2500 Diesel ETH 5th Wheel Pin weight?

[JPoindexter]

We will be towing a 29' 5er with a pin weight of approx 1700. This will put us close to the gvwr. Any suggestions or tips?

 

[klenger]

Need more info about truck. What year, 4WD or 2WD, quad cab, etc?



See the following:



RV towing weights



2001 Trailer Towing



2003 Trailer Towing



2004 Trailer Towing

 

[Froadin]

Put it on the scales to make sure of your numbers.

Also, try it with a full tank of gas, and about as much as you plan on driving with already loaded.

Also, don't tow it with anything in the fresh/grey/black tanks, as they normally sit in front of the trailer's axles.

 

[JPoindexter]

2500 4x4 Truck weight is 6800, trailer weight loaded would be approx 8,500

 

[Froadin]

Oh yeah, Welcome to the TDR!

 

[CPG]

JPoindexter,



Try to add your profile as soon as you can. Its like a "case history" of your equipment.



As from your brief discription of your vechicle weights, I believe you will be just fine. Happy Camping to you and welcome to the TDR.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just for grins, My '02 quad cab 2x4 weighs about 7,000 lbs, without occupants, and has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 8800 lbs.



Pin weight (measured) on our 24 ft. Kit 5er is 1200 lbs, without being fully loaded - but not "dry" either. My truck has an in-bed tool/fuel tank that with 50 gallons of diesel and tools will add another 600 lbs. or so, plus the 5th wheel hitch and misc. camping cargo, adds another 200 lbs or so. Then, add in whatever passengers and in-cab cargo, and... .



... Even WITHOUT passengers, I'm already OVER the GVWR for the truck, and OUR 5er only weighs about 7000 lbs. It's REAL easy - AND common, for owners to VASTLY exceed their truck's weight rating, even BEFORE they start worrying about their COMBINED weight rating!



I have another 5000 lbs of COMBINED weight rating I can't use, because I've already HIT my GVWR!



NOW, if that's where *I* am with a 24 ft. 5er, what sort of GVW do ya suppose these guys with the loaded 33+ ft. bulgemobile 5ers are at?

 

[nps]

I have another 5000 lbs of COMBINED weight rating I can't use, because I've already HIT my GVWR!



NOW, if that's where *I* am with a 24 ft. 5er, what sort of GVW do ya suppose these guys with the loaded 33+ ft. bulgemobile 5ers are at?

Gary,



Leave the aux fuel tank empty or put all your tools and gear in the 5er and you are good to go for another 5000 lbs.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

what sort of GVW do ya suppose these guys with the loaded 33+ ft. bulgemobile 5ers are at?

I pull a 31' 9" Keystone Laredo 29BH.



I have (According to the Dodge Trailer Towing Guide)



Steer axle 800 lbs. to spare

Drive axle 1385 lbs. to spare

GCWR 3900 lbs. to spare

Max Trailer Weight 3,850 lbs. to spare



This is from my weights with fresh water, LPG, and diesel tank full.



I would say most of the 33+ ft. bulgemobile 5ers are slightly overloaded.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Without all the fancy doubletalk, and front vs rear axle weights, MY '02 weighs 7000 lbs, leaving 1800 lbs available weight carrying capacity to stay within it's GVWR - I don't know what the GVWR is for 3rd generation 2500's, or what generation truck the original poster owns - but I do know that a pretty typical 33+ foot 5er will tip the scale at about 12+K lbs dry weight - and at 15% recommended pin weight, that will place about 1800 lbs on the truck - add the typical 5er cargo, plus added truck bed load and then passengers, and...



Regardless of efforts at downplaying or rationalizing frequent and common overloading, overloading IS a common problem, and I find it sorta amusing the great lengths owners will go to evade simply admitting that fact!



Sorta like THIS:



"Hell yes, I'm overloaded, I run that way most of the time, and I don't care who knows it, or whether they like it or not!"



See, that really isn't hard!

 

[Boondocker]

Jumbo Jet,



Is it correct to assume that your "to spare" calculations are based on weighing your truck and trailer?



