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Old 01-14-2014, 02:57 PM   #1
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Weights for 8285WS

Weighed today - ready for travel -Full propane no water

Truck - 6650 (Dodge Ram 2500 diesel)
Truck and Trailer 15140
Trailer - Unhitched - 8490
Trailer - Hitched - 6700
Pin Weight 1790

Axles rated - 3500
Total Axle Capacity 7000
Tires rated - 1820 each
Total tire capacity - 7280

The total weight is far more than advertised - 7250
Add 40 gallons of water and you are close to the limit.
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Old 01-14-2014, 03:13 PM   #2
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Did you weigh trailer when empty? What does your yellow cert sticker say the empty weight is? (Not brochure weight)
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Old 01-14-2014, 04:14 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadman99 View Post
Trailer - Unhitched - 8490
...
The total weight is far more than advertised - 7250
That means you've added 1,250 pounds by way of options when the camper was ordered, add-ons by the dealer and things that you added to the camper yourself (propane, pots, pans, food, clothing, linens, etc.).

My guess is that's about average.

It does put you peaking at GVWR of 8,950.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cadman99
Add 40 gallons of water and you are close to the limit
Yep, that 40 pounds will add another 320-ish pounds of weight. Plus 6-10 gallongs for water in the water heater (50-80 pounds). And then a nominal amount in your gray tanks and black tank (say another 10 gallons for 80 pounds).

Out of curiosity- where did you weigh and what was your weighing procedure? (I'm curious because it sounds like you were somewhere that you could unhitch the camper on the scale.)
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Old 01-14-2014, 04:29 PM   #4
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I wouldn't be comfortable with those weights at all. Especially being so close to the tire rating- typically a weak link. I have 7600 on the trailer axles ready to camp, with 8800lbs. of capacity (2x4400lb), and over 10K of tire capacity.
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Old 01-14-2014, 05:59 PM   #5
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I didn't buy it new so I don't know what options were added. Brochures either say about 6800 or 7200. The stickers indicate a allowable gross weight of 9300lbs (with propane and water about 1700lbs cargo allowed). If you load to 9300 even with a 2000lbs pin weight you are still over the axle ratings.
I do not have anywhere near 1000lbs (no food, clothing or water) of my stuff it it. No way are you going to load to 9300 allowable and be under the 7000lb axle rating.

When hitched I weighed the front axle of the truck, then the whole truck and then truck and trailer together, then the the rear axle of the truck. I had previously weighed the truck when empty.

Obviously if you know total weight (truck and trailer) and the weight if the trailer hitched and and the empty weight of the truck by axle you can easily calculate pin weight.

So if water is added you are right at the limit of the axles and not far from the tire limit. Tires are what started this - I will look for a 205/75/15 in a D rating (2150). I am fairly sure that 225's will interfere with the sturcture.

My main bitch is placards allowing 9300 gross with 7000lbs of axle. It is impossible.
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Old 01-14-2014, 06:23 PM   #6
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I think the Manufactures take the pin weight off the GVW so they can use lighter axles
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Old 01-14-2014, 07:09 PM   #7
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Yeah but...... Even if you take the pin weight off the 9300lbs rating you still can't get to 7000lbs.
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Old 01-15-2014, 10:36 PM   #8
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Pin weights are recommended to be 15%~25% of gross, @ 25% pin you would be approx 7000 on axles and 2300 on pin for 9300 ttl.
Just depends on how you load it.
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Old 01-16-2014, 09:49 AM   #9
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I understand but pin weight percentages are a "fabricated number". Gee if we make pin weights 35% then the trailer will get even lighter. How are you, or the average person, going to load your trailer to get the maximum pin weight? You going down to the scales to load? How am I going to put an additional 500lbs in the bedroom to get to the 25% pin weight? Not going to happen.

They could have spent a few more bucks and used 4000lb axles and d rated tires and been okay. Remember these are frequently sold as half-ton towable. I doubt there are many half-tons that will allow 2300lb pin weights.

