Lite 5th wheels

[allendlung]

Hi, we have been looking at used 5th wheels. I have a dodge 2500 with a max load of 11,000. Looking at the used, I've come to believe that I will probably have to buy a different truck. Yesterday I went to a lot that has Flagstaff Super Lite series 5th wheels. These are real lite, and I can get one that will fit my current truck. I'm really liking this idea.

So my question is what are good lite 5th wheels. I'd like to keep it about 30 - 31'. I want dual slides in the back, with one in the front? Any help finding these is appriciated!

Any ideas who sells these in the Sacramento CA. area?

[FlatBroke]

I was looking a lites and was attracted to Rockwood. We double tow so I decided to buy one with more "meat" in the frame. Gotta a short one but it is heavier.

[goducks10]

allendlung wrote:

tsetsaf wrote:
A little late to the conversation but good choice OP. You may want to look into adding an aftermarket exhaust brake to your truck. It was not an option for your year but they are available for the 5.9l and, for example, on my year truck are required when tow ing above 10k. It will make a world of difference while towing.

What is an exhaust break? Is that the break that release pressure from the cylinder? Is this used a lot?

Will this extend the life of my truck? My truck has a hemi, did you know that when you suggested an exhaust brake? I'm only asking because it might not be available on a gas engine!

No exhaust brake for gas motors. Just the brake pedal.

[allendlung]

tsetsaf wrote:
A little late to the conversation but good choice OP. You may want to look into adding an aftermarket exhaust brake to your truck. It was not an option for your year but they are available for the 5.9l and, for example, on my year truck are required when tow ing above 10k. It will make a world of difference while towing.

What is an exhaust break? Is that the break that release pressure from the cylinder? Is this used a lot?

Will this extend the life of my truck? My truck has a hemi, did you know that when you suggested an exhaust brake? I'm only asking because it might not be available on a gas engine!

[tsetsaf]

A little late to the conversation but good choice OP. You may want to look into adding an aftermarket exhaust brake to your truck. It was not an option for your year but they are available for the 5.9l and, for example, on my year truck are required when towing above 10k. It will make a world of difference while towing.

[allendlung]

goducks10 wrote:
Good choice. We also bought a smaller/lighter 5'er to pull with our 2500. So much easier. Ours has a dry weight of 7385, dry pin 1385 and CCC of 4315lbs. Loaded up we're at 85-9000lbs and the pin is around 17-1800lbs. Just right for our Ram 2500. The CTD yanks it all over the mtns in Oregon like there's no tomorrow. IMO you made a great decision in going with the 8528IKWS.

Thank you. We are glad to be done with the search. Now I have to get rid of my 1995 26' malard. It's not worth much, but it's got a lot of years left in it.

[goducks10]

Good choice. We also bought a smaller/lighter 5'er to pull with our 2500. So much easier. Ours has a dry weight of 7385, dry pin 1385 and CCC of 4315lbs. Loaded up we're at 85-9000lbs and the pin is around 17-1800lbs. Just right for our Ram 2500. The CTD yanks it all over the mtns in Oregon like there's no tomorrow. IMO you made a great decision in going with the 8528IKWS.

[allendlung]

Here's what I did. I bought a 8528ikws dry unit weight 7793.

I was going to buy a used truck and a used trailer. I bought a new trailer, and I'll be towing it with my 2004 Dodge 2500.

[laknox]

allendlung wrote:

rock077 wrote:

allendlung wrote:

Jim-Linda wrote:
Don't be so concerned about how much you can TOW, be concerned about how much you can CARRY, especially with a 2500.

Jim

I don't understand. 11,000 pounds is the max including people, trailer and contents? Am I missing something?

I would believe the tow capacity to be 11k. Max vehicle weight is probably 9k, depending on the model year. These are two separate ratings that need to be taken into account.

Look at you door sticker for the empty weight and the max weight (GVWR).
The difference between the two is your max payload.

My tow capacity is 11,000. I seldom have to worry about my max vehicle.

Think about the Toyota Tundra commercial, where they use one to tow a space shuttle. It =towed= nearly 200k lbs; do you think it could have =carried= it? This is the difference between =towing= capacity and =payload= capacity. Pull vs carry. The carry part is the weak link in most instances. You have to look at the amount you can carry in the bed, then subtract, fuel, people and hitch, to find out what the maximum payload you can carry. This is the pin weight that is on the FW hitch in your truck bed. Don't confuse "dry" pin weight with loaded pin weight, either. The only sure way to know what your numbers are is to load up as if you were camping, then find a scale and weigh everything. The only way to get an approximate estimate of your loaded pin weight it so take the published dry pin weight, divide by the published dry weight and multiply that by the GVW of the FW. Again, this is an approximation, as how you load your FW can throw this ratio off by quite a bit. A very general rule of thumb is to use a 20% ratio to approximate the pin weight at any load, up to GVW. The other things you also have to consider when looking at payloads are the axle and tire ratings on your truck. There are some cases where certain FW's will fall well within the towing and combined weight limits of the truck, but the pin weight will be so heavy as to overload the axle and/or tires. All this, I've learned by reading here. I certainly didn't know most of it before I got my FW and my dealer, even though he was a friend, didn't fill me in on most of this.

