According to AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety, poorly secured loads are responsible for more than 25,000 crashes and approximately 90 fatalities in this country each year. And on top of that, there are all those nonfatal injuries to drivers behind you and damage to their vehicles. responsible if something falls off your truck and injures somebody? We checked with experts to find the best ways to secure loads on a pickup. Then we drove our pickup to the nearest Menards home center and loaded it with common DIY materials to show you how to properly secure them. may think our tie-down methods are over the top, but securing a load to your vehicle isn't just about making sure itIt's about getting it all home without harming anybody. You can use these methods when you’re moving furniture and other likely to fly off your vehicle and cause injury, and you'll be just as liable.Question:Im confused by all tow guides I find online.im looking to buy a new truck that will be able to tow a fifth wheel camper that weighs 15,000 loaded.not sure if I need a dually or not.i would rather drive and insure a single rear wheel.im looking at a Diesel engine for sure.if anybody can direct me to a trustworthy towing guide or some opinion that would be great.thanksasked by
: KevinHelpful Expert Reply:You are doing the right thing by doing the research first. There is a lot of conflicting information out there so let me break it down for you and I will provide some part recommendations at the end. Basically, if you want to tow a 5th wheel trailer, the best trucks are going to be long bed 3/4 or 1 tons like a Ford F-250/F-350, Chevy/GMC 2500/3500, or Ram 2500/3500. Half ton trucks could work but are not nearly as capable as the larger trucks.A long bed for sure is something you will want. Having a long bed means that you will not need a slider hitch, which costs more and requires getting out of the truck to manually slide the hitch back to make tight maneuvers. It also means you will not need a Sidewinder replacement pin box which can also be expensive. It is less likely that you will need additional suspension enhancement with the larger trucks. I recommend finding one you like that has overload springs for additional support. A dually is not necessary unless that is something you want.
Also, look for a truck that has a factory 7-Way trailer connector so it will be easy to add in-bed wiring for your trailer.The larger trucks are going to have the higher towing capacities as well. While 15K is not the heaviest 5th wheel trailer, it could be too much for a half ton truck. A 3/4 or 1 ton will have the capacity you need.A diesel engine is a good idea because they are capable of so much towing power and torque. If you get an automatic transmission then make sure the truck has a large transmission cooler or add a supplemental cooler. A lot of trucks do have larger transmission coolers from the factory. But since transmission fluid cannot be overcooled, adding a supplemental cooler is never a bad idea.The recommendations listed above will give you the right vehicle for the job. The make of truck is a matter of personal preference among most people so if you find one that fits the description above, Ford, Chevy, or Dodge, it will work well for you. I have included a link to an FAQ on 5th wheel trailer hitch information.
Below are my part recommendations for each of the big 3 manufacturers:2017 Ford F-250/F-350 Long BedStandard rail installation kit # C16445-204Curt Q24 Hitch # C16245In-bed wiring # 201102017 Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra 2500/3500 Long BedUnder-bed installation kit # DM8551003Demco Hitch # DM8550032In-bed wiring # 411572017 Ram 2500/3500 Long Bed (excluding factory air suspension)Below bed install kit that doubles as gooseneck hitch # BWGNRK1384 (2500) # BWGNRK1314 (3500)B&W 5th wheel hitch # BWRVK3500-5WIn-bed wiring # 41157Ask The Experts a Question >>Product Page this Question was Asked From(Fifth WheelFixed Fifth WheelHitch Only5000 lbs TW20000 lbs GTWDouble PivotPremium - Single-Hook Jaw14 - 16 Inch TallReesemore information >Getting your toys to your riding area is always a balance. Too many toys, not enough space. Buying a trailer vs. hauling in your truck bed. Buying a toy hauler vs. using camp trailer and putting toys in the truck bed. Side x Side Vehicles are an interesting size.
Smaller than a jeep or sand car, but bigger than an ATV. Many UTV owners have come up with some unique ways to transport them to riding areas. In California, the legal speed limit when towing is 55 mph. That is one of the major factors that drove me to have a truck rack built for my short bed. I also modified my 16′ flatbed trailer to haul a RZR sideways. But this doesn’t work anymore with the length of UTVs growing in the last few years. Others already have a camp trailer that cannot haul anything (or any more), so they turn to hauling in the truck bed. The cheapest way to haul your UTV is in the back of your truck. Most long travel UTVs (with the exception of a few RZR kits) are too wide to fit in the bed of your truck. There are a few issues with hauling in the bed: Watch the back window of your truck when you load so the bumper of your UTV doesn’t go through the window. Also make sure you strap the UTV down well so it doesn’t surge forward under heavy braking.
Don’t trust the cables on your tailgate! When loading use 4×4 and make sure your ramps are strapped well. It is easy for a ramp to slide out when trying to get the front wheels over the wheel wells in the truck bed. One way to save your tail gate is with a “GateSaver”. This product uses your hitch to support the rear tires of the UTV so your tailgate doesn’t have to. In the bed with a “GateSaver” from PDS Fabrication A properly sized truck rack will allow even a long travel UTV to be stored above the bed rails. There are a few minor downsides to this method – higher center of gravity and the need for longer ramps (I wouldn’t do it with anything less than 10′ ramps). Shortbed Truck Rack – Roggy Enterprises and Alpine Designs If you want to haul your UTV in the back of your short bed truck and still be able to tow a camp trailer, the other option is an over cab truck rack. The advantage here is the UTV is completely within the tailgate.
The downsides are the same as the normal truck racks, but add to that additional wind resistance and a bit higher center of gravity. Over Cab UTV Truck Rack – Dean Hoover This is a custom made rack that Dean made. There is no business involved with making this specific rack, but I liked the concept so I included it here. On the Back of a 5th Wheel Saw this setup in Winchester Bay, OR at DuneFest. It was connected to the back of a 5th Wheel! If you are going to use a rack in the bed of your truck, make sure it is securely fastened. Once you put a UTV up on top and hit a few bumps while turning, you will see why. I did not trust relying on a few straps attached to the factory tie down hooks. It is not that I worried about the straps breaking. It was more that I did not trust the factory tie down hooks fastened to the sheet metal in the bed. People have been dealing with a similar problem with slide in campers for years. The best solution I found was a set of frame mounted tie downs.
This not only gives you a solid point to attach, but also moves the tie down location out to the edge of the rack where it is most effective in controlling movement. We have decided to partner with ICON Vehicle Dynamics and install their Ford Super Duty 2.5″ Stage 4 System. This 2.5 Leveling System is a great way to level your 4WD 2005-2011 F-350 Super Duty front to rear. The systems components provide for better-than-stock ride quality and is perfect for the cost-conscious truck owner who wants a level truck and a smooth ride. This stage 4 system upgrades the front and rear shocks to our 2.5″ diameter Piggy-Back shocks. The system also includes our adjustable pan-rod bar and steering stabilizer kit and shocks. The combination of these components offers the ultimate in drivability. LoadLifter 5000 kits are Air Lifts heaviest-rated kits, specifically engineered for hauling or towing heavy loads. LoadLifter 5000 kits work with the vehicles existing suspension to give up to 5,000 pounds of extra leveling capacity when needed, right up to the manufacturers recommended Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.