Yet another pin weight calculator - need testers

Michelle.S wrote:
I still think the 20% of the RV's gross is the easiest way to go. Seems pin weights typically run from 15% to 25%, so 20% put you in the middle. And to give another example, our unit arrived from the Factory 1000 Lbs heavier than brochure dry weight once all the options were installed. And with a forward mounted washer and on-board genny out pin is running at the 25% mark, our previous Montana was right at 20%.

I would agree with 20% for the weekend warrior but full time you will be hitting 25%.

ependydad wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Compute 25 percent of the GVWR of the trailer. It will be that number or lower! Chris

I am at of just above 4,500# with 18K GVWR. 25%

Might I ask what the advertised dry weights are for your camper (and, more specifically, the calculated pin weight %)?

Dry is supposed to be around 14,500#. Don't know calculated pin weight.

hone eagle wrote:
I had a discussion with a dealer last summer re Mobile suites , their dealership request that the factory move the axles forward to lessen the pin weight.
As soon as you get into dually territory the customer pool almost vanishes.
So a scale is your only option if you plan on 'dancing on the edge ' of TV limits

Agreed on the scale, but how do you do that with a new model for a manufacturer even before dealers have them? That was my exact situation - we literally were sold on this camper from pre-production pictures from a factory rep 2 full months before any dealers had them on their lots.

There has to be some way to guesstimate that is more precise than 20-25%.

I had a discussion with a dealer last summer re Mobile suites , their dealership request that the factory move the axles forward to lessen the pin weight.
As soon as you get into dually territory the customer pool almost vanishes.
So a scale is your only option if you plan on 'dancing on the edge ' of TV limits

ependydad wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
Really don't understand why anyone would want to base pinweight on "empty" or "dry" weight, you might possibly tow it like that one time...from dealership to one's home to fill it up.

The 20% would really put on in the ball park...AND, I'd use the 5er's GVW to figure, not an empty or dry weight...that would give one a much more accurate "ball park" of where to start looking for what size TV one needs.

Eveyone loads differently...someone with a trailer like mine where it's just the wife and myself and two boxers would load it differently and it would probably weigh less than someone with an identical 5er and a family of 5, mom, dad and three teenagers...(it's going to be heavier)...Someone out for a weekend is going to load lighter than a "full timer" towing all over the US...there are a LOT of variables.

The SCALE IS THE BEST CALCULATOR....BUT, if one is trying to "figure" or get in the "ball park" on what TV they need to tow a 5er with, then 20%-to 25% of the 5er's GVW is going to get you into the "right TV" area

My 5er, "empty" is just a little over 14,000#..can be loaded up with another 2,950# for a GCW of 16,950#...a lot of territory to play with.

I agree with you wholeheartedly - dry weight is fictional and shouldn't be used for planning. However, my usage of the dry weights was simply to establish a percentage. My camper's dry percentage (dry hitch / dry weight) is 16% and it's loaded weight (scaled pin / scaled weight) is 18%. You can ballpark the load.

I was hoping to come up with a utility to help estimate actual weights better than just throwing out 20%-25%, especially in that my camper is apparently the oddity in being < 20%.

BUT- it's seeming to be an exercise in futility in that there is a lot of variability in how heavily people load and how heavily that effects the pin weight percentage.

I offer both the dry percentage calculator and a simple 20-25% calculator on the page now because of that.

I also hear you on GVWR. I think each person needs to make an accurate assessment of what kind of packer they are. With 3,000+ pounds of CCC, even I'd be hard-pressed to fill it up (and let me tell you- we're *over packers*). I recommend GVWR on the site, but also give the "standard line about 1,000-2,000 pounds over dry weights is "average"".

Doesn't sound bad...you did a pretty good job for one to use a "guesstimate" to help get started...not bad:)

NC Hauler wrote:
Really don't understand why anyone would want to base pinweight on "empty" or "dry" weight, you might possibly tow it like that one time...from dealership to one's home to fill it up.

The 20% would really put on in the ball park...AND, I'd use the 5er's GVW to figure, not an empty or dry weight...that would give one a much more accurate "ball park" of where to start looking for what size TV one needs.

