What % of max towing capacity are you comfortable with in a 5er?

[pprice01]

As I look around, it seems that most people say that 80% of your tow vehicle's max rating is safe.

Other people say to stay at/below 80% of max payload (making sure to include people, gear, and the hitch to the hitch weight of the 5er) - while using 20% of the 5er's GVWR as the guide for Hitch weight - not the Mfg listed hitch weight.

Lots of 5er options out there. Here's my weight table assuming my tow vehicle has a max towing of 16,500 and a max payload of 4,350 (reduced to 3,800 after including 450 for people + 100 for gear in the truck. Could always lower more for the actual hitch, but you get the idea.

Seems at 14,500 or below for the 5er GVWR I'm below 90% on max towing and well in the safe range for payload.

At 15,500 GVWR OF THE 5er I get a bit shaky for max weight (94%) but still under while only at 82% of payload.

Is this too risky for weight, or should I be OK given that the payload is what it is?

Am I calculating properly? Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Paul




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[goduc]

The 80% rule is nothing more than internet jargon. If the truck and trailer are rated for it then why shouldn't you be able to tow it? Those tow and payload ratings are for warranty purposes anyway. Many many guys tow near their limits and do just fine.
With that being said I feel an HD truck like a DRW is better suited near it's limits than say an SUV or even most 1/2 tons.

[pprice01]

Originally Posted by goduc

The 80% rule is nothing more than internet jargon. If the truck and trailer are rated for it then why shouldn't you be able to tow it? Those tow and payload ratings are for warranty purposes anyway. Many many guys tow near their limits and do just fine.
With that being said I feel an HD truck like a DRW is better suited near it's limits than say an SUV or even most 1/2 tons.

Thanks Goduc.

This application/specs are based on a SRW Ram 3500 megacab diesel.

[phillyg]

I would go up to 100% of the truck, tires and hitch. I'm not there, but I would, and I don't think the 80% "rule" has any basis in fact. But, if someone wants to limit out at 80%, it's fine with me.

[emm-dee]

Your max towing weight listed is the only real weight you know. You'll never know the actual payload and hitch weight until you visit the CAT scale. FR advertised hitch weights are known to be off by 500 pounds or more.

[Tfort]

The manufacturer puts the safe tow rating out there so they don't get sued. If they say it will do it, trust me, in this sue happy country, they built in their own safety buffer. If you go by most of the towing calculators out there, most of would have to be towing with a Peterbuilt.


2000 F250 CC 4x4 7.3L diesel

15 Salem Hemisphere Lite356QB

[dannyabear]

80% is probably a good number for a TT or 5th wheeler; the factory ratings are based on weight only, not the parachute you are pulling. Way the commercials on TV closly, they are all pulling bass boats or a flatbed trailer....

[davel1971]

most modern diesels have enough power to tow 150% of the rating with ease. You are only limited by payload and tire ratings.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by davel1971

most modern diesels have enough power to tow 150% of the rating with ease. You are only limited by payload and tire ratings.

X2

[CWSWine]

I will tow up to the GVWR and the GCWR ratings and that not using a stubby pencil to figure the weights those have to be CAT scale weights. I believe the manufacture has a safety margin built in that should be what it is a "safety margin" and should be treated as such. Towing to Max Axle Ratings exceeding the GVWR is unsafe as far as I'm concerned I will not do it.

[pprice01]

I agree. I am getting conflicting information about payload vs pin weight vs axle rating. For example: the ram 2500 has a payload of 1890, an axle rating of 7000, and a max towing of 16000.

How to calculate the actual amount that the truck can handle in a 5th wheel?

It can tow 16k, but only by the bumper? That doesn't make sense.

It can tow 16k, but only if the hitch weight is less than 1890? That makes no sense either as no trailer will balance that way.

Thoroughly lost at this point.


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[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by pprice01

I agree. I am getting conflicting information about payload vs pin weight vs axle rating. For example: the ram 2500 has a payload of 1890, an axle rating of 7000, and a max towing of 16000.

How to calculate the actual amount that the truck can handle in a 5th wheel?

It can tow 16k, but only by the bumper? That doesn't make sense.

It can tow 16k, but only if the hitch weight is less than 1890? That makes no sense either as no trailer will balance that way.

