Hitch weight vs payload

Could be the rear axle rating.
- Payload may assume some of the load is going on each axle. So the front axle is providing some additional payload.
- 5th wheels Pin Weight goes pretty much 100% on the rear axle, so it may max out the rear axle at 3180.

WV Camper wrote:
I have anew 2020 Chevy 3500 SRW with the Duramax engine. The payload on the door is 3769 but the hitch weight for gooseneck (and 5th wheel?) is 3180. Does anyone know why this is so much lower than the payload number? We would like to have the Montana high country 383TH, the hitch weight is 3225. So, this is a miss by 45 lbs. how much lighter would you expect the pin weight to be with my 850 lb motorcycle in the back?

Well another 17,000# GVWR 5er I want to tow with a 3500 SRW.
I assume you understand that that Payload number on the door sticker, include everything that is carried in the TV. That is passengers, add-on accessories, Hitch, and anything else carried in the passenger compartment and bed.

The difference between those two numbers is 589#, maybe they are taking into account some averages. then they may be taking into account the rear axle rating. The payload wars are pushing all the limits, TV GVWR's now days are a very high percentage of total axle rating, making it possible to be within payload number and exceed rear axle rating.

You have the truck, take it to the scale ready to tow and weight both axles, take that total and subtract from the listed TV GVWR, that is what you have left of total payload. In addition take the scaled rear axle weight and subtract from the rear axle rating the lesser of those two should be maxim pin weight you can carry.

Please post back GVWR, and both front and rear axle ratings.

When I had my truck weighed with and without the toy hauler, the front axle weight was the same telling me none of the trailer's weight is on the front axle.

WV Camper wrote:
I have anew 2020 Chevy 3500 SRW with the Duramax engine. The payload on the door is 3769 but the hitch weight for gooseneck (and 5th wheel?) is 3180. Does anyone know why this is so much lower than the payload number? We would like to have the Montana high country 383TH, the hitch weight is 3225. So, this is a miss by 45 lbs. how much lighter would you expect the pin weight to be with my 850 lb motorcycle in the back?

Where did the 3180 lb GN/5th wheel number come from ??

The payload sticker is GVWR based number that may overload a trucks RAWR if its used as hitch weight. Like many 4xxx lb sticker numbers on any 350/3500 SRW trucks.
Your 3500 SRW shows to have a 7250 RAWR for 2020. Looking GM weight calculator website shows the high country optioned 2wd crew cab long bed Dmax rear axle weighs in the 3400-3500 lb range. Doing the math shows the rear axle in the bed payload may be around 3700 lbs for a max payload before exceeding a wheel/tire/rear spring pack capacity.

You have the truck so like all truckers load the truck up and drop by the local CAT scales and weigh the trucks front and rear axles separately. That way you know your exact numbers.

Truck payload is based on trucks GVWR minus the trucks UVW
Payload is for ALL added weight and spread over both F/R axles of truck

Pin weight of gooseneck/5vr is 'carried' by trucks rear axle

That 3225# 'hitch' weight you posted is DRY pin weight based on the DRY weight of that Montana TH
DRY (shipping weight) 13,880# with a DRY pin (hitch) 3225# = 23% pin ratio

17,000 GVWR TH using a 23% pin ratio = 3910# WET Pin

Your 2020 truck with 7250# RAWR could handle 3400# WET Pin
So you really should be looking at THs with a GVWR of 15,000 for that SRW Truck

Would you believe, the pin weight of our 43', 19,400 GW TH is within 20 pounds whether our Goldwing in on board or not. It is right at 4200 lbs. I would not plan on a significant change.

arhayes wrote:
Would you believe, the pin weight of our 43', 19,400 GW TH is within 20 pounds whether our Goldwing in on board or not. It is right at 4200 lbs. I would not plan on a significant change.

An actual answer to my question- thanks!

WV Camper wrote:
I have anew 2020 Chevy 3500 SRW with the Duramax engine. The payload on the door is 3769 but the hitch weight for gooseneck (and 5th wheel?) is 3180. Does anyone know why this is so much lower than the payload number? We would like to have the Montana high country 383TH, the hitch weight is 3225. So, this is a miss by 45 lbs. how much lighter would you expect the pin weight to be with my 850 lb motorcycle in the back?

Actually you have two questions...and you got actual answers to both. Your last question cannot be answered with the exact weight as way too many variables. I don't have your exact trailer but from loading dozens of flatbed trailers/enclosed trailers/stock trailers I would agree with the poster that answered your last question.

azdryheat wrote:
When I had my truck weighed with and without the toy hauler, the front axle weight was the same telling me none of the trailer's weight is on the front axle.

Agreed.

I have CAT scaled my setup multiple ways.
Truck only.
Truck with empty toyhauler.
Truck with full toyhauler.

My front axle weights on my truck only changed by 15 lbs, no matter the configuration.

JIMNLIN wrote:

WV Camper wrote:
I have anew 2020 Chevy 3500 SRW with the Duramax engine. The payload on the door is 3769 but the hitch weight for gooseneck (and 5th wheel?) is 3180. Does anyone know why this is so much lower than the payload number? We would like to have the Montana high country 383TH, the hitch weight is 3225. So, this is a miss by 45 lbs. how much lighter would you expect the pin weight to be with my 850 lb motorcycle in the back?

Actually you have two questions...and you got actual answers to both. Your last question cannot be answered with the exact weight as way too many variables. I don't have your exact trailer but from loading dozens of flatbed trailers/enclosed trailers/stock trailers I would agree with the poster that answered your last question.

In reality we can only answer your second question with the data off the VIN sticker of your TV, and a scale ticket of the TV being weighed.

As mentioned in an earlier post the allowable hitch weight for the GN/5th wheel, might be the difference between the base rear axle weight and the rear axle weight rating.

Not knowing how heavy you travel, can't really give final answer your questions.

The DRY pin percentage is just over 23% if when loaded to full GVWR of 17,105# your pin would be 3,934#. Even if you got it down to 20% it would still be 3,421# exceeding the pin weight rating again.

The other thing most ignore is the fact that beloved Payload sticker is only accurate, as the truck leaves the factory. After it leaves the factory any dealer or owner added accessories reduce that payload.

Conversely, anything added to the 5er, will likely only increase the pin dry weight putting in a worse situation than you have dry. I am sure you don't travel without food or clothes.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.