I've weighed mine a couple of times. Running normal - with passengers and cargo (no extra fluids), I still come in about 400 lbs. over GVWR. That's 4. 5% for you statistical types. Is that the definition of slightly overloaded? I wanted a spare tank, but won't do it because I'm already over weight. I just try to load the trailer carefully, center weight over the axles as much as possible, keep the pin weight at 15-20% of trailer weight, and drive with my brain fully engaged on driving. That Pullright Superglide hitch is a heavy sucker! But the rig sure tows well



Neil

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Neil, what brand, size and length trailer do you have?

 

[nps]

With my 32' Bumper Pull 29CKS Holiday Rambler, I am putting 700# on the hitch of my 4x4 LB QC. With a GCWR of 20,000#, I have:



3,000# GCWR to spare.

1,100# GVWR to spare.



I bought the bumper pull because I couldn't find a 5er floor plan small enough that I liked. The ones I did like would put me waaaayyy over GVWR due to the pin weight. The bumper pulls have far less tounge weight than the 5er pin weights.

 

[Boondocker]

5th wheels, weights and such

Neil, what brand, size and length trailer do you have?

Gary,



My trailer is a 30' Cougar 281 EFS 5th Wheel. Pictures in my Gallery. Typically loaded (based on 2 different weigh sessions), it weighs 9190 lbs. 1730 lbs (18. 8% of trailer weight) rests on the hitch. When I bought the trailer, I wasn't as well educated on the subject of weight ratings as I am now. I did my due diligence to make sure weights were within spec, but I didn't factor in a nearly 300 lb. hitch and all the misc cargo that tries to end up in the bed. I did factor in the factory towing package (still doesn't touch the overloads at rest), E-rated tires, 4-wheel disc brakes, Jordan brake controller, Jacobs exhaust brake, NV 5600 transmission, and the mighty Cummins. All in all, a fine towing package.



NPS,

I do agree though that a 3/4 ton truck comes up short on GVWR and long on GCWR in the case of 5th wheels. In terms of weight capacity and usability, a bumper pull is a better choice. However, there are many more considerations.



In my case, I came from a couple of bumper pull trailers and had heard (my wife heard this too) how much better 5th wheels towed. I traded in a light-weight (3000 lbs), single axle, pop-out type trailer, whose alignment was so bad it would wear out a set of tires in 5000 miles even with an anti-sway device and repeated attempts at correction. Although it was light, it had an upright 64 sq. ft. frontal area, and I could always feel it, especially against the bow wave of a passing semi or motorhome. When driving the new 5th wheel home for the first time, from Phoenix to Las Vegas, I was amazed at how stable and well mannered it was. The aerodynamics alone are so much better and the 5th wheel coupling is inherently more stable. Although a tag along can be well stabilized with something like the Hensley Arrow hitch.



Neil

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Jumbo Jet,



Is it correct to assume that your "to spare" calculations are based on weighing your truck and trailer?

Yes - I have weighed the rig twice. Once with the 2002 truck and now with my 2004. Scales are just down the road from my office.



I have a Lance truck camper and weighed that also. Just slightly over with it loaded.

 

[nps]

NPS,



I traded in a light-weight (3000 lbs), single axle, pop-out type trailer, whose alignment was so bad it would wear out a set of tires in 5000 miles even with an anti-sway device and repeated attempts at correction. Although it was light, it had an upright 64 sq. ft. frontal area, and I could always feel it, especially against the bow wave of a passing semi or motorhome. When driving the new 5th wheel home for the first time, from Phoenix to Las Vegas, I was amazed at how stable and well mannered it was.

Neil

I traded a 6000# Nomad for the 10000# Holiday Rambler. Had it out on the road for the first time last week. I was amazed at how much better it pulled, followed, and stayed with the truck.



I suspect that it may have something to do with the weight of the trailer that improves towing, given my experience. Inherently most 5ers are larger and heavier, in addition to the aerodynamic benefits and hitch point above the axle.



For us, the next step is a diesel pusher when the truck wears out.