2004 Mobile Suites 36tk3

[dustin_raye]

Im looking at a TV for our 2004 Mobile Suites 36tk3. (GVWR=16,000#, UVW=13,537#) What is the pin weight? Is payload same as pin weight? If it means anything I will only be moving 5th wheel 2-3 times a year. Can this truck handle the 5'er? Thanks!

The Specs on the 2012 Ram 3500 4X4 SRW are:

GVWR=10,100
PAYLOAD=2,630
BASE WEIGHT=7,469
BASE WEIGHT (FRONT)=4,648
BASE WEIGHT (REAR)=2,822
GAWR (FRONT)=5,500
GAWR (REAR)=6,200
GCWR=21,000
MAX TRAILER=13,400

[Okie]

That truck is fine for the job.

Okie

[Gillesm]

Great truck I have been pulling mine with the 2005 version with no problems at all.

[terry and jo]

If you are still interested in getting an idea of what your trailer's weights would be, including the pin weight, an older post has a document in it that was compiled by Stacey, an individual who formerly weighed trucks and trailers at rallies and such. If I remember right, there are 99 different units that are DRV's that he has weighed over the years.

His document lists them by year and model number, and it will give you a "ballpark" idea of some of the weights. Of course, all will differ, depending on what each of us puts in our units. Here is a link to that previous forum thread.

http://www.5thwheelforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3153&highlight=weights

Terry

[Stripit]

GVWR=10,100
PAYLOAD=2,630
BASE WEIGHT=7,469
BASE WEIGHT (FRONT)=4,648
BASE WEIGHT (REAR)=2,822
GAWR (FRONT)=5,500
GAWR (REAR)=6,200
GCWR=21,000
MAX TRAILER=13,400

That truck will weigh with hitch, fuel, and 2 people about 7,800 to 8,000 lbs ish, is my guess. The rear axle weights will run across the scales at close to 3,000 lbs leaving maybe 3,200lbs before your over the rear axle max. The tires on that back axle will carry about 3,400 each at max 80psi pressure. So if that is right 6,800 max tire carrying. So if the pin on the trailer is normal, 3,800 to 4,200 lbs the truck tires are going to be over loaded. The rear axle will be over loaded. The gross truck of 21,000 will be over loaded. It is a beautiful truck, but will not be according to the real world numbers of weights, sufficient. But are other trucks pulling that weight and more, yep, are they over loaded, probably. Have they fallen apart and sitting littered all over the roads, not really. But, by the numbers the manufacturer supplies, it is not enough truck. Just my 2 cents.

[Motor31]

The first line of your post and the very last line are your answer. Your trailer is more than the truck is built to handle by the manufacturers own statements. Yup you probably can get away with it, for a while. There are lots of folks who do but eventually the consequences of ignoring the engineers figures will catch up to them either by equipment failure or worse. It's up to you as to how much you are willing to gamble. It's only your life, property and that of others on the road at stake vs your choice of a truck not up to the job. Kind of like russian roulette there are more chances to get away with it but that one incidence of losing the bet and the results of being held accountable can be a bit messy.

[RonS]

Take a look at any RV park, and see what most are using for tow vehicle. Only problem I see is that most pick-ups are white and it become hard to find yours at wal-mart. Mine is not white, and handles my DRV very well.

[hitchup]

I don't see any 5th wheel towing stats on your list. First check on Trailer Life website to see what 2012 tow weights are for 5ers vs TT's. It's a little harder to find, but should be available somewhere.

http://dcd96xmek71bc.cloudfront.net/trailerlife.com/2012_towing_guide_lo_res.pdf

[wingnut60]

On the weight table that Terry refers to, there are 16 2004 36'models with pin weights listed: High-4800!!! Low-3035 Avg of 16-3623

So you can probably use the 3600lbs as a guess...

Joe

[wingnut60]

By the way, my '05 36TK3 came from the factory with GVWR of 16000;
the delivered weight was 15185, leaving a grand total of 815lbs for cargo.
These early models were shamefully near or at the Gross weight when built, without the suspension upgrade option.
I bought mine used in '07.
Joe

[Carny Bill]

Somehow I see the truck wars starting again........
and again and again...........

