Apologies if this is posted elsewhere, but didn't find anything via searches.We're eventually planning to move up to a 5er in our next rig. As I'm putting together our short-list of campers, I want to track pin weight. My goal is to keep us in the 250/2500 class TV. What should I be using as the pin-weight percentage? 20% or 25%? I did a rough read through on the "What's your real weight" stickied thread and I'm seeing most less than 20%. Is that a good percentage? Is 25% being too conservative?*aside* - I see a lot of talk about new light-weight 5ers, but we'll still have 4 passengers and a full tank of fuel. I don't see that working out for the foreseeable future.*edit* readability

I can't say if its right, but 20% seems to be a good starting point. I live near a coal tipple so it only cost me $5 to get weighed with and without the trailer. At the end of the day I think that is the only way you will know for sure.

The problem is that it is a range from 15% to 25%. Mine is right at the low end at 15-16%. Others will be at the high end. Depends on the configuration, tank location and how you load it. For example, if you take a 10k GVW trailer, the pin weight might be 1500 to 2500 lbs. Quite a range. You really have to know the pin weight% for the trailer you are looking at. In general, the pin weight% will stay the same loaded as unloaded (probably not for Toy Haulers). Calculate the dry weight or shipping weight pin% and apply it to the GVWR. This will get you very close to a maximum pin weight.

20-25% is a rule of thumb. Mine actually runs around 22%. Depending upon the age of you 250/2500 will greatly effect the amount of pin weight you can carry. New trucks have a much higher rating than say 6 years ago. Don't forget to factor in the weight of the hitch (200#?). Guess I would look at the GVWR of the trailer (dry weight is useless)and take 22.5% of that. If the truck will carry that your good to go. Example: say your truck can carry 2,000# after you add the family, fuel, hitch etc.... 8,000# trailer x 22.5% = 1,800# pin. If you don't have the truck, many will find the trailer they like then buy the truck to match (what I did). They make 5r's that a 150/1500 is suppose to be able to pull so you can probably find what you want. Many these days seem to run in the 12,000 - 16,000# GVWR range. Maybe a 350/3500 SRW would be more applicable.Happy hunting :)

If you do not yet have the truck, then look for a 350/3500 as mdamerell suggested. It will give you more room for pin weight within the factory numbers and in most cases more or better rear springs, so you will not be adding air bags to level it.And as Dave said, calculate the dry weight to pin weight and apply that the the GVWR of the trailer and you will be close. Chris

Pin weight calculations | Good Sam Community

tahoemc
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Michelle.S wrote:
Don't short change yourself on the Truck. While a 250/2500 may work for the 5er you're looking at now, if in a few years you decide to go bigger you'll be looking for a new TV for the bigger RV. We were only looking for a 2500 a few years ago, but couldn't find what we wanted, but the Dealer had a 3500 Diesel Dually with all the options we wanted and for a better price than ordering a 2500. Didn't need that big a TV at the time, but when we decided to move up to a 5er we weren't limited by our TV. Just something to think about since you don't have a TV yet.

Same thing happened to me. Went to the dealer in 2004 looking for a 2500, pretty well set on diesel power, but nothing that really pleased us. Found the 3500 in the color combo and equipped the way we wanted it, and invoice/sticker was only a couple hundred bucks more. While it was more than we needed for our previous TT (23' Komfort), glad we got the 3500 as it is needed for our current 5'er. I'm sure we will replace this TV in a couple years and replace it with a similar truck, albeit newer with higher tow and weight capacity ratings.
Norskeman
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Here is some data on our trailer:

Advertised weights:
Dry Weight - 9761 lbs
Hitch weight - 1942
Axle weight - 7819.
Factory dry weight - after factory options - 10,015 lbs
Axles rated at 5200 lbs each.
Length - 33' 11"

Truck weight is about 8050 lbs with me in it - 3/4 tank of fuel and hitch in truck

CAT scale
Steer Axle - 4900 lbs
Drive Axle - 6060 lbs
Trailer Axle - 9220 lbs
Gross Weight - 20,180 lbs

2 passengers in the truck, full tank of diesel (36 gallons) and 1 small dog. Trailer is "packed" for 2 weeks of camping and about 1/3 tank of water.

Add on’s to the original weight - Both propane tanks full, additional 12V battery and 3 slide awnings.

Glad I purchased a 3500HD diesel truck to pull the rig. Our truck GVWR rating is 11,600 lbs.
cdlaine
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Chris,

Not a max pin weight for the fiver, a max pin weight listed
for the tow vehicle in my sig. block. 3000 #.

Charles
Me_Again
Explorer III
Sep 11, 2013
cdlaine wrote:
Apologies for the confusion... I did my pin weight
calculations on what I run loaded ready to go camping for a week.

If I used the factory GVWR on my fiver (14,300 #) my current pin
weight (of 2600#'s at the Cat scale) would be between 18-19 %.

I do not plan to run at 5ver GWVR with my current tow vehicle. That
is why I was more interested in the weight calculations I actually tow .
The factory data indicates a "max." pin weight of 3000 lbs.

Good luck... hope you can avoid numbers mesmerization.

Charles

What trailer do you have that states a max pin weight? I have never seen that. Chris
cdlaine
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Apologies for the confusion... I did my pin weight
calculations on what I run loaded ready to go camping for a week.

If I used the factory GVWR on my fiver (14,300 #) my current pin
weight (of 2600#'s at the Cat scale) would be between 18-19 %.

I do not plan to run at 5ver GWVR with my current tow vehicle. That
is why I was more interested in the weight calculations I actually tow .
The factory data indicates a "max." pin weight of 3000 lbs.

Good luck... hope you can avoid numbers mesmerization.

Charles
12thgenusa
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
RCMAN46 wrote:
The more the pin weight the better the trailer will tow provided the TV is able to handle the pin weight.

Not really true at all.
Sunnyside42
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
hone eagle wrote:
20% of what weight? because the trailer is bound to weight more then the 'brochure'. my pin weight was supposed to be 2800# roughly, turned out to be 4044 # according to a cat scale.
Where are the axles? how do you load (frontly or balanced) ?

Good point. I've been using 20% and 25% of the GVWR.
hone_eagle
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
20% of what weight? because the trailer is bound to weight more then the 'brochure'. my pin weight was supposed to be 2800# roughly, turned out to be 4044 # according to a cat scale.
Where are the axles? how do you load (frontly or balanced) ?
cdlaine
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
Sunny,

I tow right at 21%, can't say as I've noticed any particular
problems with towing/stopping/porpoising. I am a bit over on
GVWR (9200 #), but not on RAWR,FAWR,GCWR. Many discussions on
here as to weight related issues. With my configuration, I am satisfied with
the way my 5ver handles. I have not taken my rig off-road.

BTW :Factory Dry pin wt. : 2315 #'s. (or 20% +/- of Factory
dry wt. 5ver : 11,245# )

Charles
ependydad
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
12thgenusa wrote:
The problem is that it is a range from 15% to 25%. Mine is right at the low end at 15-16%. Others will be at the high end. Depends on the configuration, tank location and how you load it. For example, if you take a 10k GVW trailer, the pin weight might be 1500 to 2500 lbs. Quite a range. You really have to know the pin weight% for the trailer you are looking at.

In general, the pin weight% will stay the same loaded as unloaded (probably not for Toy Haulers). Calculate the dry weight or shipping weight pin% and apply it to the GVWR. This will get you very close to a maximum pin weight.

I agree with everything quoted.