SRW for pulling Fifth Wheel
I am looking to buy a new truck because we intend to upgrade to a fifth wheel within the next few years. I have read a ton of articles and posts saying that a dually is better and the truck to have. P...
Forum Discussion
Wadcutter wrote:Durb wrote:
Can't see how these numbers add up. My truck has a gross combined capacity of 21,000 pounds. Since it weighs 8,000 pounds ready to tow it limits me to a 13,000 pound fifth wheel. Currently, a 40 ft. Big Country has a GVWR of 16k which would mean your F350 4X4 loaded up and ready to tow weighs around 5,000 pounds. I am glad you have towed it all over the country without incident. The numbers just don't appear realistic for the OP.
The numbers don't add to you because you're using GVWR. You must not understand what GVWR means. GRWR does not mean that's what the Big Country actually weighs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Not actual weight of the rig. "Capacity" is not the same as actual weight.
And yeah, the number I gave are actual weights. I use to be the commander of one of the state scales and I weighed my rig a number of times when it was loaded various ways.
I do know what the weight ratings mean and the difference between "actual" weight and "capacity". I taught truck weigh laws for a lot of years, weighed a lot of trucks over the years, and was testified as expert witness in a number of cases involving truck weights.
You have to know what the terms mean if you're going to understand what they mean.
I know what gross vehicle weight ratings mean and I can do math. Assuming your F350 4X4 ready to tow weighs 8,000 pounds, which is realistic, then your 40 ft. Big Country loaded for travel weighs 12,000# when you scaled at 20,000#, 13,000# when you scaled at 21,000#. This is pretty hard to believe since the dry weight of a current 40 ft. Heartland is 13,420 pounds. Add a half of tank of water and a thousand pounds of gear (as you posted) and your trailer magically lost weight. I wouldn't want you testifying for me.