Lyle

[rhagfo]

allendlung wrote:
Hi, we have been looking at used 5th wheels. I have a dodge 2500 with a max load of 11,000. Looking at the used, I've come to believe that I will probably have to buy a different truck. Yesterday I went to a lot that has Flagstaff Super Lite series 5th wheels. These are real lite, and I can get one that will fit my current truck. I'm really liking this idea.

So my question is what are good lite 5th wheels. I'd like to keep it about 30 - 31'. I want dual slides in the back, with one in the front? Any help finding these is appriciated!

Any ideas who sells these in the Sacramento CA. area?

Well we pull an 05, 33' Copper canyon, 12,000 GVWR, and tow it at just over 11,000#. I have almost 1,000# of unused Rear axle capacity, and don't need or run Air Bag or other leveling device.

[JIMNLIN]

I know this is simple stuff, but right now my head is spinning. I know my maximum tow rating is 11,000. The numbers on the door are GVWR 8800, front axle 4000 and rear 6000. I'm learning here, I use to know this stuff. I guess I loose it when not dealing with it daily. Where do I get the other number to determine my payload. So if my GVWR is 8800, what number do I subtract from this to determine my truck payload? There seems to be a number missing? There is nothing else in the door jam

Thats it. Thats all you need to know.

Method #1. Out here in the real world we use the trucks GAWR and in particular RAWR to determine payload as a 5th wheel adds little if any weight to the trucks front axle/tires. Look at my numbers for a wet pin weight in my above reply.

Method #2. Or as some RV folks use the trucks 8800 GVWR and subtract the trucks actual weight when loaded.

Both methods require you to weigh your truck. IMO its best to weigh the front and rear axles separately.

[gmcsmoke]

you need to weigh your truck. the weight minus 8800 equals your payload. You also need to find your GCWR

[goducks10]

Weigh your truck and minus that from the 8800 GVW. That's your payload capability. Or if you're a gambler of sorts just weigh the rear axle and subtract that from the GRAWR of 6000.

[allendlung]

JIMNLIN wrote:

allendlung wrote:
I don't understand. 11,000 pounds is the max including people, trailer and contents? Am I missing something?

Your truck may have a 11000 lb tow rating which is just a recommendation from Dodge. Your biggest safety issues will be staying under your trucks 6000-6084 RAWR/tire capacities.
A 2500 Dodge/Cummins rear axle may weigh in the 2800-3000 lb range when empty which leaves around 3000 lbs for a payload. All depending on actual scaled front and rear axle weights. I would stay under 2500-2700 lb "wet " pin weights.

Now if the 2500 Dodge is the Hemi then its gonna' struggle in the bigger hills at 11000 lbs. If your truck has the Cummins then 11000 lbs will be a light workout for it.

I wouldn't limit yourself to just "lite" models. Some brand lite models have a very light weight frame under them and there has been reports of issues with lite frames.

I know this is simple stuff, but right now my head is spinning. I know my maximum tow rating is 11,000. The numbers on the door are GVWR 8800, front axle 4000 and rear 6000. I'm learning here, I use to know this stuff. I guess I loose it when not dealing with it daily. Where do I get the other number to determine my payload. So if my GVWR is 8800, what number do I subtract from this to determine my truck payload? There seems to be a number missing? There is nothing else in the door jam

[allendlung]

JIMNLIN wrote:

allendlung wrote:
I don't understand. 11,000 pounds is the max including people, trailer and contents? Am I missing something?

Your truck may have a 11000 lb tow rating which is just a recommendation from Dodge. Your biggest safety issues will be staying under your trucks 6000-6084 RAWR/tire capacities.
A 2500 Dodge/Cummins rear axle may weigh in the 2800-3000 lb range when empty which leaves around 3000 lbs for a payload. All depending on actual scaled front and rear axle weights. I would stay under 2500-2700 lb "wet " pin weights.

Now if the 2500 Dodge is the Hemi then its gonna' struggle in the bigger hills at 11000 lbs. If your truck has the Cummins then 11000 lbs will be a light workout for it.

I wouldn't limit yourself to just "lite" models. Some brand lite models have a very light weight frame under them and there has been reports of issues with lite frames.

ok, got it thank you.