Tow with what you are confortable driving, no need for over kill,
you can always upgrade.

Bill

[rjohnsonnm]

I have a 2004 36RS3 thst has a UVW of 12,638# (a little less than yours.) Back in 2006 I had each individual wheel weighed when it was loaded. The load included a washer and dryer, food, clothes, tools, but only about 25 gals of fresh water and no grey or black water. In other words, a normal traveling load. My wheel weights were: RF 3225, LF 3150, RR 2800, LR 3050, and the pin wt was 3575# for a ratio of 22.6%. Total trailer weight was 15,800 (200# below GVWR). I won't get into truck loading except to say that my F350 had a rear axle rating of 6830#. My load was 355# below maximum. (It seems strange that a Ram 3500 only has a payload of 2630#)

A related issue for that year MS is the tires. It sounds like you bought your MS used and if so, let me warn you about the tires. The stock tires DRV used were Goodyear LT235/85R16G G614RST. I had THREE tread separations on those 16" tires in 3 years, the last 2 on new tires with less than 10,000 miles. If you have those tires on your MS I strongly encourage you to upgrade to a 17.5" tire. I replaced my wheels and tires with Goodyear 215/75R17.5LRH G614 and now have 10,000 miles with no problems (cross my fingers)

Hope this helps.
Ron

[golf_bears]

rjohnsonnm,

I think your replacement tires are not 215/75R17.5LRH G614 but rather
215/75R17.5LRH G114 ????

If I'm mistaken I apologize.

[rjohnsonnm]

You are correct. It's 215/75R17.5LRH G614. Too many numbers for an old guy with glasses.

[golf_bears]

I believe I got it wrong also, cut & paste will do that to you.

OK, let's see if we can get this right, it's the H114 not the G614, what do you think?

[Diesel-Gypsy]

I will add this to Ron's post....I had much the same weights, and I started having tire problems.
I then cut back to the bare minimum in what I carried on board my 36TK3.
The tire problems persisted, after having serious damage repaired twice I too went to the bigger rubber.

Now I feel confidant that I can run all day at max GVWR.
These trailers can easily be loaded past that 16K mark, especially when getting ready to dry-camp somewhere for 10 days.

To the OP I suggest you consider a TV with rear duals, you will at least have some hope of maintaining control in the event of a rear tire failure.
A big heavy trailer behind a pick-up with a blown rear tire on a SRW set-up is no fun at all, BTDT.

Rick

[wingnut60]

Yep, my 16000 GVW weighs in at 17400. Had the 8k brakes already, now have 17.5" wheels/tires and 4k spring packs. But still have the 7k axles.
At 17400, I actually have 13200 on the axles, so guess that will have to do. Have been trying to get up the nerve to put the Morryde IS under it, but too many $$$.
Joe

[Jack in Alaska]

My truck weighs 9950 lbs. with me, wife and 80 gals. of fuel plus jack, tire chains etc. with no RV hooked on.
My GCVW = 24,400 lbs. at a certified Alaska Hyw. Dept. scale. That puts my RV at 14,450 lbs. loaded for travel.
Pulls and stops just fine. MS RV has great brakes.

[Motorcycle Jack]

Thanks Stacey for your input on this post. Too the rest of you, I guess you missed it and continue to post your OWN opinion about - "I do ti, so it must be ok"

OP, listen StripIT (or old WeightIt) has weighed more vehicles than all the posters on this forum, He knows what DRV's weigh, he knows what tow vehicles are capable of in the manufacturer's ( the people who designed and built your truck) opinion. I would heed very well what he said in his post. No one else on here has the experience! The list Terry referred to is HIS list!

[wingnut60]

Was down in Kerrville in the City park this holiday--there was a 2011 DRV being pulled by a 2006 F250 short bed--yep, he had air bags, so all is ok.

Joe

[GlennWest]

My DRV has 8,000k axles but G tires. Rated at 17,500. We weight just shy of 17,000. It is a load for my truck. It pulls good unless you get a long steep hill. egt's will climb steadily. I have had to back out of throttle more than once. Mandatory properly working brakes on Coach. That truck will not stop it without them. Nest rv i buy will also be 8,000k axles.