Newbie looking for other Ranger owners pulling a 5th wheel trailer.

[isslandboy]

Hey folks, I am considering the purchase of a 5th wheel trailer, weight specs are within the Rangers specs, what I am having trouble finding is info about what guys are using and how they went about installing the actual 5th wheel. Also any issues with towing etc of a 5th wheel trailer, any and all help is appreciated.

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[ADVNTURR]

The Ranger (and even the F150) are not designed to pull 5th wheel or gooseneck trailers, and to the best of my knowledge, there are no hitches available. Unless you're looking at some tiny 5th wheel, I highly doubt it would be in the capacity of a Ranger.

 

[pablo94sc]

Maybe in ROW this is a thing, but as Advnturr said, this isn't the appropriate truck for a 5th wheel stateside.

 

[isslandboy]

The Ranger (and even the F150) are not designed to pull 5th wheel or gooseneck trailers, and to the best of my knowledge, there are no hitches available. Unless you're looking at some tiny 5th wheel, I highly doubt it would be in the capacity of a Ranger.

It is a 23.5 ft trailer the GVW is 2400KG, and a pin weight of 320 KG, so yes it does fall within the specs my Ranger.

 

[stemplar]

Despite what @pablo94sc and @ADVNTURR said, there are indeed 5th wheel trailers that are well within the limits of the Rangers (and even tacos and other mid-range trucks that are wimpier than the ranger). For example, https://escapetrailer.com/21ft-5-trailer/

And for hitches, here's a start: https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-ac...hitches/5th-wheel-hitches/v/ford/ranger/2025/

 

[ADVNTURR]

Despite what @pablo94sc and @ADVNTURR said, there are indeed 5th wheel trailers that are well within the limits of the Rangers (and even tacos and other mid-range trucks that are wimpier than the ranger). For example, https://escapetrailer.com/21ft-5-trailer/

And for hitches, here's a start: https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-ac...hitches/5th-wheel-hitches/v/ford/ranger/2025/

Learn something new everyday. I haven't seen any small 5th wheel campers like that before.

I do question your link to the hitches on RealTruck though. None of the manufacturers listed actually offer anything for the Ranger on their sites. Curt does offer "universal" mounting rails so I guess that is a possibility.

 

[isslandboy]

Despite what @pablo94sc and @ADVNTURR said, there are indeed 5th wheel trailers that are well within the limits of the Rangers (and even tacos and other mid-range trucks that are wimpier than the ranger). For example, https://escapetrailer.com/21ft-5-trailer/

And for hitches, here's a start: https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-ac...hitches/5th-wheel-hitches/v/ford/ranger/2025/

Thanks for that great info.

 

[pablo94sc]

Despite what @pablo94sc and @ADVNTURR said, there are indeed 5th wheel trailers that are well within the limits of the Rangers (and even tacos and other mid-range trucks that are wimpier than the ranger). For example, https://escapetrailer.com/21ft-5-trailer/

And for hitches, here's a start: https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-ac...hitches/5th-wheel-hitches/v/ford/ranger/2025/

No offense, but that trailer specifically mentions 1/2 ton trucks. Ranger isn't a half-ton.

Towable with a half-ton truck, this fifth-wheel offers a spacious interior with its one-piece fiberglass shell

OP, it's not about getting the weight moving, it's about stopping and keeping the trailer under control. The Ranger is a small truck. Don't put others at risk just because you think it's doable. That's how you end up with Jurassic Park.

 

[Onceaneagle]

Before you buy a Fifth Wheel or any other trailer, especially new, recommend you watch several YouTube videos by Liz Amazing. She is an RVer who advocates for people who bought what turned out to be a nightmare. She has a buying guide that is very useful. Suggest you hire a professional RV inspector to go over what you selected before you sign any paperwork and that anything they find wrong gets fixed before you take delivery.

 

[isslandboy]

Learn something new everyday. I haven't seen any small 5th wheel campers like that before.

I do question your link to the hitches on RealTruck though. None of the manufacturers listed actually offer anything for the Ranger on their sites. Curt does offer "universal" mounting rails so I guess that is a possibility.

Ford has not set up the Range

Before you buy a Fifth Wheel or any other trailer, especially new, recommend you watch several YouTube videos by Liz Amazing. She is an RVer who advocates for people who bought what turned out to be a nightmare. She has a buying guide that is very useful. Suggest you hire a professional RV inspector to go over what you selected before you sign any paperwork and that anything they find wrong gets fixed before you take delivery.

Thanks, that is good info.

 

[isslandboy]

No offense, but that trailer specifically mentions 1/2 ton trucks. Ranger isn't a half-ton.



OP, it's not about getting the weight moving, it's about stopping and keeping the trailer under control. The Ranger is a small truck. Don't put others at risk just because you think it's doable. That's how you end up with Jurassic Park.

Thanks, I appreciate your comments, yes, safety is a prime concern. The GVWR as per the door sticker on my Ranger is 6170lbs, the GVW of the unit I'm looking at is 5280 lbs, so it is within the rated specs of the Ranger. I am trying to maintain a safety margin of 15 to 20% under the GVWR of my Ranger. I would even argue that the 5th wheel distributes the weight more evenly, whilst a bumber loads up the reat, taking weight off the front axle. Again I do appreciate the comments, always good to look from different perspectives.

 

[stemplar]

No offense, but that trailer specifically mentions 1/2 ton trucks. Ranger isn't a half-ton.



OP, it's not about getting the weight moving, it's about stopping and keeping the trailer under control. The Ranger is a small truck. Don't put others at risk just because you think it's doable. That's how you end up with Jurassic Park.

No offense, but if you read on you’d see, “ The Escape 5.0 is 21’2” and easily towed with a mid-size truck.” And it is. Easily (with an appropriate hitch, of course).

 

[stemplar]

. I would even argue that the 5th wheel distributes the weight more evenly, whilst a bumber loads up the reat, taking weight off the front axle. Again I do appreciate the comments, always good to look from different perspectives.

A 5th wheel certainly places the load over the rear axle better than a rear hitch (forget bumper mounted hitches), but a good weight distribution hitch is effective in putting some of the load into the front axle rather than just the rear. I’d be curious to see how a 5th wheel trailer of a given weight looks on a cat scale when hitched to a truck compared to a trailer of the same weight attached to the same truck with a wdh. There are a ton of variables, like tongue weight, but still it would be fun to see some ballpark figures. I never thought about weight distribution when using a 5th wheel because I was usually in a massive dually truck with a monstrous diesel in front, and while our rangers are very capable, they ain’t that.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

Scamp makes em. This was posted on the facebook group back in april 2025

 

[OxygenMask]

.

...just kidding...

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