Forum Discussion

Padlin's avatar
Padlin
Explorer
Oct 16, 2014

Light pin weight

Weighed my trailer the other day, the pin weight comes in at 12%. Had the fresh tank full which resides behind the axles. An educated guess is the pin will fluctuate from the low of 12% to maybe 17% depending on the status of the 3 tanks. Is this low weight anything to worry about? Seemed just fine on a recent 6000 mile trip but I don't know what I'd be looking for.

If it matters, the TV weighed 6540, the pin 520, the trailer axles 3840. Truck was empty except for the driver, the trailer lightly loaded for a weekend.
  • WeBeFulltimers's avatar
    WeBeFulltimers
    Explorer
    Oct 17, 2014
    Dropping your Fiver on the Cat Scale will more than likely get you evicted from the truck stop! They don't like anyone damaging the scales and costing them income waiting for repairs.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Oct 16, 2014
    greende wrote:
    My opinion is that if it tows okay, leave it alone.

    X2
    Sounds like a good match if your satisfied with the combo's handling/braking/etc.
  • Padlin's avatar
    Padlin
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2014
    I weighed it like you're supposed to. TV only, then TV and trailer, or vice versa, wheels properly positioned on the scales. Pin weight being the weight gain on the truck axles.
  • tegu69's avatar
    tegu69
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2014
    520 lbs. is only 80 lbs different from manufacturers specs for pin weight. If your worried, put 80 lbs in front. If it towed fine, I wouldn't worry about it. At least you don't have to worry about overloading truck.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Oct 16, 2014
    RCMAN46 wrote:


    No need to drop the trailer on the scales.

    Just follow the CAT instructions that has been posted on this site more times than I can count.


    Dropping the trailer on the scales will give the OP the total trailers weight. Which is what I was driving at.
  • Shadow_Grey's avatar
    Shadow_Grey
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2014
    Dropping the trailer ON the scales would do nothing for telling you pin weight. That would only tell you total weight of camper and what weight is on the front legs if on a different section of the scale which is different than pin weight.

    Easy to do the right way. Weight full loaded combo...pull off...drop trailer...weigh just truck and subtract differences.
  • RCMAN46's avatar
    RCMAN46
    Explorer
    Oct 16, 2014
    donn0128 wrote:
    How sid you arrive at that 12% number? Is the pin weight 12% of the axle weight or did tou acually drop the trailer completely on the scale. It will make a difference.


    No need to drop the trailer on the scales.

    Just follow the CAT instructions that has been posted on this site more times than I can count.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Oct 16, 2014
    How sid you arrive at that 12% number? Is the pin weight 12% of the axle weight or did tou acually drop the trailer completely on the scale. It will make a difference.

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