Thoroughly lost at this point.


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Go here Towing Planner - towing capability calculators

You can exceeded the 16k tow with a TT but with a 1890 payload you are really limited to the 5er you can tow.

With 150 lbs passenger, 250 lbs 5th wheel hitch and 1890 payload:
You're adding approximately 400 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,490 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 5,960 - 7,450 lbs.

With a TT with 150lbs driver, 100lbs hitch and 1890 payload:
You're adding approximately 250 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,580 lbs. of payload capacity. Travel trailers typically have 10% - 15% tongue weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 10,533 - 15,800 lbs.


Huge difference!!!

[Wobbles]

Originally Posted by pprice01

As I look around, it seems that most people say that 80% of your tow vehicle's max rating is safe.

Other people say to stay at/below 80% of max payload (making sure to include people, gear, and the hitch to the hitch weight of the 5er) - while using 20% of the 5er's GVWR as the guide for Hitch weight - not the Mfg listed hitch weight.

Lots of 5er options out there. Here's my weight table assuming my tow vehicle has a max towing of 16,500 and a max payload of 4,350 (reduced to 3,800 after including 450 for people + 100 for gear in the truck. Could always lower more for the actual hitch, but you get the idea.

Seems at 14,500 or below for the 5er GVWR I'm below 90% on max towing and well in the safe range for payload.

At 15,500 GVWR OF THE 5er I get a bit shaky for max weight (94%) but still under while only at 82% of payload.

Is this too risky for weight, or should I be OK given that the payload is what it is?

Am I calculating properly? Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Paul




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting spreadsheet. Where did you source that from?

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

Go here Towing Planner - towing capability calculators

You can exceeded the 16k tow with a TT but with a 1890 payload you are really limited to the 5er you can tow.

With 150 lbs passenger, 250 lbs 5th wheel hitch and 1890 payload:
You're adding approximately 400 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,490 lbs. of payload capacity. Fifth wheels typically have 20% - 25% pin weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 5,960 - 7,450 lbs.

With a TT with 150lbs driver, 100lbs hitch and 1890 payload:
You're adding approximately 250 lbs. to the truck. You have 1,580 lbs. of payload capacity. Travel trailers typically have 10% - 15% tongue weight which gives you a maximum loaded camper weight of 10,533 - 15,800 lbs.

Since when does a truck have the capability to tow twice as much travel trailer as with a 5th wheel? That makes no sense. 5th wheel capability is always higher.

[dannyabear]

Originally Posted by Wobbles

Interesting spreadsheet. Where did you source that from?

Interesting numbers, his sig line says 3744 cargo capacity, but in post it states
4350 max payload, which is it?

[pprice01]

Originally Posted by Wobbles

Interesting spreadsheet. Where did you source that from?

Put that together in Excel myself from data from each Mfg website, and added the calculations for GVWR and Payload against a ram 3500 megacab diesel.

[pprice01]

Originally Posted by dannyabear

Interesting numbers, his sig line says 3744 cargo capacity, but in post it states

4350 max payload, which is it?

Not sure who this is meant for?

[dannyabear]

Originally Posted by davel1971

Since when does a truck have the capability to tow twice as much travel trailer as with a 5th wheel? That makes no sense. 5th wheel capability is always higher.

Truck runs out of payload with a 5th wheeler.

[pprice01]

Originally Posted by dannyabear

Truck runs out of payload with a 5th wheeler.

So, based on my table above, a 3500 SRW setup with the capacities listed would handle any of the 5ers listed?

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by davel1971

Since when does a truck have the capability to tow twice as much travel trailer as with a 5th wheel? That makes no sense. 5th wheel capability is always higher.

Since with a 5th wheel you have to figure a average of 20 to 25% of the 5er weight is in the bed of the truck and becomes the limiting factor based on the yellow payload sticker and the what you put in the truck. A 15,000 lbs 5er have a pin weight between 3000 to 3750 lbs (20 to 25%)

Where a TT is 10 to 15% weight on the back of the truck and in most cases the limited factor is the max combined truck and TT weight (GCWR). A 15,000 TT would have a hitch weight of 1500 to 2250 lbs (10 to 15%)

Been that way for ever.....