Buying a Zinger ZF25BH - Can I Tow It?

[joncooke]

I everyone. I wanted to get some opinions on towing. I am looking at getting a Zinger 5th wheel , which appears to be a pretty light 5th wheel. I would be towing it with a 2011 Dodge 1500 1/2 ton (5.7l hemi v8). Do you think that I would be able to tow it with that truck? I have 10,500 pounds towing capacity, and over 1600 pounds of payload. The Zinger that I am looking at is a 2006 ZF25BH. Any opinions or recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
-=-
Jon

[cwit]

You should have no problems. I tow a 29'3" Zinger.

[joncooke]

What do you tow that with?

Jon

[hhh]

First thing I would do is load up your truck like you were going camping. Wife, kids, full tank of gas, generator, fire wood, etc. Then go to the scales and get it weighed. You will then know for sure how much rear axle capacity you have left. Don't forget to subtract 150 lbs because of hitch weight. The Zinger has a GVWR of 11,000 lbs. Consider that you will have about 20% of that weight on the king pin which would make the pin weight 2200 lbs.

The below is if the loading of your 5er is normal and you have 20% of the weight on the pin.

If you truly have a 1500 lbs of rear axle capacity (which I think you will find will be closer to 1200 lbs when you weigh it) that would mean the most weight the Zinger could be 7500 lbs. Since it has an advertised dry weight of 6400 lbs, you could only load 1100 lbs. in the trailer. That includes water, propane, batteries, clothes, food, supplies, etc.

If you only have 1200 lb. rear axle capacity left your trailer could only weigh 6000 lbs.

Just to note, I used to have a 2500 RAM Hemi 2WD crew cab long bed. Towing the trailer in my sig, 10K lbs total weight with 2200 on the pin I had to put air bags on the rear because it sagged more then I liked (3.5"). Even after that I just didn't like the way it pulled, even in fairly flat Michigan. Some hills on I94 and US131 would cause it to drop into 2nd gear as my speed lowered to under 50MPH. I would hate to think what it would be like if I had to drive in any type of mountains.

Could you do it? Most likely. Would it be comfortable? I wouldn't think so but then some have a higher tolerance level then others.














Edited by: hhh

[salda01]

Originally Posted by joncooke

I everyone. I wanted to get some opinions on towing. I am looking at getting a Zinger 5th wheel , which appears to be a pretty light 5th wheel. I would be towing it with a 2011 Dodge 1500 1/2 ton (5.7l hemi v8). Do you think that I would be able to tow it with that truck? I have 10,500 pounds towing capacity, and over 1600 pounds of payload. The Zinger that I am looking at is a 2006 ZF25BH. Any opinions or recomendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
-=-
Jon

Your truck will pull it.

But the real question is how comfortable you want to be doing it??? I'm a firm believer the numbers are the set on the low side to mitigate mfg. liability.

[joncooke]

Thanks for all of the tips, everyone. I am new to this forum, but it seems like it is full of great people with great advice. If I do end up picking up the Zinger, I'll be sure to come back often.

Jon

[cwit]

That is a Tundra and Iv'e towed my camper over 25,000 miles from NY to FL 4 times and all over new England. Get that Zinger and enjoy. There are people who think they need a 1 ton to tow any and all campers.

[hhh]

I never stated he needed a 1 ton, let's look at the facts. He has a truck with a rated load capacity of 1660 lbs. I will assume it is equipped properly for that max limit. Those limits are rated with the base truck, one 150 lb. driver and 1/2 tank gas.

Since those are base truck figures he has to figure the weight of options and accessories. So lets subtract 100 lbs (very conservative). Now down to 1560 lb capacity left.

Lets figure in another 200 lb. adult and 3 50 lb kids. The capacity is down to 1210 lb.

We have a hitch to consider, 150 lb for that or 200 lb if a slider. Capacity is 1060 lb.

OK, we have to fill the tank, an additional 12 gal is 100 lbs. Capacity is down 960 lbs.

We haven't even gotten into a cooler for drinks/snacks on the way, generator, firewood, clothes, bikes, games, etc. that might be carried while traveling.

A 8000 lb. Zinger will have about 1600 lb pin weight. That is 600 lb over capacity.

Could he tow it? Sure he could. Would he want to put his family in danger from an overloaded truck? Only he can decide that. A 3/4 ton would easily handle it.










Edited by: hhh