Truck and trailer weigh in...

[JyRO]

Howdy All!



I had my truck and trailer weighed last night. Here are the results, please let me know if these weights sound reasonable. I had the truck weighed at a Certified Automated Truck (CAT) scale. I had topped of the tank at the attached fuel station just before the weighing.



Steer axle - 4,580 #

Drive axle - 4,720 #

Trailer axle(s) - 7,240 #

Gross weight - 16,540 #



From a previous truck weighing, I know that my truck including passengers weighs approximately 7,525 #. Using this known weight...



The trailer weighs (ready to camp, full fresh water tank): 16,540 - 7,525 = 9,015 #



The trailer pin weight is: 9,015 - 7,240 = 1,775 #.



From knowing all these weights I can determine the scaled or weighted inflation pressures of the tires for the truck and the trailer. I read how to do this here on the TDR but if my math is incorrect somebody please let me know.



Tire Information: max load is 3,415 lbs. (single) @ 80 psi cold for truck tires:



Front tire load = 4,580 / 2 = 2,290 #s each tire

(2,290 / 3,415)X 80 psi = 53. 64 psi (front)



Rear tire load = 4,720 / 2 = 2,360 #s each tire

(2,360 / 3,415)X 80 psi = 55. 29 psi (rear)



So I'm thinking for safety, I should run 60 psi both front and rear.



I'll do this same math for the trailer tires and probably give them an extra 5 psi for safety.



Regarding the front and rear axle truck weight, they are only 140 lbs. different. I guess that sounds reasonable since the Cummins is so heavy. Also, seems to me like both the axles being almost equally weighted would be ideal for towing.



I would like any and all comments pertaining to my information and my opinions. All comments will be helpful and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.



- JyRO

 

[klenger]

Did you happen to measure how much the truck settled with the 5er connected? I'm kind of curious becauase my new 5er (should get it next week) is about the same wieght, and I'd like to know what kind of box to trailer clearance I should expect once it's connected.



I'm going to have to get me one of those tire pressure guages that indicates to 1/100 lb.

 

[JyRO]

Truck settle...

Yes, I've measured this, but not to my satisfaction. 1st time ~ 3. 5", 2nd time ~ 1. 5". I'm hooking up to it again today. I'm going to do a better job of it today. I think the 3. 5" is close. The second one, I think I had the suspension bound up on the truck due to using the parking brake and having the truck and trailer in compression. I'll get a good measurement today and post it tomorrow. Either way, the truck does not have any sag in the back.



- Jason

 

[SLVRBLT]

I'll measure it.

Ken Lenger-



Looks like our trucks are about the same except mine is a long bed. My trailer is about the same wt. and about the same pin wt.

With the 90 gal. aux. tank full and the trailer on the truck, the truck sits just about level. The axles have been flipped on the trailer and I have 6-7" of trailer to bed clearance.



Right now both fuel tanks are about empty and the trailer is hooked up. I'll try to remember tomorrow when I unhook to measure how much the truck rebounds when I take the pin wt off. If I read you post correctly, this is what you were asking, right?



Dave

 

[Ron Bissett]

Its good to know how information but don't know any one that travels with full water tank most have fourty or fifty gal tanks water at eight lbs to the gal . A gal or two for flushing poty or a glass of water shuld get you by and then fill up at camp,gas station ect. Some places water tast like ====, take some in jug or other container for drinking . just a thought . Ron in Louisville KY P. S the clearance remains the same load or not just pushes the truck down , top of hitch plate to bottom of hitch plate remains the same , you can change hitch on trailer up or down with the bolts or top plate with hitch plates on side of truck bed hitch up or down . Or spring purch change bottom to top kits from www.dexteraxle.com about twenty seven dollars pre axle.

 

[Eric_77]

Whoa on changing the tire pressure like that. Took me a while to figure out what you were calculating but I understand you did percentage of load to max load. It is not linear like that. Talk to a tire guy.



What do you have loaded in your truck that it weighs ~ 7500 empty!? Mine is only 6300 but it has nothing but factory equipment (weight wise). If that is stock weight then I understand why the new trucks are not geting the same mileage as the older ones. My 92 only weighs 5800 but it is a reg cab and it gets 1-1. 5 better than the 96.

 

[Shooter]

Eric:

mine weighs in at just under 7600#

see sig.

 

[JyRO]

Truck weight...

My truck weighs about 7,100 - 7,150 without anything in it but full tank of fuel. And yes, it of course has something to do with the fuel mileage.



- JyRO

 

[Big John]

My '96 long bed 4x4 2500 diesel 5 speed with hitch and 60 gallon aux. fuel tank full weighs in at 7580 pounds with no people in it. I have weighed it several times on 3 different scales and come within 20 to 40 pounds of the same weight.



My trailer also weighs about what yours does, but I run 55 in the front tires, 60 in the rear and 55 in the trailer tires.



Big John

 

[FDziurda]

My 99' LWB, 6-Speed, loaded but without trailer, weighed in at 7,600 on a certified truck scales; 4,300# front axle and 3,300# rear axle. Haven't weighed with trailer connected, but need to do that, to calculated proper tire pressures.



