Tow rating comparison; 5th wheel vs bumper

rhagfo wrote:

peaches&cream wrote:

SoCalDesertRider wrote:

peaches&cream wrote:
I have arrived here from the "Class A" side. I owned 2 HR for the past 6 yrs. 1 was a 36 ft. gasser and the other a 37 ft. DP. I have accquired a 1997 GMC 3500 ext. cab dulley w/454 engine. I will be looking for a 5th wheel to pull and need help in determining what I can safely pull. The truck is lacking Owners Manual so I do not have that info. On the door jam is GVWR 10,000 lbs., GAWR frt 3800 lbs., GAWR RR 7500 lbs. From what I read, I need to have the truck weighed with full fuel and loaded with people and baggage. After I accquire this number, what do I do next?

When you go to the scales, get not only the scale weight for the whole truck, but also get the rear axle scale weight, separately.

Subtract the rear axle scale weight from the RGAWR. That will tell you how much available load capacity you have on the rear axle. The front axle is of little concern, since it is the rear axle that carries 95% of the hitch weight of a 5th wheel trailer.

Don't forget to account for the weight of the hitch itself, as well as anything else you will carry in the bed of the truck.

Thanks for the info. Will do.

Better yet,,

First pass 5er connected 5er loaded to camp.

TV Front axle
TV Rear axle
5er Axles

Second pass, drop the 5er,
TV front axle
TV rear axle

Now with a little math you can get the pin weight of the 5er and the total weight of the 5er.

Pin = (loaded F axle + loaded R axle) - (unloaded F axle + unloaded Rear axle)

5er weight = 5er pin + 5er axles

Only problem with doing this is don't have the 5er yet. Going to get the TV weighed and will then look for a 5er. Can I be safe in using 20% of Max. Gross weight of 5er for pin weight when shopping for a 5er? What about Max. Towable Weight of 5er figuring into TV cap. I do not have Owners Manual to help. Only GVWR and GAWR on door.