Maximum 5th wheel weight for SRW
I'm going to buy a new 5th wheel this spring and I know I must upgrade my truck also. I like the Excel 37IKE but it has a GVW of 18,700 and I hate DRW trucks. Is there any make of SRW that would safe...
Forum Discussion
With DRW there are four tires with about 90% of their load capacity in that configuration or about 4x3000 or 12,000 lbs. so the axle is the limiting factor. With the GM/Chevy and Dodge trucks the axles and wheel bearings are rated at 10,900 lbs. so the limiting factor is the load capacity of the two tires at the rear.
Standard truck E range tires provide 3200@80 PSI or 6400 lbs for the two at the rear axle, but there are Nitto and Toyo tires that fit on 16/17/18 inch rims and have 3750@80 PSI rating and provide 7500 lbs. of load capacity at the rear. Figure 3200 lbs. for the heavy duty truck itself and that leaves 4300 lbs. for the weight of the 5th wheel.
Going to 19.5 rims and tires and the per tire load capacity is around 4400@110 PSI and that provides a rear load capacity of 8800 lbs. and minus the truck weight that leaves about 5600 lbs. for the 5th wheel trailer.
I know people towing 13,500 lb. 5th wheels all over with a SRW pickup and no difficulties with the handling or with high rate of tire wear.
They are all using the stock rims and E rated tires, nothing special.
They are all using a TrailAir or comparable kingpin setup to absorb the shock from the trailer and isolate it from the cab of the truck.
In my own travels I have noticed that four-fifths of the hundreds of trucks I have seen pulling 5th wheel travel trailers (not horse or cargo trailers) are SRW trucks.
Yes a DRW will work but is very seldom necessary.
Standard truck E range tires provide 3200@80 PSI or 6400 lbs for the two at the rear axle, but there are Nitto and Toyo tires that fit on 16/17/18 inch rims and have 3750@80 PSI rating and provide 7500 lbs. of load capacity at the rear. Figure 3200 lbs. for the heavy duty truck itself and that leaves 4300 lbs. for the weight of the 5th wheel.
Going to 19.5 rims and tires and the per tire load capacity is around 4400@110 PSI and that provides a rear load capacity of 8800 lbs. and minus the truck weight that leaves about 5600 lbs. for the 5th wheel trailer.
I know people towing 13,500 lb. 5th wheels all over with a SRW pickup and no difficulties with the handling or with high rate of tire wear.
They are all using the stock rims and E rated tires, nothing special.
They are all using a TrailAir or comparable kingpin setup to absorb the shock from the trailer and isolate it from the cab of the truck.
In my own travels I have noticed that four-fifths of the hundreds of trucks I have seen pulling 5th wheel travel trailers (not horse or cargo trailers) are SRW trucks.
Yes a DRW will work but is very seldom necessary.