I have used the same method you used for calculating tire pressures for a long time and they seem to work great for me. The tires have 40k miles and still looking good.



JyRO, if your tires look good with the pressures you're using and the truck handles good, I'd suspect your tire pressures are reasonably close.



Frank

 

[CAJUNCUMMIN]

Last week I weighed in at 34620 lbs. the truck has no bed only a fith wheel and the trailer is a 48 foot mini float

 

[JyRO]

Rear sag / settle...

klenger - I measured accurately over the weekend. My truck settles right at 3. 0". I hope that helps.



- JyRO

 

[Fireman]

JyRO, Your inflation pressures are pretty close according to DC's recomindations on their load charts. Don't forget to add 10 psi for sustained speeds above 65 mph. I generally run 55 front and 70 rear and rarely exceed 65 mph when towing.

Fireman

 

[RAMalama]

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN JYRO!!!

I've only weighed the truck alone (7300lbs) with the hitch in the bed, and the trailer and truck together, (20660lbs).



I tow with 90% water which is about 65 gallons. A lot of weight I know but hey, you know my tow truck! My fith wheel trailer always has a motorcycle on the rear bumper as well. According to my trailer's tire side walls, my manufacturer recommended GTW exceeds what the four tires totalled can handle! -and the tires are 10ply load range E's!



Sure tows fine. The footprint on the trailer looks fine when aired to max (80psi).



You all are going to kill me but with the truck; I run 75 up front and 55 on all four rears. That sounds like the opposite of what most people say!!



Just completed a 4150 mile cross country tow which, considering some of the roads I drove, can be best summed up as a "hitch test". I'm surprised my trailer didn't come apart. I mean some of those roads were brutal on all three: truck, trailer, and hitch.



Have tons of digital photo's and logged every gallon of fuel if anybody's interested...



Wolf's Creek Pass Baby! No exhuast brake! 10,857ft with 20,660lbs!



Ian.

 

[JyRO]

Thanks RAMalama!

You must've been in MI. doing the, "hitch test. " If not, you haven't had the ultimate hitch test unless you've covered I-94 from D-Troit just past Ann Arbor.



Actually on Toyota's test track, they have a section called, "Michigan interstate," or, "I-94. " And they actually paved the road to resemble MI. streets/highways/interstates. Its part of there suspension durability test regimen. NO JOKE!



- JyRO

 

[Ron Bissett]

Re: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN JYRO!!!

Originally posted by RAMalama

I've only weighed the truck alone (7300lbs) with the hitch in the bed, and the trailer and truck together, (20660lbs).



I tow with 90% water which is about 65 gallons. A lot of weight I know but hey, you know my tow truck! My fith wheel trailer always has a motorcycle on the rear bumper as well. According to my trailer's tire side walls, my manufacturer recommended GTW exceeds what the four tires totalled can handle! -and the tires are 10ply load range E's!



Sure tows fine. The footprint on the trailer looks fine when aired to max (80psi).



You all are going to kill me but with the truck; I run 75 up front and 55 on all four rears. That sounds like the opposite of what most people say!!



Just completed a 4150 mile cross country tow which, considering some of the roads I drove, can be best summed up as a "hitch test". I'm surprised my trailer didn't come apart. I mean some of those roads were brutal on all three: truck, trailer, and hitch.



Have tons of digital photo's and logged every gallon of fuel if anybody's interested...



Wolf's Creek Pass Baby! No exhuast brake! 10,857ft with 20,660lbs!



Ian.

20,660 lbs and no exhaust brake = brake dust. get a brake your choise but get one saves brakes ,. Ron in Louisville KY

 

[klenger]

Jyro:



Thanks for the feedback. I just picked up by 5er today, and mine setteled about 3" also.



I have 6" clearance, and the trailer is slightly nose high. Still not on the overloads. With all of the talk about exceeding GVWR on 2500's, I wonder why Dodge even puts the overloads on. I don't think they are used until you exceed GVWR.



Ken

 

[RAMalama]

RON IS RIGHT

Yep, need an e-brake real bad. My brakes are STILL cooling and that haul was in July!



Seriously, an e-brake is on the list right after guages. To survive on Wolfs Creek Pass I just stayed slow. Real slow. 3rd gear, 25-30mph. That kept my weight in check needing to hit the brakes every minute or so. I think I did a good job. Speed is what kills and I definitely watched my speed. I mean watched it REAL close. Ron is so right, without an exhaust brake, and on a steep enough grade, I've learned there's a "point of no return" speed that will absolutely cook your brakes when you try to slow back down to save your life. I made damm sure I never even approached that speed. BTW, my guess on the east side of WCP (the easy side) if I got going faster that 40-45mph that would have been it. To prove my point, as slow I as I went I had two or three rigs pulling simular loads catch me in my descent. That told me I was fine right where I was. I knew 'cause THEY probably had exhaust brakes !!!!!!



Ian