck manufacturing business make it possible for half-tons to haul 5th wheels.

Not only is it possible, it’s also becoming common, as there are a wide variety of them on the market (this list does not encompass all of them). If you have a half-ton pick-up, you no longer have to consider upgrading your truck just to own a 5th wheel. So, what’re you waiting for?

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Related Reading:

– 8 Best Travel Trailers For Half-Ton Trucks
– 9 Best Truck Campers For Half-Ton Pickup Trucks
– 7 Best 5th Wheels With A Bath And A Half
– Can A 5th Wheel Trailer Disconnect While Driving?

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