Pin Weight

Rwake901 wrote:

The fifth wheel should be around 13500 loaded or less. The pin weight is 2300 empty plus 2 passengers and 140 pounds or so for the hitch. Max cargo weight is 3100lbs. I contacted the manufacturer of the RV and was told that I can “absolutely “ tow this fifth wheel with a 3/4 ton truck. I guess I will find out.

Pin weight at 20% will be 2700#, a couple of 150# passengers plus your hitch is going to run you to the max. I hope you don't plan on tools or firewood in the truck bed!!
Believing the Manufacturer is second only to believing a salesman! They aren't responsible for what you are driving!

As an aside, I have been there. Adding overloads will destroy your ride. I tried it with Timbrens and it was awful!

kaydeejay wrote:

Rwake901 wrote:
Looks like I will probably be 3 to 4 hundred pounds over my max cargo weight on my pin then for the truck I’m buying. Guess I’ll be putting some overloads on it.

Whoa, are you saying your pin will be 3-400# over your payload? Have you figured in the weight of your hitch, passengers and other stuff?
What truck are you buying? Not sure where the 15K trailer GVW came from but you are into 1-ton or even dually country.
If it's a new truck you might want to ask your dealer what overloading will do to your warranty!

The fifth wheel should be around 13500 loaded or less. The pin weight is 2300 empty plus 2 passengers and 140 pounds or so for the hitch. Max cargo weight is 3100lbs. I contacted the manufacturer of the RV and was told that I can “absolutely “ tow this fifth wheel with a 3/4 ton truck. I guess I will find out.

Rwake901 wrote:
Looks like I will probably be 3 to 4 hundred pounds over my max cargo weight on my pin then for the truck I’m buying. Guess I’ll be putting some overloads on it.

Whoa, are you saying your pin will be 3-400# over your payload? Have you figured in the weight of your hitch, passengers and other stuff? That can easily be another 500-600# (or more!).
FWIW most folks underestimate what the trailer will weigh once it's loaded.
What truck are you buying? Not sure where the 15K trailer GVW came from but if that's true you are into 1-ton or even dually country.
Overloading is NOT the best way to start out fifth-wheeling!
Plus, if it's a new truck you might want to ask your dealer what overloading will do to your warranty!

Looks like I will probably be 3 to 4 hundred pounds over my max cargo weight on the truck I’m buying by the time it’s loaded. Guess I’ll be putting some overloads on it.

laknox wrote:
15k GVW, so you can figure somewhere between 3k and 3.75k lbs on the pin, as a rule of thumb (20-25%), at gross weight.

* Maybe.

My bunkhouse fifth wheel was very light on the pin weight. Came from the factory at 16% and loaded it was 17%.

15k GVW, so you can figure somewhere between 3k and 3.75k lbs on the pin, as a rule of thumb (20-25%), at gross weight. Remember, this is ONLY the pin weight and doesn't account for anything over a 150 lb driver and full fuel. Any driver weight > 150 comes off the sticker payload, as does the hitch, passengers and "stuff" you want to carry in the truck. Personally, I'd say you're firmly in dually territory. IF you can find someone with the exact same FW that's actually scaled it, loaded, that's the only real way to see what the pin is.

Lyle

Rwake901 wrote:
Picking up our new fifth wheel on Saturday. First time fifth wheel owners. I was wondering when adding weight to the fifth wheel does this also add weight to the pin? I assume it will. Is there a way to calculate the weight at the pin by how much weight was added to the fifth wheel? Thanks

For non-toy haulers, you can best guess estimate it based on the dry weights. See this tool here:
http://www.towingplanner.com/Estimators/TonguePinWeightFromDry

A typical fifth wheel without heavy rear slides will increase anywhere from 2-3% from the dry pin weight percentage. One that has heavy rear slides might only increase 1-2%.

Toy haulers throw this calculation to the wind. My triple axle toy hauler comes in at a designed pin weight of 15.5% and loaded is the same.

I heard a number once that 60% of the weight you put in the basement will go to the pin as a general rule. If you have a rear kitchen or toy hauler, that might tend to lighten the pin. Location of the water heater and tanks also factor in. I have a Dually so I don't worry about it. If you are on the ragged edge regarding your weights, then it is best to have it weighed.

Hopefully you have a stout truck! Fivers are notorious for adding a load more than the truck's carrying capacity, long before the actual towing capacity is reached.
BTDT and got the T-shirt!!

Generally a dry pin wt will be at least 18 percent. When batteries, propane, basement items added, under bed storage, maybe front bedroom closet filled, you will be between 20 to 25 percent of total FW wt on the pin. About the only true way to find actual loaded to camp pin wt, is to go to the scales, doing the weighing of truck axles without FW, and reweighing with FW added.

You will want at least 20 percent loaded FW pin wt, to avoid other issues, such as chucking.

Jerry