How much squat before doing suspension mods?

[jeepit]

Where do you have your Rancho 9000 shocks set? My previous 2002 3500 would porpoise severely over concrete pavement with expansion joints with the stock shocks when towing our 5th wheel, so I changed out to Rancho 5000s (9000s weren't available at the time). With settings of 4 front, 5 rear (5 settings available), the porpoising was snubbed down very well; settings of 3 front, 2 rear provided the best unloaded ride. Again, those settings apply to the Rancho 5000s - translate them to your 9000s as you will.

Rusty

I have all shocks set at 8-9. I was hoping that riding them that high would help but it has not.

 

[Dogpatch]

On my SRW 3500 mine only squatted 1.25" with 2900 lbs, but I wanted it level so I put in aftermarket manual fill airbags. About 32 lbs air brought it back to level. Ride and handling is great!

 

[SnoKing]

Dog, is that actual scale pin weight at 2900 or is that the dry pin weight from the manual!!! Later model Cardinals are pin heavy. What is the scaled rear axle weight ready to camp? SNOKING

 

[Dogpatch]

Dog, is that actual scale pin weight at 2900 or is that the dry pin weight from the manual!!! Later model Cardinals are pin heavy. What is the scaled rear axle weight ready to camp? SNOKING

I got asked this so many times, I kept it my notes on my iPad. Actual loaded pin weight weighed is 2749 lbs.

Tale Of The Tape! - Loaded Weights

Okay, here it is.

I took my truck and filled it with fuel, me, my wife, my daughter, the dog, the cat, hitched up to the 5th wheel loaded with kitty litter, kibbles, clothes, Cheetos and booze, then went to the weigh scales. I weighed the loaded front and rear truck axles then 2010 Cardinal 3450RL(loaded) dual 5th wheel axles.

Here are my complete findings:

Truck Only: (original weigh-in)
Front axle: 4982 lbs
Rear axle: 3615 lbs

Truck Now Loaded Hitched to Loaded 5th Wheel:
Front axle: 4982 lbs
Rear axle: 6364 lbs
Truck GAWR: 7280 lbs

Therefore, with my trucks specs for towing capacity of 17050 lbs and payload of 3920 lbs for a SRW SB, I'm within spec to tow my fifth wheel with this truck.

As for the 5th Wheel, GVWR is 15915 lbs. Assuming I add my loaded dual axle weight of 12544 lbs and my loaded pin weight of 2749 lbs for a total loaded 5th wheel weight of 15293 lbs and subtract that from my GCVWR of 15915 lbs, I'm under by 622 lbs.

I'd say I'm good! No......I'm Damn good!

 

[AH64ID]

Good notes.. But no such thing as Truck GAWR or GCVWR.

There is a FAWR and RAWR for the truck, but not a Truck GAWR. RAWR is 7,000 even with the tires allowing for more. Then rims have a punished rating of 3,500 but there jana is question if that is an actual rating or just 1/2 of RAWR. Either way it's published at 3,500 lbs/ea.


What changed in the vehicle loading to keep the FAW the exact same? Or is the hitch centered over the rear axle? Generally hitches are 2-4" forward of the rear axle which means the front axle weight will change. Getting a scale reading to the exact pound seems odd, IMHO. It's very very rare to get 100% of the pin weight on the rear axle as there should be some, thou not much, on the front axle.

Your sig says you have a 68RFE but you listed the tow rating, which is a BS number anyhow, with the Aisin. The 68RFE actually has a higher tow rating, 17,200, but that may not be applicable based on what's in the pickup. Your "payload" is also different, and higher, than you stated.

GCWR is 25,300 and you are under that..., but at the end of the day GVWR is immaterial in most aspects (generally anything but emissions laws and drivers licensing) and GCWR is a warranty thing. Just be sure you know what you are quoting. If those scale numbers are correct, which the FAW makes me wonder, then you are good.

 

[Dogpatch]

My slider sits about 1" back of center over rear axle so likely why no weight change to the front axle weights. When I checked my squat measurements to fill my rear air bags, I checked the front as well. Hitched, my height at the front wheels changed 1/16" and obviously not enough to change the weight. I was actually amazed. Rear squatted about 1-1/4.

No matter what the terminology (first time I've ever had to worry about weights and obviously you got my drift) my numbers on weighing are real and within spec and I'm happy with it. That's all that matters.

Truck tows my Cardinal like a demon.