I thought I was on top of things doing all the weight calculations and bought a truck and 5th wheel. I pick it up next weekend. I came to realize that I messed up as I only included the dry hitch weight in my payload calculation. My question is, does adding weight to the back of the trailer take some weight off the truck bed (to keep me in my payload), or does everything add weight to the hitch, no matter where you distribute it to?2010 Chevy 2500 CC short bed, 3033 cargo carrying capacity2016 Keystone Hideout 308BHDS, 1820 (dry) pin weight285 lb Pullright autoslide, 200 lb cover/liner, 300 lb of passengers, probably 500 lb of carseats and stuff I don't know that was added since I didn't buy it new.This makes me think I'm right at or over my payload even without anything in the trailer. Can anything help?

Yes, adding weight behind the wheels will lower the pin weight...but obviously adds to your total towing weight.

Don't load it that way, you don't want to pull too much weight off the pin. You're safe going up to your RAWR on that truck and will be fine. Going off of GVWR numbers, 90pct of 3/4 ton trucks with 5'ers are overloaded.

I don't think you are going to be over weight, but the scales will tell the story. You don't want to take away too much pin weight by adjusting the load. You want to keep 20 percent of total wt on the pin.You likely wouldn't need the heavy slider hitch, but should still work.You should be able to put near 2800 lbs over your rear axle, and still be within RAWR/tire max.Jerry

Adding weight behind the wheels will lower the pin weight, but not as much as you would imagine. When I pulled a trailer behind my 5th wheel, I added about 600 lbs. to the rear and removed about 140 lbs. from the pin. And that weight was way off the back. You probably won't be adding any weight that far back, so the proportion will be even lower.But it also depends on your wheelbase, distance of axles from the pin, spread between the axles, etc.

jshupe wrote:Don't load it that way, you don't want to pull too much weight off the pin. You're safe going up to your RAWR on that truck and will be fine. Going off of GVWR numbers, 90pct of 3/4 ton trucks with 5'ers are overloaded.^^This.

5er Loading | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

1Wheeldrive
Explorer
Jan 07, 2017
Do not rely on published (brochure) weights to determine payload, pin, or vehicle weights. The only reliable way to determine how much payload you have is to take your truck to the scales as it will be loaded for towing, and subtract that number from the GVWR that the manufacturer provides. I think you will find that you do not have 3300 lb of pin load payload available.
With regard to reducing pin load by placing weight in the back of the trailer, when I added a 650 lb quad, a 275 lb. motorcycle, and a couple of hundred pounds of gear, tools, and dog food, I reduced my dry pin weight by only about 150 lbs. The biggest effect on pin weight is what you carry in the basement, almost all of that weight is directly on the pin.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 06, 2017
camp-n-family wrote:
jshupe wrote:
Don't load it that way, you don't want to pull too much weight off the pin. You're safe going up to your RAWR on that truck and will be fine. Going off of GVWR numbers, 90pct of 3/4 ton trucks with 5'ers are overloaded.

^^This.

X3
To light of pin % will lead to chucking and too much weight aft could cause sway even with a 5er.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
jshupe wrote:
Don't load it that way, you don't want to pull too much weight off the pin. You're safe going up to your RAWR on that truck and will be fine. Going off of GVWR numbers, 90pct of 3/4 ton trucks with 5'ers are overloaded.

^^This.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jan 06, 2017
Adding weight behind the wheels will lower the pin weight, but not as much as you would imagine. When I pulled a trailer behind my 5th wheel, I added about 600 lbs. to the rear and removed about 140 lbs. from the pin. And that weight was way off the back. You probably won't be adding any weight that far back, so the proportion will be even lower.

But it also depends on your wheelbase, distance of axles from the pin, spread between the axles, etc.
MFL
Nomad II
Jan 06, 2017
I don't think you are going to be over weight, but the scales will tell the story. You don't want to take away too much pin weight by adjusting the load. You want to keep 20 percent of total wt on the pin.

You likely wouldn't need the heavy slider hitch, but should still work.

You should be able to put near 2800 lbs over your rear axle, and still be within RAWR/tire max.

Jerry
2oldman
Explorer II
Jan 06, 2017
Yes, adding weight behind the wheels will lower the pin weight...but obviously adds to your total towing weight.
n0arp
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
Don't load it that way, you don't want to pull too much weight off the pin. You're safe going up to your RAWR on that truck and will be fine. Going off of GVWR numbers, 90pct of 3/4 ton trucks with 5'ers are overloaded.

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5er Loading

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