Pin Weight

BigDogs · 07-19-2018, 07:31 PM

We took delivery of our new Sabre 36FRP in May and after a couple short local trips with it we finally were able to make a longer trip. When we got on the 4 lane we noticed the trailer moving around more than our previous 5er. I’ve pulled campers for the last 30 years, both travel trailers and 5th wheels but have not had a trailer that swayed as much as this one. Once we returned from our long weekend I headed to the scale and found that my pin weight was only 12%. From what I understand the pin weight on a 5th wheel should be closer to 20% of the trailer weight and low pin weight causes sway. When I checked the specs on this unit the spec sheet shows a dry pin weight that is actually 200 pounds more than the pin weight on my loaded unit. Has anyone else had issues with low pin weight and sway with their 5er?

SeaDog · 07-20-2018, 07:36 AM

Sway can be caused by pin weight or tongue depending on the type of rig. Sounds like an easy solution to move some of the heavy stuff stored behind the axles up front and give it a try.

timfromma · 07-20-2018, 07:53 AM

Try filling your water tank.

BigDogs · 07-20-2018, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaDog

Sway can be caused by pin weight or tongue depending on the type of rig. Sounds like an easy solution to move some of the heavy stuff stored behind the axles up front and give it a try.

Thanks SeaDog, I was looking at what I can move forward but unfortunately we don't have to many heavy items stored behind the axles. The heaviest items are the refrigerator in the outside kitchen and the BA Television on the back wall so I might end up taking them out and see if that helps.

BigDogs · 07-20-2018, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timfromma

Try filling your water tank.

Thanks Timfromma, I'll give that a try and see if it helps.

SeaDog · 07-20-2018, 09:09 AM

If you FW tank is in front of the axle thats and excellent idea

**ependydad** · 07-20-2018, 10:11 AM

I can sort of relate- my Sabre 36QBOK was at 16-17% pin weight. I found that it was stable most of the time but would get a little squirrelly when braking going down hill. Not every time, but I would definitely feel it.

My current camper is even lower. It's a toy hauler, but we don't have big toys we haul, it's more like LEGOs, puzzles, and games. I weighed it and it's down like 15%. Fortunately, no sway issues but I only have about 3,000 miles towing on it so far.

12% is harsh. I can only imagine the sway it would induce.

Do you mind sharing your numbers? Maybe you have a miscalculation? (Not saying you do, but a second set of eyes can often be helpful.)

BigDogs · 07-20-2018, 11:42 AM

Sure ependydad here are the numbers that I have. I weighed at a local coal yard so they couldn't fit the whole rig on the scale at once but we weighed the trailer hooked up, the truck hooked up and then the trailer unhooked and the truck unhooked. Hooked up my weights are truck 9,000 lbs, trailer 11,640. Each separate were truck 7,380 and trailer 13,340. These are the numbers that I used to come up with a pin weight of 1,620 which works out to be 12% of the trailer weight. Let me know if I did not figure something correctly.

Thanks for everyone's help!

timfromma · 07-20-2018, 11:43 AM

Your welcome and good luck.

Ejs4029 · 07-20-2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDogs

Sure ependydad here are the numbers that I have. I weighed at a local coal yard so they couldn't fit the whole rig on the scale at once but we weighed the trailer hooked up, the truck hooked up and then the trailer unhooked and the truck unhooked. Hooked up my weights are truck 9,000 lbs, trailer 11,640. Each separate were truck 7,380 and trailer 13,340. These are the numbers that I used to come up with a pin weight of 1,620 which works out to be 12% of the trailer weight. Let me know if I did not figure something correctly.

Thanks for everyone's help!

Are you still using the 2009 GMC diesel....GVWR of 9200 that you have listed on your profile ?

**ependydad** · 07-20-2018, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDogs

Hooked up my weights are truck 9,000 lbs, trailer 11,640. Each separate were truck 7,380 and trailer 13,340. These are the numbers that I used to come up with a pin weight of 1,620 which works out to be 12% of the trailer weight. Let me know if I did not figure something correctly.

Your math is correct. And, the numbers seem pretty legit as the calculated pin weight + the hitched trailer axle weight comes pretty close to the trailer on the scale by itself weight.

Even still, if it were me, I would likely take it to a CAT scale at a truck stop to double-check it where there are 3 scales and you can do a traditional weighing. Just to double-check the numbers.

Dry, that design has 15% of pin weight. But other than toy haulers, I've almost never heard of a pin weight percentage decreasing. It almost always increases.

Like mentioned, maybe fill the fresh water tank. It should be ahead of the axles; at 50 gallons, that'll be 400 lbs. Some of that will be transferred to pin weight.

BigDogs · 07-20-2018, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

Are you still using the 2009 GMC diesel....GVWR of 9200 that you have listed on your profile ?

Yes I am still using the 2009 GMC.

mwdilday · 07-20-2018, 09:25 PM

Check your tire pressures.

RDG2009 · 07-28-2018, 06:17 PM

We have a new 27BHD and also experience trailer sway. We thought it was because it was a shorter trailer with a shorter wheelbase. Our dry pin weight is 1,300 with 8,500 dry weight. Our dealer replaced the 8 ply tires with 12 ply, it's a bit better, but we still experience sway if there is any wind. We also tried loading as much cargo as possible in the front including filling the front storage with several cases of water bottles.

mwdilday · 07-28-2018, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDG2009

We have a new 27BHD and also experience trailer sway. We thought it was because it was a shorter trailer with a shorter wheelbase. Our dry pin weight is 1,300 with 8,500 dry weight. Our dealer replaced the 8 ply tires with 12 ply, it's a bit better, but we still experience sway if there is any wind. We also tried loading as much cargo as possible in the front including filling the front storage with several cases of water bottles.

Sounds a little light on the pin.

BigDogs · 07-30-2018, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDG2009

We have a new 27BHD and also experience trailer sway. We thought it was because it was a shorter trailer with a shorter wheelbase. Our dry pin weight is 1,300 with 8,500 dry weight. Our dealer replaced the 8 ply tires with 12 ply, it's a bit better, but we still experience sway if there is any wind. We also tried loading as much cargo as possible in the front including filling the front storage with several cases of water bottles.

Looking at your dry weights you have about a 15% pin weight which is a little below the recommended rates of 18 to 20%. To truly know you need to have your 5th wheel and TV both loaded and then have it weighed. Depending on how you load the 5th wheel you can either increase or decrease your pin weight.

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