REWahoo wrote:
motorcycle jack wrote:
The placement of the items inside has very little to do with the pin weight. It is where the balance point versus the axle placement that effects it most. If you have a problem with understanding that, let me give you an example. Lets say the given 5th wheel has a total weight of 10K and the pin weight is 2K (20% of total weight). Now add 1K to the rear of the unit. Does that mean the pin weight is now 1K? Since you added it behind the axle (which is not the balance point). No. The total weight is 11K (10 + 1) and the pin weight is now 20% x 11K or 2200 lbs. Sorry, just the nature of the design.
An engineer will be along shortly to point out the inaccuracies in the above post. :)
I'm an engineer... And yes the above example is not quite accurate. The numbers would only hold true if the extra 1000lbs were added exactly at the pivot point (axles). Weight added behind axles will reduce pin weight. PERIOD... How much depends on the weight and how far back from the pivot point it is added.
Pin weight is determined by a COMBINATION of how the weight is distrubuted along the length of the trailer + where the pivot point (axles) are located in relation to the pin. Think teeter-totterer...
