Is 2500# a realistic gap w/37' 5th wheel?
Yellow sticker weight is 9950# and I've got a max of 12,500# for my truck. Payload is 3000# which seems like I'd run out there at about the same time the setup as a whole is too much. What I'm looki...
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mtofell1 wrote:
Yellow sticker weight is 9950# and I've got a max of 12,500# for my truck. Payload is 3000# which seems like I'd run out there at about the same time the setup as a whole is too much. What I'm looking for are experiences of people who have loaded these 5th wheels.
I'm thinking 600# of people in the truck being conservative and planning on the kids growing. 5th wheel hitch another couple hundred. So, that leaves me 1700# worth of stuff in the trailer. Full tank of fresh water takes 500# so that leaves me with 1200# of food, clothes, pots/pans, tv, etc, etc. Seems like I'm in the ballpark at least. Of course, it does add up quickly I know. I'm trying to decide if I'm pushing it too much. Of course, I know the tires don't all explode the instant I go 10# over weight.
Since everyone's family size and whatnot varies I guess I'm really wondering how much bedding, tvs, pots/pans and general camping stuff gets packed in. 1200# seems like an awful lot.
I'm assuming that "3000 lb payload" is for the truck....correct? So with all the stuff you're talking about, you're forgetting the pin weight of the trailer which will be about 20% of the trailer's total weight (what ever that may be when fully loaded and ready to travel).
So if you have 600 lbs of people, the hitch with another 200 lbs, and probably another couple hundred worth of stuff in the truck (tools, equipment, wood, etc) that only leaves 2000 lbs for the pin weight.
Is that 9900 lbs the "dry weight" of the trailer? If yes, another 1200 lbs of stuff in the trailer, you will be over 11,000 lbs and 20% of that is 2200 lbs.
So, looks to me that you are going to be 200 lbs over your trucks payload capacity.
Of course, that assumes all the info you provided is close to being accurate and also if my assumptions are valid.
FWIW, typically the mfg'ers tow capacity is not really a figure to consider. You will max out your truck's payload capacity,or RAWR, and/or the GVWR way before you reach that magical tow capacity figure.
Ron
