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mdamerell's avatar
mdamerell
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013

Average pin weight?

I've often read that a 5'rs pin weight, on average, is 20-25% of the trailers weight. Personally, mine runs around 22%. Do most people find this rule of thumb to be accurate?

Reading a thread on 1/2 ton towable 5'rs, the one person posted his numbers and his pin weight was around 16%. Got me to wondering if the 1/2 ton 5'rs run a lighter pin weight? Since most 5'rs will hit the pin weight limit before the tow limit. Is this one way the manufacture's are making them towable with a 1/2 ton truck?

Don't want to start a war, just an honest question.
  • Both our '03 Big Sky and our present Fuzion toyhauler show 20% on the pin when I weighed them loaded and ready to travel.
  • Last I weighed , this past March. 5er weighed in at 16,050#, pin weight was 3330#. Pin weight of 5er is 20.7% of 5er weight.
  • goducks10 wrote:
    If it handles good it's not really important whether it's 15,20 or 25% IMO.
    Mines right at 20% but it just worked out that way, in other words good designing from the factory I guess. From everything I've read the recommended pin weight is supposed to be between 15-25%. I don't think anyone's breaking the law by not having 20%:)


    There is physics involved that 20% figure is designed to give optimum performance and stability. 20% does not happen by accident or chance. But most fivers are designed that way.
    If your tongue/pin is too light there will be stability issues. Unfortunately the driver may not find out until there is some type of incident.
  • Our loaded weight is 15,200 lbs and our Pin Weight is 3,400 lbs

    That puts us at little over 22%, about where I would expect to be.
  • If it handles good it's not really important whether it's 15,20 or 25% IMO.
    Mines right at 20% but it just worked out that way, in other words good designing from the factory I guess. From everything I've read the recommended pin weight is supposed to be between 15-25%. I don't think anyone's breaking the law by not having 20%:)
  • romore wrote:
    If his pin weight is 16% it is a product of
    1. wishful thinking
    2. poorly loaded with too much weight behind the axles
    3. a poorly designed trailer with the axles too far ahead.
    Our 24.5' without a slide grosses at 5600 lb, pin weight comes in just shy of 1300 lb which is pushing the limits of any F-150/1500. Such a truck will pull it, many people do, but the experience would not be enjoyable or safe. We started out with a truck that was marginal for our needs, won't make that mistake again.

    None of the above. Here are the numbers from my last weighing:
    Trailer GVW: 8100
    Pin Weight: 1240
    Pin Weight %: 15.3%
    I've towed this combo up and down and all around the Colorado rockies for over 10,000 enjoyable miles. This is a 26 ft. rear kitchen with one slide.
  • mdamerell wrote:
    I've often read that a 5'rs pin weight, on average, is 20-25% of the trailers weight. Personally, mine runs around 22%. Do most people find this rule of thumb to be accurate?


    Reading a thread on 1/2 ton towable 5'rs, the one person posted his numbers and his pin weight was around 16%. Got me to wondering if the 1/2 ton 5'rs run a lighter pin weight? Since most 5'rs will hit the pin weight limit before the tow limit. Is this one way the manufacture's are making them towable with a 1/2 ton truck?

    Don't want to start a war, just an honest question.
    Most people never weigh their trailers so we'll never know the answer.
  • My fiver loaded scaled at 12,280 with pin at 2400. Just shy of 20%.
  • If his pin weight is 16% it is a product of
    1. wishful thinking
    2. poorly loaded with too much weight behind the axles
    3. a poorly designed trailer with the axles too far ahead.
    Our 24.5' without a slide grosses at 5600 lb, pin weight comes in just shy of 1300 lb which is pushing the limits of any F-150/1500. Such a truck will pull it, many people do, but the experience would not be enjoyable or safe. We started out with a truck that was marginal for our needs, won't make that mistake again.