Forum Discussion

lawnspecialties's avatar
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Dec 09, 2015

Pin Weights

How does one get an accurate pin weight of a 5er they are contemplating purchasing?

Do dealer's generally have a scale at their business? The Sherline on etrailer is rated only 2000 lbs. and is generally expected to measure trailer tongues.

I know if I want to buy a particular model, the pin weight at the dealership will be slightly different from real world towing with all our stuff inside. But I would never trust the manufacturer's specs and I certainly can't haul the thing to a local truck scale.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2015
    Rough, fairly safe estimate....use 20% of the trailer's GVWR.
    (.20 x GVWR (gross trailer's weight rating).
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Dec 09, 2015
    The 20% rule can give a ballpark number. But it can also be off a lot. Browsing 5er manufacturer web sites and looking at specs, you will find some of the longer and heavier 5ers sometimes have lower pin weights than some of the shorter lighter ones. Sometimes significantly so. All about floor plans and layouts. Short of weighing it or getting weight info from someone who has that particular model, the manufacturer spec'ed pin weight is the best starting place.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Dec 09, 2015
    downtheroad wrote:
    Rough, fairly safe estimate....use 20% of the trailer's GVWR.
    (.20 x GVWR (gross trailer's weight rating).


    This is an great starting point the can be up to 25% though. Be aware if you are looking at a 14,000# 5er, the the difference between 20% and 25% is 700# which is a bit of variance.
  • spud1957's avatar
    spud1957
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2015
    I like using the dry weight ratio. Once loaded, the weight ratio would be similar.

    If the posted dry weight of the trailer is 10k with a dry pin weight of 2K. That unit has a 20% ratio. Load it up to 12k and you will be close to 2400 lbs.

    Some units' ratios are lower. Some are higher. Floor plan has a lot to do with it.
  • Super_Dave's avatar
    Super_Dave
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2015
    Many of the 5ers that I look at have that massive pass through storage up front. That has got to be a huge variable as forward loaded storage has to have a lot bigger impact on pin weight than axle back weight.
  • RustyJC's avatar
    RustyJC
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2015
    spud1957 wrote:
    I like using the dry weight ratio. Once loaded, the weight ratio would be similar.

    If the posted dry weight of the trailer is 10k with a dry pin weight of 2K. That unit has a 20% ratio. Load it up to 12k and you will be close to 2400 lbs.

    Some units' ratios are lower. Some are higher. Floor plan has a lot to do with it.


    On all the 5th wheels we've owned since 1996, loading the front storage bay results in the trailer being heavier on the pin than the dry pin/axle weight ratios would indicate. In other words, a 20% "dry" ratio might turn into a 23% or 24% "loaded" ratio.

    Rusty
  • spud1957's avatar
    spud1957
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2015
    Super_Dave wrote:
    Many of the 5ers that I look at have that massive pass through storage up front. That has got to be a huge variable as forward loaded storage has to have a lot bigger impact on pin weight than axle back weight.


    True but the fridge can be over or behind the axles and there is either a fresh water or waste tank behind the axle.

    Didn't say it was perfect but it does help "estimate".
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Dec 09, 2015
    Would love to see =any= mfr send out a complimentary CAT scale weigh-in with the stipulation that you have to return the results back to them. They could then compile real-world numbers. I know the mfrs will never do this, but if a 3rd-party would do it, I'd bet they'd be inundated with info.

    Lyle
  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Dec 09, 2015
    RustyJC wrote:
    spud1957 wrote:
    I like using the dry weight ratio. Once loaded, the weight ratio would be similar.

    If the posted dry weight of the trailer is 10k with a dry pin weight of 2K. That unit has a 20% ratio. Load it up to 12k and you will be close to 2400 lbs.

    Some units' ratios are lower. Some are higher. Floor plan has a lot to do with it.


    On all the 5th wheels we've owned since 1996, loading the front storage bay results in the trailer being heavier on the pin than the dry pin/axle weight ratios would indicate. In other words, a 20% "dry" ratio might turn into a 23% or 24% "loaded" ratio.

    Rusty


    I agree with both spud1957 and Rusty - using the dry % can yield a best guess at real pin weights. Rusty is also right, I polled a handful of people and found a 2%-4% increase in pin weight percentages for non-toy haulers.

    In fact, I created a web page to help calculate it:
    http://www.towingplanner.com/Estimators/TonguePinWeightFromDry
  • ford_truck_guy's avatar
    ford_truck_guy
    Nomad
    Dec 09, 2015
    laknox wrote:
    Would love to see =any= mfr send out a complimentary CAT scale weigh-in with the stipulation that you have to return the results back to them. They could then compile real-world numbers. I know the mfrs will never do this, but if a 3rd-party would do it, I'd bet they'd be inundated with info.

    Lyle


    Redwood scales them at the factory as they come off the line with ALL options added.. they place an oval sticker inside the trailer , usually on the screen door with the weight... the date it was weighed , and the persons name...

    Its still better to go off the GVW and 20-25% ratio

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