Your Rig

[RVcrazed51]

I'd like to give a huge THANK YOU to Brad, the Moderator over the Truck Campers forum for his assistance with this thread.

Thanks also to RVcrazed51 for his request for this thread.

Post photos of your Fifth Wheel on this thread. Any photo with a 5er in it is allowable; any brand, any year.

This thread is generally for Fifth Wheel photos only. But feel free to post comments on posted photos.

Because this thread is very long, I will occasionally clean it up by removing the older posts that do not have Fifth Wheel photos and other off topic material. Also, please limit photo width to 640 pixels by using: width=640. Please do not post thumbnail size photos, they are just too small to see.

Register at photobucket.com (free), download your pictures (takes a while), hi-lite and copy the URL, then use the "image" icon to paste the photo URL.

Photo Bucket – Free photo hosting

Help with posting photos----
> RV.Net Tutorials and Picture related FAQ's

Posting photos Brad’s way

Helpful Thread with good photo hosting information

"Technology Corner" Everything you want to know Technical forum

Netboy's thread on compressing photos


Truth Justice's 2005 Sunny Brook 31BWKS (Triple Slide) and 2005 1-Ton Dodge Quad Cab L/B.

Hi everybody, I'm looking to buy a fifth wheel, hopefully by the end of the year. And I was just wondering if some of you would care to post some pics of your fiver.
RVcrazed51

[Cummins12V98]

mastercraftka wrote:
Oh and also about the tires were you guys talking about the trailer tires or my truck tires?

They are both 10 ply tires Load range E on the trailer. BFG's on my truck have to run 10 plys because if not the south texas brush would force me to own my own tire shop.

Mike

Besides your rear Truck axle weight I would really keep an eye on your RV axle weights. You are going to be overloaded very easily. Also an upgrade to "G" tires would be highly advised BEFORE you have a CHICOM blow out!

It's really disturbing these RV makers putting such cheap and loaded to the max tires on these new RV's.

[IdiotWithRV]

I'd like to add to the appreciation of the "weight police". I am a total newbie and thankfully found discussions of weight on this forum before buying my truck. The discussions may get heated at times, but it's for a **** good reason!

[rhagfo]

mastercraftka wrote:
Oh and also about the tires were you guys talking about the trailer tires or my truck tires?

They are both 10 ply tires Load range E on the trailer. BFG's on my truck have to run 10 plys because if not the south texas brush would force me to own my own tire shop.

Mike

Yes, referring to the truck tires, "E" tires do have different capacities based of tire size. low around 3,042# high in the 3,500# range

[mastercraftka]

Oh and also about the tires were you guys talking about the trailer tires or my truck tires?

They are both 10 ply tires Load range E on the trailer. BFG's on my truck have to run 10 plys because if not the south texas brush would force me to own my own tire shop.

Mike

[mastercraftka]

I tried to post yesterday but something was wrong here.

I didn't mean to get everyone foaming at the mouth about this. So many posts since my last one I will try to address all the concerns.

I do care about this one of the reasons i am on here and no I haven't weighed the rig yet. Long story but just got this 5er this past October and it went straight to my parent RV park 80 miles from home. We have only stayed in it a couple times. I had a 36ft Hill Country before that.

My parents draw a much heavier Avion all over the western US and have for years. No issues "handling" vs "pulling". Just a thought but if we use that rule then dealers wouldn't be selling anything over about 32ft long.I really don't want to overload my truck and didn't think I was on this particular trip I am about to go on we are having to take two vehicles anyway because I guess I don't know where babies come from. LOL So the second vehicle will absorb some of the weight.
Love these forums and wouldn't anyone to stop posting because we don't agree. I am big into the "real jeep"(40's to the 80's) stuff and there are some hot topics on there as well. Like what type of motor oil should you use, it gets a strong response all the time.
Its all good I appreciate all the feedback.

Mike

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Just thought i would post some current pictures of my TV and 5er. Just installed wet bolts and Correct Track on the 5er. and it is now where I am happy with how level it is.

