Well there it is

[Blackrock]

Picked up our new 5th wheel yesterday. Made a fast pass across the scales on the way home at 13,180 GCVW. Ran I-10 out of Tucson real well and the pull up Texas Canyon east of Benson like a champ.

[Wiscampsin]

Congrats!!!!

[Justice12t]

Excellent, congrats!

[Blackrock]

Okay went back down to the Gin and got the weights figured out. Looks like this with 1/2 tank of water, full propane tanks and one battery.

Front Axle:2880
Rear Axle: 3160
Trailer Axles: 4300

[wgm320]

Please forgive me, I'm new and trying to learn about 5th wheels as I would like to purchase one this summer.

I am a bit confused by your weights so if you could help me out I would appreciate it. Your 5th wheel weighs about 7300 dry. When you said your axles weighed 4300 pounds, did you mean each or is that the total of both?

I ask because if it's the weight of each then your axle weight is 8600 pounds. The dry pin weight is about 1480 from Keystone's specs, which would make the total weight of your 5th wheel around 10080 pounds best case. That doesn't sound right to me because you said it was only loaded with propane, battery and 1/2 tank of water and you would be over the GVWR of your 5th wheel if so.

But then if your axles weighed 4300 pounds total, and the dry weight of your trailer was 7300, that would mean you have a pin weight of 3000 pounds. Since your drive axle weight was 3160, it would mean that your truck unloaded has a rear axle weight of 160 pounds, give or take. That can't be right?

I'm obviously confused somewhere here but I'm trying to understand weights to make my buying decision so if you could tell me where I'm confusing things it would help!

[jgourlie]

Great looking combo

[Ford Idaho]

[Blackrock]

Originally Posted by wgm320

Please forgive me, I'm new and trying to learn about 5th wheels as I would like to purchase one this summer.

I am a bit confused by your weights so if you could help me out I would appreciate it. Your 5th wheel weighs about 7300 dry. When you said your axles weighed 4300 pounds, did you mean each or is that the total of both?

I ask because if it's the weight of each then your axle weight is 8600 pounds. The dry pin weight is about 1480 from Keystone's specs, which would make the total weight of your 5th wheel around 10080 pounds best case. That doesn't sound right to me because you said it was only loaded with propane, battery and 1/2 tank of water and you would be over the GVWR of your 5th wheel if so.

But then if your axles weighed 4300 pounds total, and the dry weight of your trailer was 7300, that would mean you have a pin weight of 3000 pounds. Since your drive axle weight was 3160, it would mean that your truck unloaded has a rear axle weight of 160 pounds, give or take. That can't be right?

I'm obviously confused somewhere here but I'm trying to understand weights to make my buying decision so if you could tell me where I'm confusing things it would help!

Forget about the published weights, throw that book out the window. Never seen any of the printed numbers work out on the last two units I owned. The 4300 ponds was both axles with my truck just off the scale platform.
Fifth wheel pin weight is like a cantilever transfer of weight to just above the rear axle. This weight is the spread between the front and rear truck axle.
I noticed on the way home this new trailer pulled no harder than the bumper pull I traded in. Actually until I get back to the scale and actually unhitch the TT on the scale by itself I may have a truer idea. I am planning on using a forklift, weighing it seperately then lifting the trailer at the pin to find true pin weight.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

Okay went back down to the Gin and got the weights figured out. Looks like this with 1/2 tank of water, full propane tanks and one battery.

Front Axle:2880
Rear Axle: 3160
Trailer Axles: 4300

Your first post you say 13,180 GCVW but you add the above numbers and it only 10260 lbs so were did 2920 go? With a 7300 lbs dry 5er weight and only 4300 on the rear axle where did the rest of the 5er weight go. If you load more weight in the back the weight shifts to the rear wheels and if you load weight to the front it shifts weight to the pin but the weight is still there it doesn't go away. If you 5er wheels weight 4300 the balance must be on your truck or about 3000lbs. WGM320 is correct the problem is with the numbers you posted.

With a 4300 lbs trailer axle weight and around 7300 dry weight that leaves around 3000lbs unaccounted for.

[goduc]

The scales or whatever you're using are all messed up. Or maybe its the way you're weighing everything.
Base dry rear axle weight on the 1500s is around 22-2400lbs.
Dry pin weight on the 265SRK is 1480lbs. That equals 3680-3880lbs. Add a 5th hitch of around 150lbs and you're at the RAWR without adding anything to the front storage of the 5er. Or any passengers or gear in the truck bed.
RAWR is 3900 on the 1500s.
Dry axle weight alone on the 265SRK is 5820lbs, not 4300lbs.
You numbers are way out of wack.
Load that 5er up and use a different scale. I can pretty much guaranty that you'll be over every rating on your truck.
You need a 3/4 ton for it or at least a Ford F150 that has a Max Tow package that will get you closer to 2000lbs for payload.
Wrong truck for that 5th wheel.

