Overloaded or not!

[Vette Racer]

I'll answer this question when we get on the road South for the winter and stop at a Cat scale but in the meantime wonder what you think.

Pin is around 3200, bed has a fuel tank holding 95 gal of diesel, generator 110lbs, 20 gal propane tank, 2 five gal gasoline containers full,
Companion 25k hitch, about 1/4 rick of firewood, and last, 4 - 6x6 blocks and a few pieces of 2x6 for leveling/going under the jacks. 300 plus lbs in the cab as well.

One full long bed! 14k GVW, be interesting to see.

 

[donnandon]

Based on our truck weights, I think you will be right at 14k. Our truck is 13.7k with 4k hitch weight, tool box, and same hitch.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I think you will not be overloaded.

 

[Cummins12V98]

HA, you have lot's of room to spare!!! My pin is about 5,800#.

"One full long bed! 14k GVW, be interesting to see."

The 14K number is just that! It's rated 14K for licensing and insurance purposes. Think about it. The RAWR is 9,750# add the unloaded front axle of around 5,250#, HMMMMM Magically on paper you are overloaded at 15,000#!

 

[Vette Racer]

Well, I promised to weigh and come back with the results. In lieu of pictures here is the results.

Truck by itself, Steer 5280, drive 5000, gross 10280
With trailer, steer 5320, drive 8400, trailer axles 13280
GCVW 27000 LBS , GVW of truck 13680, GVW of trailer 16680
So...truck is in good shape but close on GVW, trailer is over GVW by 380 LBS and we are close on the steer axle.

Think I will move the hitch back to the center position to see if that will help the steer axle a little as well as I don't like the feel of the truck with the hitch in that position, it feels like the trailer is wanting to push the front of the truck. Anyway, it feels really nice to know where it all sits. I should say that the weigh was with all holding tanks empty and the water only had about 10 gal in it with the tanks capable of holding 50 gal black, 50 gal grey, 35 gal galley, and fresh holding 70 gal so if I fill everything up the trailer will really be overloaded.

Thanks to those that responded to the post.

 

[SnoKing]

Well, I promised to weigh and come back with the results. In lieu of pictures here is the results.

Truck by itself, Steer 5280, drive 5000, gross 10280
With trailer, steer 5320, drive 8400, trailer axles 13280
GCVW 27000 LBS , GVW of truck 13680, GVW of trailer 16680
So...truck is in good shape but close on GVW, trailer is over GVW by 380 LBS and we are close on the steer axle.

Think I will move the hitch back to the center position to see if that will help the steer axle a little as well as I don't like the feel of the truck with the hitch in that position, it feels like the trailer is wanting to push the front of the truck. Anyway, it feels really nice to know where it all sits. I should say that the weigh was with all holding tanks empty and the water only had about 10 gal in it with the tanks capable of holding 50 gal black, 50 gal grey, 35 gal galley, and fresh holding 70 gal so if I fill everything up the trailer will really be overloaded.

Thanks to those that responded to the post.

What's your FGAWR? Our SRW is 6K. Chart says yours in 6K also. So I do not understand your concern. You only added 40 lbs to the front axle. Do you have 80 lbs in the front tires. If not try that before you play with the hitch. Cummin12V98 swears by 80 in the front tires. SNOKING

 

[Vette Racer]

According to my door sticker the front axle is rated at 5500 LBS so it is close. However its the feel of the truck that makes me want to change it back, do know that 1298 recommended it fully forward.

On edit, yes, I do have 80, TPI indicates 84 down the road for the front and shows 75-77 rear but I only set the front at 75 cold and 70 rear. However its the feel of the truck that makes me want to change it back,

 

[Vette Racer]

Just a thought, since I have a 2x4 vs a 4x4 wonder if the front axle is rated different? Bet that is why.

 

[SnoKing]

Just a thought, since I have a 2x4 vs a 4x4 wonder if the front axle is rated different? Bet that is why.

