what is pin weight and how is it determined?
Donn has some good advice.
Pin weight = how much of a trailer hitch load the truck is carrying.
are 5th wheel manufactures really that different in weight compared to size?
You betcha'. Very different. Length means nothing as far as a trailers GVWR.
a dually is not in my cards, but getting a Dodge 3500, Cummings SRW which i assume means single rear drive? is.
appreciate any advice
SRW = single rear wheel configuration or 2 wheels on the rear axle
DRW = dual rear wheels or 4 wheels on the rear axle.
Our new gen 3500 Ram trucks have GVWRs ranging from 10100 lb up to 12300 lbs. However all 3500 SRW trucks are limited to a 7000 RAWR.
The trucks rear axle (RAWR) carries the hitch load so don't exceed that rating as it includes tires/wheels and rear spring pack.
The new Ram 3500 SRW can weigh 3000-3200 lbs on the rear axle which leaves 3800-4000 lb as a payload.
Now your looking at a 5th wheel trailer with approx 3000-3200 lb dry pin weight. As I said above length doesn't matter but the trailers GVWR/dry weight does.