Looks great and you are within your rear tires ratings.

LOL!!! 🙂

Yea, have blown way past the 8,800# GVWR, but still have about 500# to go on the 6,084# rear Axle rating and over 1,200# on the tires.

No Bags or Timbren's just the stock 2500 Camper package.

[FishOnOne]

I sure like that boat Cycleman.... But it wouldn't work as a fishing boat where I fish.

[FishOnOne]

rhagfo wrote:
Just thought i would post some current pictures of my TV and 5er. Just installed wet bolts and Correct Track on the 5er. and it is now where I am happy with how level it is.

That's a good looking rig...

BTW... There's a software engineer at work who drives a truck like yours to work once in a great while, but the dash board top is all but gone and the paint is tired as well, but it still runs.

Anyways nice rig... it's good to see the older trucks taken care of.

[Cummins12V98]

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

mastercraftka wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
2016 Cypress 38BHR
2011 2500HD Chevrolet Duramax

Here are the specs, 2016 CYPRESS 38BHR WEIGHTS Dry Weight 14868 LBS GVWR 16000 LBS

So you must have one of them "SPECIAL" 2500 pickemup trucks???

I guess you are saying that I don't have enough truck for that trailer? It pulls fine, hec my dad has an '02 2500HD and pulls a much heavier Avion with his. He has pulled it many many miles.

Have you weighed your rear truck axle? It aint about "PULLING" it's about "HANDLING" the load!

Cummins, what do you think? He sees one number Max trailer rating 17,000# well then He can hook up 17,000# and have no worries.
There are many that to Heavy with 250/2500, but are aware of their weights and capacities. The 16,000# GVWR of the 5er brings up two issues.
#1. the payload is 1,100# or less, those are brochure weights. Likely with a rig that big, far more than 1,1000# will be loaded into it.

#2. It is right at what most consider Max for a 350/3500 SRW, so likely this package is stretching the rear axle GAWR.

If Mastercraftka, had mentioned that he had weighed, and had axle rating of xx# and tire rating of yy#, and loaded the rear axle was at least within the yy#'s of the tire rating it would be so bad, but the fact he is only referencing Max trailer weight means he either doesn't have a clue or just doesn't care.

I noticed the same thing on the carrying capacity. I am willing to bet the tires on the RV are "E" rated and this is what keeps the axles from being overloaded.

Not knowing is really scary. My MS "DRY" was 18,075# but after adding Gen and who knows what else I weigh 23K. I would not have believed that number was possible but I weighed our combo several times at the DOT scales in WA.

I am not trying to be a jerk with my comments I just want people to understand there is more to this whole RV/TV proper combination thing than some realize. I used to be blind to all this until I started reading these forums and listening to those that have been there and done that!

[rhagfo]

Bionic Man wrote:
Welcome to RV.net. Where the weight police are very active and vocal.

Axle and tire ratings are the most important ones in my opinion. I wouldn't go over those.

If you tow heavy you are more likely to wear things out early, but that is the nature of the beast.

Be safe.

You are correct while GVWR on 250/2500 is mostly a Tax/Registration number, the last number you want to use is Max trailer.

I agree 100% that axle and tire are the most important, and tire is #1!!! I am not the weight police, as I tow over my 2500's GVWR, but still well within axle and tire.
I think those that never weigh the rig loaded are either towing a popup with a one ton, or are unaware. Thew unaware is what worries me.

In Oregon and Washington the DOT weigh stations leave their scales on 24/7/365, so anytime they are not open you can slide in and weigh your rig. I also believe that Colorado leaves them on also.

[JCZ]

I don't believe they're weight police....you find those at the scales.

I believe they're just owners trying to help educate an unsuspecting/uneducated owner as to how it all works in the real world vs. what the salesman say. I was that unsuspecting/uneducated guy at one time and so I'm appreciative that they all laid it out for me.

