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

[brute48]

So what is an acceptable weight difference on the axles? Front axle is at 4540lbs and the rear is 5260lbs. With my rear having 720 lbs more that the front is that overloading it to much? They are 7000# axles. My 5th wheel is already 12ft 8in tall as it sits. So I am a little concerned about more height. Sorry to keep bugging people for info. I am new to the RV scene and I don't know who to ask about weight to axle ratios.

[JCZ]

brute48 wrote:
Ok... I am going to call my dealer tomorrow. They were supposed to flip them when it was built. The tires I bought are for my truck. I have 285 75 18 on there... I got some 265 70 18 to replace the taller tires.

If you haven't mounted the new tires yet...you might want to hold off until after the flip your axels. You may not need to switch to lower profile tires.

[brute48]

Ok... I am going to call my dealer tomorrow. They were supposed to flip them when it was built. The tires I bought are for my truck. I have 285 75 18 on there... I got some 265 70 18 to replace the taller tires.

[JCZ]

I forgot to mention....if you flip the axles, that can always be reversed by the new buyer (when you get ready to sell it to move up) if the new owner's truck sits lower.

[JCZ]

Brute, as I mentioned above, it's all relevant and one thing usually affects the other. If you lower your 5th wheel hitch 1 1/2 inches, how many inches will you have between your rig and the sidewallss of your truck bed? I wouldn't go below 5 1/2" or 6" and some here may suggest a greater clearence. A deciding factor to consider....will you ever take that truck off the asphalt or concrete....off road? Going down a level highway that distance doesn't mean as much as it does when you're going in and out of gas station and other driveways....then it can be critical.

Switching to lower profile tires also has a negative side affect...the lower the profile the rougher the ride for both the truck and the trailer and it affects the ride of the trailer more so than the truck.

My first consideration would be to flip the axels. That would raise the ground clearance of the trailer, make it much easier to find your happy level and may well be the cheapest way to go. There other little benafits such as draining your holding tanks, you'll not have to worry about a sewer drain being higher than your trailer, even if it's slightly on the uphill side. LOL

There is a down side to consider. Higher trailer height means a higher center of gravity and so you want to keep that in mind going around a curve...adhere strictly to the speed limit in any twisties.

Let's see what others suggest here?

[brute48]

Ok guys. Thank you all for the information you have been sharing. I went and had the axles weighted this morning. Front axle is at 4540lbs and the rear is 5260lbs. I put both my side x sides in and 100 gallons of water. What do you think? I did discovered that my axles are not flipped as I was told they were from the dealer... I did find a kit from pull rite that will lower my hitch one and half inches. Picked up a stock set of tires that are 2 inches smaller in diameter. Measured from the frame to the ground. Front is five and a quarter inches taller than the back of the 5th wheel. Top of my bed to fifth wheel is seven and a quarter clearance. Tires on the 5th wheel are E rated and I have 7000 # axles. Any more input on this would be great.

[spud1957]

Wow Cummins, hard to believe it's 6". Also amazing it throws almost 2000 additional pounds on the year axle.

[Cummins12V98]

JCZ wrote:


It is all relevant! Your input may have saved this guy (and others) a bucket load of $$$ down the road.

Thanks! I learned from many on here over the years. I thought some did know what they were talking about but then realized most everyone has something to add.

This is the pic that shows a 6" difference from front to back, 17" at rear and 23" at front from frame to ground. I know, it does NOT look that much but the tape did not lie. It took a 3" riser at MORryde to get the RV level.

[JCZ]

Cummins12V98 wrote:


Well "friend" I do know something on weight as my Mobile suites was 6" higher in the front than the rear. My scale weight was front 6,360# and rear 8,020#.

Sorry for deviating from the "question" just want people to realize a potentially expensive condition and even a serious safety issue.

Your "friend"

It is all relevant! Your input may have saved this guy (and others) a bucket load of $$$ down the road.

[momentum_rv]

jmtandem wrote:

Will they be able to tell me the axle weight for each separately?

Yes, just let them know you want to weigh each axle of the fifth separately. Cost will be around $10. I definitely would not want to tow it with it that nose high. An inch, maybe two is probably not an issue. You are way more than that.

You MUST position yourself in a NON-standard fashion on a CAT scale to do this, but it can be done

[Cummins12V98]

sofive0 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
I WOULD "worry about it" since the rear tires are carrying a lot more weight. With ST tires he may be over the rear tires ratings.

The issue at question was on leveling. It was not on weight friend.
I would hope the tire weight rating is a given, when it comes to having the correct tires.
A standard 4 ply tire compared to the XL 10 ply tire will not in most circumstances make the trailer level, as what was the original main concern that was posted.
I understand what your point is, and also somewhat agree but, by looking at the pics given, this combo in my opinion does not fit the bill. As the two may not be exactly level, they are not that bad off as to where I believe it would be a concern. If that trailer's nose was drastically lifted and obviously putting more weight to the rear, then okay. I believe in his situation, he will be fine to ride safely and smoothly down the road.

Well "friend" I do know something on weight as my Mobile suites was 6" higher in the front than the rear. My scale weight was front 6,360# and rear 8,020#.

Sorry for deviating from the "question" just want people to realize a potentially expensive condition and even a serious safety issue.

Your "friend"

[jmtandem]

Will they be able to tell me the axle weight for each separately?

Yes, just let them know you want to weigh each axle of the fifth separately. Cost will be around $10. I definitely would not want to tow it with it that nose high. An inch, maybe two is probably not an issue. You are way more than that.

[BarneyS]

Catscale locator

How to weigh at a Catscale.

You can weigh each axle separately if you position your rig carefully on the scale. Just be aware of any line up of trucks waiting so you don't tie up the scale. Those guys are working and don't like being tied up.

The normal positioning will give you your truck front axle, rear axle, and then the trailer axles combined. This is all accomplished at one time as you position the vehicles on each scale.

The weigh ticket you get will show the above three weights and then the combined weight of all of them.
Hope this helps. 🙂
Barney

[brute48]

Will they be able to tell me the axle weight for each separately?

[ford_truck_guy]

brute48 wrote:

JCZ wrote:
A quick run across the scale will tell him the weight on each of the axles.

So where is the best place to get my rig weighed? I called a couple of my local dealers and they didn't have a clue. They acted like it was an unusual request.

Google search your area... or any truck stop close by should have one... maybe one up on an interstate near you ? . . .