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Old 08-25-2008, 10:39 AM   #4
Motor31
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,130
Pin weight is the weight that the trailer actually puts on the truck. A portion of the trailer weight is actually carried by the truck, the ratio is between10% to about 20% of the weight of the trailer is actually held up by the truck through the hitch. The truck load capacity varies by the carrying capacity built in. It's factored by axle capacity and tire capacity as you can overload these components yet still be under what the truck is rated to tow or carry by GVW / GCVW. To get the actual pin weight you would have to weigh the truck with a scale (truck stop) pad under each axle. Then hitch up the trailer and weigh the combination again with each truck axle on a separate pad (the trailer axles can be on one pad together). Take the two rear truck axle weights and subtract the smaller from the heavier weight and that is your pin weight. On our rig since we use a 38' heavy trailer our pin weight is 4200 lbs., which would be very heavy even on a 1 ton.

That is one of the reasons you see something like half ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton designations on PU's (pick up). The heavier duty truck the more it can tow and carry. Using the Ford designations it's like this, 150, 250, 350. Dodge and GM are slightly different as, 1500, 2500 and 3500. Medium duty trucks that are heavier use designations like 4500, 5500 and 6500.

Keep in mind that the tow rating for the truck is calculated based on half fuel and a 150 lb driver. To get the real weight you should load the truck up like you will be traveling including stuff and passenger then weigh it. Subtract that number from the GVW and the remainder is what the truck can carry on it's own wheels. Do the same for the GCVW and that is what the truck is rated to tow. Most of the towing rated trucks have different weight capacities depending on trailer type travel trailer vs 5th wheel. The 5th wheel capacity should be larger.
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Mike Nancy and the fuzzies
Fulltiming since June 2004
Volvo 660 MH tow vehicle
2005 MS 38RL
2007 Saturn Ion "toad"
2010 Gold Wing "piggyback"
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