Quote:
Originally Posted by sugarjohnson
Herk,
Well said and I agree. I will not run near my max weight and have set up my WD hitch and weighed in at a CAT scale. Like the OP I still have issues with axles rated right to max capacity of our unit along with the brilliant idea to put 10x1.5 brakes on this unit which I find just downright cheap.
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Installed axles and tires are rated to be in excess of requirement at the stated GVWR less the minimum safe amount to be carried by the towing vehicle (as tongue weight or Pin Weight).
For travel trailers, the minimum safe tongue weight is 10% of total camper weight and for a 5th Wheel the minimum safe pin weight is 15% of total camper weight.
For a 10,000 pound camper:
Travel trailer (10%) the tongue will have a minimum of 1000 pounds and the camper axles will carry the other 9,000. They could then install 2 - 4,5000 pound axles and be safe.
5,000 pound axles could be used but are overkill since the above example is "worst possible case" and the weight ratio is supposed to be 12% (plus or minus 1%) or 1200 pounds. Leaving 8800 pounds on the 2 axles (4,400 each)
For a 10,000 pound 5th wheel (15%), the pin weight will be a minimum of 1500 pounds and the remaining 8500 will be on the axles or 4250 each. 4,500 axles will still be fine.
At the optimum WD for a 5th wheel, 20% (plus or minus 3%), the 4500 pound axles would still have lots of room at 4000 pounds each.