cargo weight

[Snowbird67]

Has anyone ever weighed how much cargo they carry in a full time rig? What is the average?

[mileshuff]

Calicajun wrote:
Did have a number of people on another forum come back and say that can't happen. So I offered a challenge which no one took up. That was overload your truck, then take it in for service and see what the dealer says to you.

Sure, dealers can say lots of things, so can Dodge. I've had a few warranty claims denied because they felt something unrelated voided the warranty. I challenged their 'finding', went thru arbitration and won. When you force the burden onto the dealer or manufacture legally they'll often back down if they have no proof to back up their denial.

That said, if you exceeded the load ratings then items that can be affected may be denied warranty. But not the entire trucks warranty for unrelated items. If challenged the manufacture has to show that the damage was caused by the overloaded conditions and not a manufacturing defect. That often means going thru arbitration or further up the legal chain.

[Calicajun]

mileshuff wrote:

Calicajun wrote:
Another thing to watch with a Ram truck that has air bags is cargo weight. That is if you overload the cargo weight the truck's senors on the air bags will tell on you by sending information to the truck's computer. This can void your truck's service contract. I went through this problem with a 2014 Ram Eco Diesel Limited. Spent months in contact with Ram and their Engineers, only to be told if you overload the cargo weight you void the service contract. They also told me how they can tell if you are towing more than the truck's weight limit.

Legally they cannot void the entire warranty. The burden of proof is still on Dodge to prove any warranty claim they deny was caused by truck being overloaded. For instance, would being overloaded be grounds for warranty denial for a failed A/C unit?

Yes, the Eco Diesel is only a 1500 truck but it was the truck I had at the time I was dealing with Ram. Using my experience dealing with Ram to give an example of what Ram could do to someone if they feel any Ram truck had been overloaded. I now have a Ram 2500 with no factory air bags. Doesn't ride as smooth as the Eco Diesel with full four point air suppention but it sure pulls our 6,200 pound (dry weight) TT with no problem. ??

Did have a number of people on another forum come back and say that can't happen. So I offered a challenge which no one took up. That was overload your truck, then take it in for service and see what the dealer says to you.

[fj12ryder]

I honestly don't think the OP cares one way or another whether his truck can handle that particular 5th wheel. From what I read he has pretty much made up his mind and does not wish to be bothered with data that shows it may not be a wise match.

[azjeffh]

Me Again wrote:

azjeffh wrote:

Snowbird67 wrote:
Has anyone ever weighed how much cargo they carry in a full time rig? What is the average?

Heard one should plan on ~1K lbs pp. We're looking for our full-time fiver now and are planning on at least 50% more.

60 gals of water times 8.1 = 486 pounds

It all adds up quickly. That is why it is best to use GVWR of the trailer and 20 percent for pin weight. Now some of the new trailers have the axles back farther which ups pin weight even more. The new Cardinals are noted for that! Chris

Good feedback on why the OPs truck won't have enough payload to carry the load, but doesn't provide an answer to his question.

We're planning on a fifth wheel payload capacity of 3K to 3.5K for fulltiming. Without discussing the TV, am I underestimating the required payload capacity?

[Me_Again]

azjeffh wrote:

Snowbird67 wrote:
Has anyone ever weighed how much cargo they carry in a full time rig? What is the average?

Heard one should plan on ~1K lbs pp. We're looking for our full-time fiver now and are planning on at least 50% more.

60 gals of water times 8.1 = 486 pounds

It all adds up quickly. That is why it is best to use GVWR of the trailer and 20 percent for pin weight. Now some of the new trailers have the axles back farther which ups pin weight even more. The new Cardinals are noted for that! Chris

[Me_Again]

mileshuff wrote:

Calicajun wrote:
Another thing to watch with a Ram truck that has air bags is cargo weight. That is if you overload the cargo weight the truck's senors on the air bags will tell on you by sending information to the truck's computer. This can void your truck's service contract. I went through this problem with a 2014 Ram Eco Diesel Limited. Spent months in contact with Ram and their Engineers, only to be told if you overload the cargo weight you void the service contract. They also told me how they can tell if you are towing more than the truck's weight limit.

Legally they cannot void the entire warranty. The burden of proof is still on Dodge to prove any warranty claim they deny was caused by truck being overloaded. For instance, would being overloaded be grounds for warranty denial for a failed A/C unit?

It only works that way on paper! Ask anyone that has had the warranty cancelled. And there are many! Chris

[NC_Hauler]

azjeffh wrote:

Snowbird67 wrote:
Has anyone ever weighed how much cargo they carry in a full time rig? What is the average?

Heard one should plan on ~1K lbs pp. We're looking for our full-time fiver now and are planning on at least 50% more.

Thus the reason, I "ball parked" 2,000# in second post. OP is towing too heavy for his truck and wanting to try to figure out how much he can load to make it safe..

......needs a bigger truck....

[azjeffh]

Snowbird67 wrote:
Has anyone ever weighed how much cargo they carry in a full time rig? What is the average?

Heard one should plan on ~1K lbs pp. We're looking for our full-time fiver now and are planning on at least 50% more.

[mileshuff]

Calicajun wrote:
Another thing to watch with a Ram truck that has air bags is cargo weight. That is if you overload the cargo weight the truck's senors on the air bags will tell on you by sending information to the truck's computer. This can void your truck's service contract. I went through this problem with a 2014 Ram Eco Diesel Limited. Spent months in contact with Ram and their Engineers, only to be told if you overload the cargo weight you void the service contract. They also told me how they can tell if you are towing more than the truck's weight limit.

Legally they cannot void the entire warranty. The burden of proof is still on Dodge to prove any warranty claim they deny was caused by truck being overloaded. For instance, would being overloaded be grounds for warranty denial for a failed A/C unit?

[Coach-man]

Calicajun wrote:
Another thing to watch with a Ram truck that has air bags is cargo weight. That is if you overload the cargo weight the truck's senors on the air bags will tell on you by sending information to the truck's computer. This can void your truck's service contract. I went through this problem with a 2014 Ram Eco Diesel Limited. Spent months in contact with Ram and their Engineers, only to be told if you overload the cargo weight you void the service contract. They also told me how they can tell if you are towing more than the truck's weight limit.

Eco Diesel?? that Eco Diesel is only on the 1500, that would be real easy to overload!

[fj12ryder]

"None so blind as those who will not see."

[Me_Again]

Snowbird67 wrote:
well I do thank you all for your input.. but nothing you said, actually answered my question.. except for one.. we will weight our trailer empty, then load it, and weigh again.. nothing like having it on a piece of paper in writing to tell the truth.

Egypt has a river named "De Nile"! Chris

[Snowbird67]

well I do thank you all for your input.. but nothing you said, actually answered my question.. except for one.. we will weight our trailer empty, then load it, and weigh again.. nothing like having it on a piece of paper in writing to tell the truth.

[Snowbird67]

We have a 2014 Diesel, 4x4 we believe from what we have figured out that we have about a 500 lb leeway, but who knows..

[Michelle_S]

It's not a case of marginal, you will be way over loaded on a 2500 series TV.
Most of the Redwoods are actually pushing the limit on 350/3500 Duallies, as most leave the factory approx 1000 Lbs over the brochure dry weight and the average pin weights is approx 3500 (run between 3000 to 4000 easy). The 31SL is about the only one acceptable for a 250/2500 TV and that's only if loaded lightly, and the GK is one of the heavier. Our MB left the factory at 15500 once optioned out, that's why we have 8K axles the G114 17.5 tires and a gross of 17900.