For instance.....I had loaded in to my 5th wheel about twice the weight that I suspected I had loaded....and I thought I was guessing extra heavy at that. I also never considered the weight of the 5th wheel hitch itself, the weight on my in bed tool box and all that I had in there....being added weight to the rear axel. Hell, I thought I was doing myself a favor by taking some of the small heavy stuff from the trailer and putting it in my tool box. Once I was educated to all the numbers it became so "obvious".....but if you don't know...then you just don't know.

Of course I could be all wrong....this is all just my humble opinion. These guys could really be weight police. LOL

[Bionic_Man]

Welcome to RV.net. Where the weight police are very active and vocal.

Axle and tire ratings are the most important ones in my opinion. I wouldn't go over those.

If you tow heavy you are more likely to wear things out early, but that is the nature of the beast.

Be safe.

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

mastercraftka wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
2016 Cypress 38BHR
2011 2500HD Chevrolet Duramax

Here are the specs, 2016 CYPRESS 38BHR WEIGHTS Dry Weight 14868 LBS GVWR 16000 LBS

So you must have one of them "SPECIAL" 2500 pickemup trucks???

I guess you are saying that I don't have enough truck for that trailer? It pulls fine, hec my dad has an '02 2500HD and pulls a much heavier Avion with his. He has pulled it many many miles.

Have you weighed your rear truck axle? It aint about "PULLING" it's about "HANDLING" the load!

Cummins, what do you think? He sees one number Max trailer rating 17,000# well then He can hook up 17,000# and have no worries.
There are many that to Heavy with 250/2500, but are aware of their weights and capacities. The 16,000# GVWR of the 5er brings up two issues.
#1. the payload is 1,100# or less, those are brochure weights. Likely with a rig that big, far more than 1,1000# will be loaded into it.

#2. It is right at what most consider Max for a 350/3500 SRW, so likely this package is stretching the rear axle GAWR.

If Mastercraftka, had mentioned that he had weighed, and had axle rating of xx# and tire rating of yy#, and loaded the rear axle was at least within the yy#'s of the tire rating it would be so bad, but the fact he is only referencing Max trailer weight means he either doesn't have a clue or just doesn't care.

[pressure_welder]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

mastercraftka wrote:
I do appreciate the concerns, but I do think that the trailer falls below the rating for the truck all though it be close it is within the limits. This is my daily driver as well. IF I could afford to get a dedicated tower it would be a 1 ton. But we wanted the most trailer we could get and still stay within the specs of the truck. I think it is 17K for my particular truck.

Mike

You are where you are but people PLEASE don't be cutting things so close!!! The 17K number at only 20% pin is 3,400# the reality is 25% is easily obtained with a 5er. When they say 17K they are most likely referring to a gooseneck trailer.

So if you add 3,400# for pin and another 300# for hitch along with 300# for tool box and contents you are looking at 4,000# added to the rear axle weight not including any passengers. If 25% that number jumps to 4,850#.

I think your comments above should really be thought about. This "I can't afford" statement, IMHO is where a lot of people justify their purchase of too much RV for the previously owned TV.

I also tend to agree, truck weight limitations are there for a specific reason. For myself I like to be well on the other side of things and KNOW I have enough truck no matter what. Unfortunately I don't agree with those who own 3/4 tons and want to pull on the edge of its limits or add bags/leaves to try and accommodate more weight. We pull roughly 12,000lbs of camper and a 5000LB boat behind that. I will always own a dually for towing this type of rig, and well only be getting bigger fivers as kids come into the picture. I guess towing safety was installed quite heavily into my brain having a father who drove semi all his life. Always taught me the most important parts of towing. PRE TRIP, LEVEL TRAILER, and adequate tow vehicle

[Cummins12V98]

rhagfo wrote:
Just thought i would post some current pictures of my TV and 5er. Just installed wet bolts and Correct Track on the 5er. and it is now where I am happy with how level it is.

Looks great and you are within your rear tires ratings.