Light 5th Wheel

Veebyes,it seems to go hand in hand, insurance won't cover—lawsuit. I wish someone would post a real instance of this happening. I would love to read it.

Goducks, there isn't a "recommended" pin weight, just that it can range from 15% to 25%. It depends primarily on the configuration of the trailer and less so on how you load it. Mine happens to be 16% unloaded and 15% loaded. The pin weight of an 8000# trailer could range from 1200# to 2000#.

DHCamper wrote:
Don't have even 1000 pounds with water, but at 1500 I would still have 700 pounds to go! The math works and so does the truck/trailer combo. Quite well I might add... Everyone is "surprised" at how level I tow loaded. I encountered a thunderstorm with 60mph gusts on the freeway last week and had no problem keeping the rig between the lines.

What's your weights. Have you actually weighed the 5'er? If you're at 8000lbs then 1600lbs is the recommended pin weight. Plus add in the hitch and you're over 1700lbs. Add you and whatever else in the truck and our right at the edge of your payload, maybe over.

Why is it that the 1/2 ton 5'er towers never state their weights?

The winds may have gusted somewhere at 60mph but I doubt very much that you had sustained 60 mph winds hitting the side of your 5'er. I town a shorter (28') 5'er with a long bed 2500 CTD and I can tell when 20+mph winds are blowing.

12thgenusa, re read my post. I didn't see anything where I mentioned "lawsuit". Perhaps you might find it & post it for me. But, since you mentioned it, perhaps that is also a risk, especially if you cause a crash with another vehicle while overloaded & the insurance does not cover. All of a sudden buying that truck to suit looks real cheap.

DHCamper, dealing with 60mph gust, lucky you. They must have been something other than broadside. You would have noticed that for sure.

Don't have even 1000 pounds with water, but at 1500 I would still have 700 pounds to go! The math works and so does the truck/trailer combo. Quite well I might add... Everyone is "surprised" at how level I tow loaded. I encountered a thunderstorm with 60mph gusts on the freeway last week and had no problem keeping the rig between the lines.

Veebyes wrote:
Gotta love it. See it all the time. A truck not up to the job is bought. All kinds of money is spent modifying this & that to beef up the truck to hopefully carry the load which has maxed or over maxed the trucks rating. Get in a crash overweight & the insurance company finds out. See if you are covered. At the end of the day more or less the same money has been spent as for an unmodified truck rated for the job right off the lot.

Have to get on my soapbox. What is your life worth? Decide on the trailer. Figure on adding 1500# of 'stuff' that you will put in it. Now, go buy the truck which does not have to be modified to carry it.

Bla, bla, bla. I knew we would hear this same old saw again, even the part about a lawsuit. Gloom and doom.

It is possible, and yes the choices are limited. My combo works great for me, with a totally stock truck. Unfortunately the Cougar 245RKS is not currently offered. Rear kitchen models tend to have a lighter pin weight. For what it's worth we pack about 800 lbs. of stuff and 500 lbs. of water.

Gotta love it. See it all the time. A truck not up to the job is bought. All kinds of money is spent modifying this & that to beef up the truck to hopefully carry the load which has maxed or over maxed the trucks rating. Get in a crash overweight & the insurance company finds out. See if you are covered. At the end of the day more or less the same money has been spent as for an unmodified truck rated for the job right off the lot.

Have to get on my soapbox. What is your life worth? Decide on the trailer. Figure on adding 1500# of 'stuff' that you will put in it. Now, go buy the truck which does not have to be modified to carry it.

I have a Keystone Bullet 252fl and pull it fine with a 1/2 Dodge. Weight of the trailer is 6300 and has two slides. A lot of room and not much weight.

Get the HD payload package, you will not regret it. Tell the dealer to choose 3.73 limited slip and crew cab and HD paylod package should be added automatically. Probably have to order one... they are not on the lot.

I would get the HD package. My pin weight was 1100 lbs new
I am sure I'm well under max spec. The truck tows the loaded trailer very level.