Pin Weight Increases
So if I add the typical 1,000 pounds of stuff into my new 5th wheel, and install the four lifeline 6v batteries I'm keeping from my TT which weigh about 300 pounds, and have two full 30 pound propane ...
Forum Discussion
I would hate to see you give up on having a camper without gathering some more information. First, the "published" pin weight is likely to be optimistic (low) unless the manufacturer of the trailer you are considering is one of the very few manufacturers that actually weigh their product as it goes out the door. I haven't seen your other thread, so other that the pin weight you mentioned and your truck's maximum payload, I don't know anything about your truck and trailer.
I had a 2003 Silvarado 2500HD Duramax that I used to pull a Voltage 3200 toy hauler. The delivered weight of the trailer was about 13,700 lbs. When loaded for vacation the trailer weighed about 15,500 lbs, pin weight was about 2,500 lbs, putting about 16% of the trailer weight on the pin. My truck with this trailer was slightly over its stated GVWR of 9,200 lbs (by about 150 - 200 lbs) but well under the rear axle weight rating and the tire load limits. I have towed that trailer almost 20,000 miles over 3 or 4 years, with no problems and nothing scary happening. Our travels were almost exclusively to the west and north west, meaning I have at least two 11,000 foot passes to get over before getting out of the state (Colorado).
I am sure the weight police will weigh in (ha ha) on my post. My point is most 3/4 ton trucks can tow a decent sized 5th wheel with pin weights up to about 2,500 lbs.
Bottom line is you need actual scaled weights on your truck and trailer. Tell the dealer if he wants to sell you a trailer he needs to take it to a scale and weight it as delivered including determining the actual pin weight, or agree to take it back after you weigh it and it weighs more that a couple of hundred pounds more that the manufacturer's "published" weight. My toy hauler weighed over 1,000 lbs more as delivered than the weight stated in the brochure. I think the difference between the "advertised" pin weight and actual pin weight was about 300 lbs.
I suggest you take a deep breath and gather some actual numbers before giving up on the trailer you have settled on.
I had a 2003 Silvarado 2500HD Duramax that I used to pull a Voltage 3200 toy hauler. The delivered weight of the trailer was about 13,700 lbs. When loaded for vacation the trailer weighed about 15,500 lbs, pin weight was about 2,500 lbs, putting about 16% of the trailer weight on the pin. My truck with this trailer was slightly over its stated GVWR of 9,200 lbs (by about 150 - 200 lbs) but well under the rear axle weight rating and the tire load limits. I have towed that trailer almost 20,000 miles over 3 or 4 years, with no problems and nothing scary happening. Our travels were almost exclusively to the west and north west, meaning I have at least two 11,000 foot passes to get over before getting out of the state (Colorado).
I am sure the weight police will weigh in (ha ha) on my post. My point is most 3/4 ton trucks can tow a decent sized 5th wheel with pin weights up to about 2,500 lbs.
Bottom line is you need actual scaled weights on your truck and trailer. Tell the dealer if he wants to sell you a trailer he needs to take it to a scale and weight it as delivered including determining the actual pin weight, or agree to take it back after you weigh it and it weighs more that a couple of hundred pounds more that the manufacturer's "published" weight. My toy hauler weighed over 1,000 lbs more as delivered than the weight stated in the brochure. I think the difference between the "advertised" pin weight and actual pin weight was about 300 lbs.
I suggest you take a deep breath and gather some actual numbers before giving up on the trailer you have settled on.