That is what the tow chart shows for a 2x4(5,500). You are over inflating the rear tires however at 70 and under inflating the fronts by not going to 80 lbs cold. Pressure charts account for the pressure going up as the tire warms, so you do not have to try to compensate for the warming. Changing the hitch is not going to change the issue you have. Work on tire pressure.

LT235/80R17's are good for 2545 at 60 lbs inflation or 10180 for four of them. 55 is good for 2405 or 9620 for four of them. 50 is good for 2270 or 9080 for four of them.
So some where around 50 to 55 lbs in all you should be inflating the rears to.

 

[SnoKing]

I towed with kayaks over the cab one year while bring the 5th to Arizona and the front was pushing in corners. I added 5 pounds more to the front tires and it cure the pushing.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Vette your front tires are rated over 6K so i would not worry at all about that. I run my hitch full forward with 80 front and with full RAW I run 65 rears. With your weight 60 psi rear is plenty of air. Add 5psi to what the inflation/weight chart says it may be 55. If you run less than 80 front you will wear the outer edges off.

 

[RustyJC]

Tom,

Don't sweat the truck's GVWR. My truck has a 14,000 lb GVWR, but that's because if it were 14,001 lbs, it would move up from a Class 3 to a Class 4 truck. That has registration, licensing, insurance, etc. implications but has nothing whatsoever to do with the truck's mechanical capabilities.

The combined GAWRs on my truck are 6,000 lb front axle GAWR plus 9,750 lb rear axle GAWR = 15,750 lbs combined GAWR. THAT is more reflective of the mechanical (including tire rating) capability of the truck to carry weight (including pin weight).

The 4x2 has a lower front axle GAWR because it's not carrying the weight of the 4x4's front drive axle claptrap. Net carrying capacity is probably close to the same as the 4x4's 6,000 lb GAWR.

Rusty

 

[Vette Racer]

Thanks guy's, I hadn't looked at the tire pressure chart and adjusting air pressure is MUCH easier than changing hitch position. Since I now know what my weights are I can adjust things and see how that works, also this is as heavy as it will ever be so should be in good shape.

Good info snoking, appreciate it.

Thanks all.

 

[Cummins12V98]

"also this is as heavy as it will ever be so should be in good shape."

HAAAAAAA, I used to think that too!

 

[SnoKing]

"also this is as heavy as it will ever be so should be in good shape."

HAAAAAAA, I used to think that too!

I was always amazed at how much weight I could load into my 29' Cardinal 5th wheel!!!!

Oregon is nice and they leave their scales on when not open.

SNOKING

 

[RustyJC]

Interesting. My truck (see signature) gives a rear axle GAWR of 9,750 lbs at a tire inflation pressure of 70 PSIG. Front axle GAWR is 6,000 lbs at 80 PSIG. Driver's door sticker is the source for this.

Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

Interesting. My truck (see signature) gives a rear axle GAWR of 9,750 lbs at a tire inflation pressure of 70 PSIG. Front axle GAWR is 6,000 lbs at 80 PSIG. Driver's door sticker is the source for this.

Rusty

2x4 has a lower FGAWR. Snoking

 

[Dieselnerd]

Interesting. My truck (see signature) gives a rear axle GAWR of 9,750 lbs at a tire inflation pressure of 70 PSIG. Front axle GAWR is 6,000 lbs at 80 PSIG. Driver's door sticker is the source for this.

Rusty

My door sticker says rear axle 9750 pounds at 65 psi and my front is 6000 at 80 psi. Wonder why your rear says 70 psi. I have the 17 inch E rated tires, is yours different?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Rusty that is interesting that your rear inflation is 70.

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[Cummins12V98]

LT235/80R17E

65psi dually load rating 2.470 x 4 = 9,880#

70psi dually load rating 2,470 x 4 = 10,240#

So based on my weight I am right at the limit with 65psi.

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