Now that I'm getting more into weighing my truck, I have been pondering something I've never really checked in my past fifth wheel life.I know my F350's rear and front axle weights when full of fuel plus passengers. I will know the true pin weight of whatever fifth wheel I buy because I will measure it with my Sherline scale before we sign any papers. But I won't really know what the front axle weight of my truck will be when the camper's hooked up until I buy it and take it to a CAT scale somewhere. The closest one to us is I-95 between Dunn and Benson which is about 25 miles away. Is there a good rule of thumb of what percentage of the pin weight will be on the front axle vs. the rear axle of the truck? When I'm loaded up with a full tank of fuel (120 gallons), my front axle is much closer to its GAWR than my rear axle is. Those diesel engines sure do weigh a lot.

Your front end weight will not change much unless you install the hitch way too far forward. You won't install the hitch more than a couple inches ahead of the rear axle at most.The only time it might be a problem is if you are towing your fifth wheel with your three defensive linemen sons in the cab with you, and you have a heavy snow plow hanging out front.

99 percent of a 5th wheels pin weight will be on the rear axle of the truck. It would take a lot more than 2" doe the hitch to be in front of the axle to add much weight to the front axle. As the rear suspension settles the small amount at 2" is offset do the change in ride attitude of the truck. So like just about everyone else you will see not big change to the front axle. Plus or minus 100 pounds is pretty normal. Chris

Your front axle is a 7250 lb rated Dana 60. Just watch your tire weight ratings and you will be fine.

Virtually none since 5ths are typically centered over the rear axle. If it's fwd or back of the axle, a simple moment calc since you know the pin weight will tell you exactly how much.

And resist the urge to start weighting everything incessantly. It like a plague here!There are funner things to do with your spare time than psycho analyzing your camper weights!

Loaded Truck Weights | Good Sam Community

lawnspecialties
Explorer
Jan 25, 2016
walker111 wrote:

Any lead on your TH choice?

Still hunting. The Raleigh show is February 19 weekend. I also have a guy possibly coming this weekend to look at the Work & Play.

The Fuzion 401 and 403 or the XLRs are our main focus right now.
walker111
Explorer
Jan 25, 2016
My last fiver had a pin of 1180 ( cougar x lite) and it added 10 pounds to the axle. My new TH has a weighed pin of 2700. I recall front axle weight only changed my adding half of mom and I in front seats. I have a new B and W 3600 for ford prep and did not install yet but should be around the same and 100 pounds lighter than current hitch.
Regarding your aux. fuel tank................think of it like this....... the more you drive the more payload as the fuel is burned!!!!!!!

Any lead on your TH choice?
ACZL
Explorer
Jan 23, 2016
You should add roughly a couple hundred pounds to front axle if hitch is installed correctly. At least that's the way it was for last and current truck and same 5er.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Jan 22, 2016
45Ricochet wrote:
Yeah 120 gallons of fuel really cuts into your payload and frankly a bunch of fuel. You most likely could travel at least 2 days, more likely 3 before you'd need fuel again.
I'd just run 50 gallons or so if you do have issues with weight.
I agree with most, the pin weight was 99% on the drive axle.

This is exactly my plan if I'm pushing things. The Fuzions we are looking at get us really close to 7000 lbs. or slightly over. One we weighed was 3100 lbs.. I'm just over 4000 lbs. on the rear axle full of fuel. For that, we'd surely run half a tank or less.

But the XLRs are much better on paper. Pin weight of a 420 is around 2600 lbs.. That's a good start but the Sherline will be the big test.

Thanks to all. My concerns over front axle weights are remedied. :)
45Ricochet
Explorer
Jan 22, 2016
Yeah 120 gallons of fuel really cuts into your payload and frankly a bunch of fuel. You most likely could travel at least 2 days, more likely 3 before you'd need fuel again.
I'd just run 50 gallons or so if you do have issues with weight.
I agree with most, the pin weight was 99% on the drive axle.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 22, 2016
That rating is due to the front springs. The wheels are rated for about 7000 lbs at 80 PSI and axle is 7250 lbs.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Jan 21, 2016
This is what got me checking into weight for the front while hooked up. The door sticker lists the front GAWR as 5600 lbs.. It recommends front tire pressure at 65 psi. That may be the sole reason for this. My truck's front axle weight loaded as I previously stated is 5420 lbs.. So I'm almost at the maximum completely loaded with fuel and two people.

Ironically, I think I am probably worse off with my Work & Play TT. W&Ps have heavy hitch weights and I have my Equalizer 4-Way set really well and the truck sits close to what it is without the load. So I'm sure that has transferred more than enough weight to the front axle to exceed the front GVWR.

On a side note. I always keep the front tires at least 75 psi. Of course, the rears stay at 80 psi.
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 21, 2016
rhagfo wrote:
Bedlam wrote:
He has a F350 SRW and will run into rear wheel capacity issues once that 120 gallon fuel tank is filled and a heavy pin weight FW is added. The rear of the truck weighs about 3000 lbs and 1000 lbs for fuel and tank leaves about 3000 lbs for pin weight. This equates to roughly a 15,000 lb GVWR FW or 12,000 lb GVWR TH FW. The Sterling 10.5" axle is rated for 9750 lbs, so wheels could be upgraded to 19.5" to allow for more pin weight if he wants something larger.

:S

So I failed reading comprehension today. :B

Yep an extra 800# or so of fuel in a SRW F350 will be a limiting factor.

The fuel tank and extra fuel will also be split some what to the front axle so as the fuel is used that number is going to change.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 21, 2016
Bedlam wrote:
He has a F350 SRW and will run into rear wheel capacity issues once that 120 gallon fuel tank is filled and a heavy pin weight FW is added. The rear of the truck weighs about 3000 lbs and 1000 lbs for fuel and tank leaves about 3000 lbs for pin weight. This equates to roughly a 15,000 lb GVWR FW or 12,000 lb GVWR TH FW. The Sterling 10.5" axle is rated for 9750 lbs, so wheels could be upgraded to 19.5" to allow for more pin weight if he wants something larger.

:S

So I failed reading comprehension today. :B

Yep an extra 800# or so of fuel in a SRW F350 will be a limiting factor.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 21, 2016
What are your axle weight ratings on those SRW's...front/rear?

What are your scaled weights.....towing 5vr and NOT towing 5vr?

Measuring 5vr pin weight at dealers using that Sherline scale will give you 5vrs DRY pin wet. WET pin weight is what you need to figure.

With my 5vr hooked up (2900# wet pin weight) it adds 150# to front axle.
Hitch is set 2" forward of rear axle centerline