There are a bunch of folks who do not read forums like this. They buy a trailer, load it up, based on what the dealer or literature says, and off they go.
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Old 01-16-2014, 12:19 PM   #10
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The way that the manufacturer usually calculate the camper's GVWR is the axle rating x2 plus the dry pin weight. Frequently now I see that the manufacturer's spec don't reflect that...I'm thinking that they may be doing more 'cya' and lowering the GVWR's in that the axles aren't the limiter, maybe it's the frame design.

I have no idea what happened with your camper...it would probably work if you had 4000# axles. That could be a course of action...switch to 4000# axles...don't think to would be too expensive. Try to get some pricing from Dexter and Lippert.

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Old 01-16-2014, 12:31 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_Monica View Post
The way that the manufacturer usually calculate the camper's GVWR is the axle rating x2 plus the dry pin weight. Frequently now I see that the manufacturer's spec don't reflect that...I'm thinking that they may be doing more 'cya' and lowering the GVWR's in that the axles aren't the limiter, maybe it's the frame design.

I have no idea what happen with your camper...it would probably work if you had 4000# axles. That could be a course of action...switch to 4000# axles...don't think to would be too expensive. Try to get some pricing from Dexter and Lippert.

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Old 01-16-2014, 01:22 PM   #12
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At the moment I am switching to "d" rated tires which will give me over 8000lbs tire capacity. I will load carefully to try and stay under the 7000lb axle rating.

My chance of tire failure is minimized. If there is an axle failure I will be talking to Forest River about their underrated tires and axles. Since I will probably never exceed about 7200lbs on axles I am not to worried about it. I am sure there is a margin of safety built in to the axles.

Fifth wheels are new to me so this is an interesting exercise. All the heavy stuff-water heater, fresh water tank, frig, slide, and most of the storage is near the center of the trailer. There is not much in the upper portion except the bath. So I think it is virtually impossible to load to maximum and have 2350lbs on the tongue.
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Old 01-18-2014, 10:23 AM   #13
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I am fairly sure that 225's will interfere with the sturcture.
I don't know if this helps you, but my 8285 tires are 225's from the factory.
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Old 01-18-2014, 10:26 AM   #14
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Well my outside weight and tire sticker says 205/75/15. Plus the existing tire clearance would make 225's iffy.
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Old 02-16-2014, 05:44 PM   #15
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I have the same trailer made 7/11.Has 4,ooo lb axles with 225 tires. Not sure how you got lower rated stuff
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Old 02-17-2014, 04:15 PM   #16
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Mine made in 2008 - Rated load about 9300 - outside sticker says 3500# axles and 205 tires. Have changed to 205 tires "d" rated.
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Old 02-18-2014, 11:36 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadman99 View Post
Weighed today - ready for travel -Full propane no water

Truck - 6650 (Dodge Ram 2500 diesel)
Truck and Trailer 15140
Trailer - Unhitched - 8490
Trailer - Hitched - 6700
Pin Weight 1790

Axles rated - 3500
Total Axle Capacity 7000
Tires rated - 1820 each
Total tire capacity - 7280

The total weight is far more than advertised - 7250
Add 40 gallons of water and you are close to the limit.
Cadman,

Your weights look pretty good to me, I am new to 5th Wheel but have been in trailering since the 70's. My trailer is 2013 and has the 4000 lb axels and with 225 tires there is 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the tires. I am thinking of getting smaller D rated tires as well. Need to look at the height of the trailer vs pin on the truck to see if smaller tires can be used.

Brian
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Old 02-19-2014, 09:42 AM   #18
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My real problem is the sticker weights versus reality. Gross weight 9300lbs - axle capacity 7000lbs - pin weight necessary to not overload axles 2300lbs. Don't see anyway you could load to 9300lbs without exceeding axle capacity. I am within about 200lbs of axle capacity and have about 1800lbs of pin weight. So most all of additional weight would have to be pin weight. If I added any water or had a bit in the holding tanks I would exceed axle capacity.
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