Eveyone loads differently...someone with a trailer like mine where it's just the wife and myself and two boxers would load it differently and it would probably weigh less than someone with an identical 5er and a family of 5, mom, dad and three teenagers...(it's going to be heavier)...Someone out for a weekend is going to load lighter than a "full timer" towing all over the US...there are a LOT of variables.

The SCALE IS THE BEST CALCULATOR....BUT, if one is trying to "figure" or get in the "ball park" on what TV they need to tow a 5er with, then 20%-to 25% of the 5er's GVW is going to get you into the "right TV" area

My 5er, "empty" is just a little over 14,000#..can be loaded up with another 2,950# for a GCW of 16,950#...a lot of territory to play with.

I agree with you wholeheartedly - dry weight is fictional and shouldn't be used for planning. However, my usage of the dry weights was simply to establish a percentage. My camper's dry percentage (dry hitch / dry weight) is 16% and it's loaded weight (scaled pin / scaled weight) is 18%. You can ballpark the load.

I was hoping to come up with a utility to help estimate actual weights better than just throwing out 20%-25%, especially in that my camper is apparently the oddity in being < 20%.

BUT- it's seeming to be an exercise in futility in that there is a lot of variability in how heavily people load and how heavily that effects the pin weight percentage.

I offer both the dry percentage calculator and a simple 20-25% calculator on the page now because of that.

I also hear you on GVWR. I think each person needs to make an accurate assessment of what kind of packer they are. With 3,000+ pounds of CCC, even I'd be hard-pressed to fill it up (and let me tell you- we're *over packers*). I recommend GVWR on the site, but also give the "standard line about 1,000-2,000 pounds over dry weights is "average"".

ependydad wrote:
I agree with both of you. I was more thinking for those who are evaluating the purchase of a fifth wheel and are wanting an estimate for the pin weight.

On this an other forums, I've seen posts such as- "for those who own XYZ camper, can you tell me what your pin weight is?" Often times, those posts are met with crickets. This would give an alternative - a way of best guessing what a pin weight might be.

Really don't understand why anyone would want to base pinweight on "empty" or "dry" weight, you might possibly tow it like that one time...from dealership to one's home to fill it up.

The 20% would really put on in the ball park...AND, I'd use the 5er's GVW to figure, not an empty or dry weight...that would give one a much more accurate "ball park" of where to start looking for what size TV one needs.

Eveyone loads differently...someone with a trailer like mine where it's just the wife and myself and two boxers would load it differently and it would probably weigh less than someone with an identical 5er and a family of 5, mom, dad and three teenagers...(it's going to be heavier)...Someone out for a weekend is going to load lighter than a "full timer" towing all over the US...there are a LOT of variables.

The SCALE IS THE BEST CALCULATOR....BUT, if one is trying to "figure" or get in the "ball park" on what TV they need to tow a 5er with, then 20%-to 25% of the 5er's GVW is going to get you into the "right TV" area

My 5er, "empty" is just a little over 14,000#..can be loaded up with another 2,950# for a GCW of 16,950#...a lot of territory to play with.

Martyn wrote:

ependydad wrote:
Ok, so here it is in its hopefully "final" form:
Tongue/Pin Weight Calculator

I tried it to see if it matches the Excel spreadsheet I wrote a few years ago. Couldn't get it to calculalate anything after having entered data - all it says everywhere is "(Enter Numbers Above)", and I had already done that... :h

It was broken for Internet Explorer. I forget how much I use Google Chrome for browsing the internet and didn't test it out in IE.

My apologies. Can you give it a shot again, please?

ependydad wrote:
Ok, so here it is in its hopefully "final" form:
Tongue/Pin Weight Calculator

I tried it to see if it matches the Excel spreadsheet I wrote a few years ago. Couldn't get it to calculalate anything after having entered data - all it says everywhere is "(Enter Numbers Above)", and I had already done that... :h

Ok, so here it is in its hopefully "final" form:
Tongue/Pin Weight Calculator

Note, it doesn't work from mobile devices.

That said - I took the input here and have both an advanced calculator (what I original wrote and thought of) and added a "simple" calculator to use the standard 20%-25%.

Hopefully it helps someone!