buying a used 5th wheel

Thanks for the numbers on that pin weight that clear it up for me. There not kidding when they say numbers don't lie thanks again.

Coachman has a history of rotting slide floors during that time frame. Be sure and check the slide floors and area around the slides.

Ken

rainmanrv wrote:
thanks for the help,I definitely was looking at this the wrong way.I would just look at the dry weight did not think about hitch weight.I do not like being max-out with the weight I am going to pass on the coachmen and look for something with 15% hitch weight. Also i did check that black and yellow cargo tag on the door it said 2630#.

OK, now you know you have 2630# to play with.
Figure out how much you are going to put in the truck........
- People
- Pets
- Other"stuff" (cooler, tools etc)
- Bed liner and other accessories.
- full tank of fuel (@ 6#/gallon)
- The hitch you are going to use.

Add them all up and subtract that number from 2650#

The result is the LOADED pin weight you can carry without exceeding any of your truck ratings.

For example, let's say you have 1800# available for the pin.....

The following examples calculate the maximum LOADED fiver you can carry at 3 different pin weight ratios.........

15%:
1800/0.15 = 12,000#

20%:
1800/0.2 = 9,000#

25%:
1800/0.25 = 7,200#

Hope that helps and can give you a good place to start.
You need to substitute your own numbers - I just guessed at a load of 830# to make the math easy!.

thanks for the help,I definitely was looking at this the wrong way.I would just look at the dry weight did not think about hitch weight.I do not like being max-out with the weight I am going to pass on the coachmen and look for something with 15% hitch weight. Also i did check that black and yellow cargo tag on the door it said 2630#.

2010 Coachmen North Ridge 290RKD

2010 Coachmen North Ridge 290RKD


Different dry weights but agree on the 14,000# GVWR. Empty weights around 10,000# so assume 12,000# loaded ?

12,000 * 20% = 2,400# pin weight.

If your truck can carry passengers and around 2,500# of pin weight you're probably ok. Depending on the version of your truck you maybe out of luck.

2007 Chevy Tow Guide

rainmanrv wrote:
Thanks for your info, this would be my first 5th wheel. How did you determine the dry pin weight the rv guide says the trailer weights 8705 dry, also the gwwr is 14,000 and I have a 2007 duramax 2500HD. The dealer said it weighted 10,000lbs why the difference from rv guide. Thanks

Dry pin alone will probably overload your truck. (You did not tell us if it was a diesel, Crew-Cab, 4WD etc). That's before you add a hitch and people.
I'm struggling with a dry weight of 8705# with a GVWR of 14,000#.
I got the dry weight from the spcs tab of the NADA link I provided. Where did you get the GVWR?
If you have access to the trailer, that number will be on a plate towards the front left side.

Regardless, with a 26% pin ratio (2290/8705) even at 10,000# you will load 2600# on the truck.

You have a yellow/black "Tire loading Information label" on your driver's door pillar.
What does it say the "Combined weight of occupants and cargo must not exceed XXXX" say.
That is your payload and must handle everything in the truck.
People, pets, fuel, tools, the hitch plus that trailer pin weight.

I suspect your 2500HD is not up to it! I have a similar truck and am within 200# of exceeding that payload with an 1800# pin weight fiver.

Smaller trailer, one with a pin ratio closer to 15% or a new truck is needed here!

Thanks for your info, this would be my first 5th wheel. How did you determine the dry pin weight the rv guide says the trailer weights 8705 dry, also the gwwr is 14,000 and I have a 2007 duramax 2500HD. The dealer said it weighted 10,000lbs why the difference from rv guide. Thanks

rainmanrv wrote:
Hello fellow RVers I am thinking of buying a used 2010 Coachmen North Ridge 290RKD. does anyone have info on this fifth wheel is it good or should you say away from it. the only thing i know is coachmen went bankrupt i believe in 2008 and forest river brought it. Also i just found out that they only build the north ridge for 3 years what does that mean? the trailer has been very lightly used cabinets are like new every thing is like new.The dealer gives 30 day warranty not much but something. I can get it for $21,000. I would appreciate advice thanks in advance

NADA low retail (no options) is $21,550, average retail is $25,950.
If it is as good and clean as you say it is it might be a good buy.
Check for signs of waterleaks. Pretty much anything else can be fixed but leaks can cause hidden and permanent damage.
Good luck.
BTW, with a dry pin of 2300# you are going to need a fairly stout truck to carry that load. That is 26% which really is the top end of pin ratios.
Don't know the trailer GVWR but even loading lightly you will add another 250# to that pin weight.
With a 200# hitch, people, stuff and fuel in the truck you need a payload rating of AT LEAST 3300#.
Think 1-ton SRW. minimum.