We've gone and done it now... Update

Cummins12V98 wrote:

drillagent wrote:
WE HAVE A 5TH WHEEL!! Drove four hours one way today to pick up our new to us 2012 Keystone Montana 3750FL. I want to thank everyone here for their wisdom, advice, input, and even their questions which made our walkthrough/PDI run so smooth today. Based on three years of research and prep through this forum, I drove up today in a 2012 F250 diesel SRW with B&W Companion 3500 and Air Lift suspension air bags. In my hands I had two different PDI checklists and recommended equipment gleaned from this forum.

After running through the checklists, we found three issues that were quickly taken care of. Two of the five slide outs were not seating properly and the awning was moldy and smelled bad.

Prior to hooking up, I inflated the airbags to 15psi in anticipation of the pressure increasing as load was applied. To my amazement, the truck didn't even squat. The loaded pressure was 30psi which I went ahead and bumped up to 40psi. The truck and the trailer sit almost exactly level.

I opened the jaws of the B&W companion and followed the ground guide directions to hook up. I got the stop hand signal and noticed the technician was locking the hitch. I didn't even feel or hear the hitch hit the kingpin it was so smooth.

So, all hitched up, all tanks and water lines emptied, and ready to go, we drove off into a torrential downpour which started just as we left. Did I mention this was the first time I ever towed a 5th wheel? Serious pucker time.

I was so worried about the rear axle being over weight, our first stop was the CAT scales about three miles up the road. We weighed the truck by itself before we went to the dealership. So here are the weights. BTW, the truck GVWR is 10,000lbs. GCWR is 23,500lbs. RAWR is 6,100lbs. Trailer dry weight is 12,500. Trailer tires LR E 3420lbs for total of 13680.

Truck alone:
Steer Axle - 4,940lbs
Drive Axle - 3,420lbs
Gross Weight - 8,360lbs

Truck and Trailer:
Steer Axle - 4,860lbs
Drive Axle - 5,760lbs
Trailer Axle - 10,680lbs
Gross Weight - 21,300lbs

Truck Total Weight - 10,675lbs
Kingpin weight - 2,340lbs
Trailer Total Weight - 13,020lbs

The drive home was amazing. I never expected the ride to be so smooth. I never heard or felt any chucking from the hitch. There was some pulling back and a few waves as we went across rough bridges, but nothing like I've heard others on the forum talk about. I set the cruise control at 60mph and it stayed there the whole way. Even through the Arkansas hills. I watched the engine and transmission temps very carefully, and they never went above normal. Even on such a hot, humid day.

Bottom line, I love my truck, I love my setup, I love my trailer. Two years to retirement can't go quick enough. Full timing, here we come!

Your truck/RV sit exactly like a properly hitched combo should.

My question is how can you think that your truck is ok to pull this RV within specs? Did you look at your own numbers?

You are over your trucks GVWR by 620#.

Your rear axle rating is 6,100# and before you are fully loaded you weigh 5,760# that only leaves 340# and you will hit that number before you know it.

Your GCWR is 23,500# you are at 21,300# that leaves only 2,200# for all your stuff.

You must have your B&W kingpin set behind the center line of the rear axle since you removed 80# from the front axle after RV is attached. You should be adding weight to the front axle.

BTW good choice on the B&W.

Am I getting something wrong here?

It is not physically possible to be under weight with a F250 pulling a 5th wheel designed for full time living. The day I bought the truck, I weighed it with only a full tank of gas and it was over 7,000lbs. Add a hitch and DW and I, and it's already too late. So I knew this going in.

I was worried about the pin weight, but I was well below my anticipated weight. If you ever get the chance to check out a Montana 3750FL, the first thing you'll notice is that the basement is about 1/3 the size of your typical 5th wheel. The second thing is that 90% of the interior storage is behind the axles. So that should help offset the additional weight. The pin weight is about 18% of the total trailer weight. So even if I add 1,000lbs that would only add 180lbs to the pin. Within limits.

Besides, I'm in the Army. My family moves on average every three years, so we don't have a lot of stuff to begin with. We're used to living without. I'd be surprised if DW and I add 1,000lbs to the trailer weight.

The B&W Companion is set as far back as it can go because I have a short bed truck. This is to minimize the chances of striking the cab on turns.

Thanks about the B&W. I did a lot of research on 5th wheel hitches. A lot. I think the DW threatened to leave me if I didn't just pick one, I was bugging her about it so much. BTW, if you want a great deal on turnoverball installation, go see Village Truck Visions in Joplin, MO. Great bunch of guys. Tornado survivors who rebuilt their shop and are coming back strong and would be happy to have your business.

So to answer your last question, no, you're not getting something wrong here. However, the Composite Risk Management has been completed and all mitigating factors have been taken into account and the risk level has been deemed acceptable.