[Blackrock]

Okay my bad. I had to decipher my hen scratching in my note book.
Air bags are at 20 psi and truck is leveled out (no squat) I'm happy with the way it pulls and handles.

Front Axle: 3040
Rear Axle: 4400 with
Trailer: 5740
Total: 13,180

[goduc]

Are you happy being over your GVWR and RAWR by 500lbs? Not a huge amount but still concerning. I would make sure my tires on the truck are at max psi.
Remember anything you add to the front of the 5th wheel will add to the weight on the rear axle. So in the end you could be 700lbs+ over on the RAWR and GVW.
Most these 1/2 ton towables are only 1/2 ton towable when empty. Once you load them up you'll be in 3/4 ton territory.

[ManlyMan]

Too bad you bought a Laredo which is Keystone product (Thor Industries.) Now you can't go to any of the FROG rallies.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by goduc

Are you happy being over your GVWR and RAWR by 500lbs? Not a huge amount but still concerning. I would make sure my tires on the truck are at max psi.
Remember anything you add to the front of the 5th wheel will add to the weight on the rear axle. So in the end you could be 700lbs+ over on the RAWR and GVW.
Most these 1/2 ton towables are only 1/2 ton towable when empty. Once you load them up you'll be in 3/4 ton territory.

I see from another post he headed to Alaska and with all the stuff that will require I bet he is closer to 1,000 over Rear Axle Weight Rating. I won't want to be that far over and bouncing down the pot hole roads going up the AlCAN highway and over some of those mountain passes but that's me.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I see from another post he headed to Alaska and with all the stuff that will require I bet he is closer to 1,000 over Rear Axle Weight Rating. I won't want to be that far over and bouncing down the pot hole roads going up the AlCAN highway and over some of those mountain passes but that's me.

I Towed heavy with my F 150, it was over by 1000 lbs but under on rear axle maximum. I traded. As far as a Alaksa Tow to each there own but that is alot to put anything though that overloaded. Hopefully the OPs road goes on forever and the party never ends.

[goduc]

Live and learn I guess. Some just learn the hard way.

[Blackrock]

This truck with the heavy tow package has a rated payload of 1830 lbs. By my figures with a empty rear axle weight of 2600lbs and a loaded weight of 4400 lbs. that gives me a pin weight of 1800 lbs. Granted that only gives me a 30lb. margin and I am good with that. A trailer gross weight of 7450lbs before loading 500lbs of personal gear bringing it up to a round 8000lbs is still well under the 10,500 tow rating.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

This truck with the heavy tow package has a rated payload of 1830 lbs. By my figures with a empty rear axle weight of 2600lbs and a loaded weight of 4400 lbs. that gives me a pin weight of 1800 lbs. Granted that only gives me a 30lb. margin and I am good with that. A trailer gross weight of 7450lbs before loading 500lbs of personal gear bringing it up to a round 8000lbs is still well under the 10,500 tow rating.

Your payload is 1830 minus the weight of the hitch 200 plus you and the wife and dog at 350 lbs misc stuff in the truck and truck bed lets say another 50 lbs. Now that 1830 is down to 1230 left over for your 1800 lbs pin weight. So that leaves you over weight by 580 lbs. Not to mention that you are over your Max Axle Weights Ratings by 500 lbs using your base numbers.

Great place to run numbers.

http://towingplanner.com/Calculators...50&bd=50&ct=FW

Using your 1830 lbs Payload Capacity and the numbers come from the link above.

You're adding approximately 700 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,130 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 4,520 - 5,650 lbs.

[goduc]

Ram doesn't make a Heavy Duty option for the 1500.
Show me that data. You might get 1800+lbs for payload in a stripper Tradesmen reg cab 2wd. But not in your truck.
Post a picture of the placard on your truck that shows payload capacity. It's on the door jamb.

[doc73]

Won't add fuel to this fire... I have decided to no longer partake in the weight debate of right and wrong. NOt worth the chest pains

But my (well patrol truck) 15 Ram 1500 CC SB Hemi is 1055 on the payload according to the yellow sticker. It does have the Rambox though so that might kill a few Lbs.