So I need opinions and ideas on building this and whether it would work. I have a 2002 ford ranger xlt 4.0 4x4. Every summer I travel to alaska to work. I take a ferry up that allows up to 24 ft. per vehicle before they drastically increase their price. I want to install a 5th wheel hitch and build a custom 5th wheel trailer that will be 6 ft long behind the truck bed. I have all the material to build the trailer. Its max weight full loaded should come in just under 3600 lbs. The width would be the same as the ranger but it would sit about 7 ft tall from road to roof. I just need to know if this would be a feasible idea and if the truck would be able to handle something like this. Some background info I'm currently in school studying to be a welding engineer so I have a good grasp on structural design.

 

Have a look here, page 21: https://www.fleet.ford.ca/resources/...s/2002_All.pdf

If you have an automatic transmission you are OK with up to 5,600lbs
Manual trans is only good for 3,100lbs, but GCWR will be an issue if trailer is 3,100lbs

Automatics are just way stronger than manuals, this is NOT a driver issue, lol

These are the "legal" limits, the "may I tow a 3,600lbs trailer"
Can you tow a higher weight with a manual transmission............yes of course you can, but if you are ever weighed you may have to leave the trailer where it sits and come back to get it with a different "legal" vehicle
Or if there is an accident, not even weight related, insurance companies can "walk away" if it comes out that you were over the "legal" weight, its the "insured(driver) must operate the vehicle in a legal and lawful manner" clause

On the drivers door label will be the GCWR(gross combined weight rating), 9,500lbs for yours, if its an automatic, this is the total weight maximum for vehicle, passengers, gear, trailer and gear in the trailer, so if you were to pull the whole rig onto a truck scale it can't exceed 9,500lbs
This is mostly to do with braking power, and assumes trailer brakes on trailers exceeding 1,500lbs, which most states require

Ranger 4x4 itself would be 3,400lbs + 3,600 trailer = 7,000lbs, so you should be OK , assuming automatic transmission
Manual trans GCWR is 7,000lbs so not OK, add a driver and a change of clothes and you're over the limit, lol


On page 18 is the trailer frontal area limits 50sqft for Ranger 4.0l, no one ever checks this as far as I know

 

Is your 5th wheel trailer ment to haul stuff, or are you building a camper to live in while in Alaska?
If your intent is to build a camper, be aware there are several light, small 5th wheel campers available, usually in the used trailer market. They are usually self contained, and the better ones are of fiberglass construction.
As a long time rv'er, I can tell you that you would be better off buying a camper than trying to make one.
Over the years I've seen many attempts on line from those attempting to build a camper from scratch. It takes a while, and don't come out nearly as well as a manufactured camper.
Properly laying out systems correctly, purchasing the proper appliances, insulation, running gear,wireing, plumbing, propane gas lines, ect., can be very time consuming.
Google up "small 5th wheel campers" and many sights will come up to give you an idea of whats available.
Grumpaw

 

+1 ^^^

Extended cab Ranger is 17ft bumper to bumper, that only leaves 7ft to be at/under that 24ft mark, and you need clearance to turn so............
Regular cab is only a foot short, maybe 18"

Not sure you can even build a 5ft trailer that would be worth while

 

Just a point... !

My 2003 Ranger EDGE, 5sp, 4x, Std Cab Steppie, weighs in at 4300 lbs...(DMV weight in) lift and tires may make up for the 900 lb difference but I'm thinking not.

I was surprised to find the weight so high, don't always go by the book for weight.

 

The trailer is a 5th wheel with a raisable roof that houses the sleeping quarters. I've already modeled out a floor plan that would fit in that size area while still giving the creature comforts. The other thing I have also considered is riping out the bed and putting a flatbed on it. I have spent months searching for a small enough rig but haven't found one anywhere near the length I'm looking for. So I'm resorting to self build. I'm just trying to figure out if its a feasible option and if the truck would need to be modified much.

 

Any flatbed you make will probably weigh more than the stock bed.

 

No, I doubt anyone would build a 5ft bed 5th wheel trailer, it would have to be a custom build

Unless you plan on cutting the rear frame back I don't think a flat bed would help with length issue, but it could help with height, as you could make the over the "bed" part closer to the "bed" if there were no sides, and you could round off the rear of the "bed" for turning

Made make some custom, removable, stake sides so you could still use it as a "pickup" truck when trailer was not attached

 

thanks for the input. it was helpful.

 

Keep in mind, check your rear axle capacity and your payload. A lot of the RCMP (Assuming your headed through BC) will pull you over and check your door panel for the payload capacity of your truck when pulling a 5th wheel. If your pin weight exceeds the payload of the truck, you can be fined, or have to ditch your trailer and come back for it. Which sucks.

Fifth Wheel Weight Calculator

This is a really good calculator for it. Remember.. What the brochure and manual say are based on the weakest component, perfect world conditions, a flat trailer with no wind drag that is perfectly loaded with a 13% bias.