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Old 05-17-2016, 08:20 AM   #4
wingnut60
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where we park it
Posts: 2,838
Please revisit the weight figures for the fivers you are researching--use the 'dry weight' published figures for weight/pin weight and divide the listed weight into the pin weight--this will/should be around 20/%. Now take the GVRW (what the mfg says the trailer could safely weigh when loaded for camping) and multiply it by .80 and that will give you the probable pin weight for actual use. A 16k trailer could have a pin weight of 3200 lbs--if you put that on a 2500 series truck, you are going to be over the RAWR and probably the GVWR for the truck. The truck mfgs do basically the same thing when publishing the ratings for their trucks--IF you are never going to have a passenger(s) and anything in the bed of the truck, then the figures will work out. With a family and camping gear/fuel/firewood/water/dogs,etc, you quickly diminish the weight available to handle the pin weight of a fiver. Don't forget what the hitch will weigh, also.
Another caveat: use the same 20% of GVWR on a fiver and subtract it from the GVWR, this will give you the weight the tires on the trailer will/could be subjected to. Divide this by 4 to get potential weight on each tire. Now, look at the tire closely for weight rating (most will have 16" tires) to find out the load rating for the tire. If you don't have a substantial overcapacity per tire, you are most likely going to have tire problems.
All the above has been discussed over and over on all the RV forums--look at IRV2.com for similar posts/answers--you will quickly find that this weight situation comes up every day from buyers trying to find ways to tow large fivers with 3/4 ton trucks.
No one EVER tows a trailer at the weights the factory publishes, unless when it it delivered to the dealer.
In the end, its your money, your family in the truck, your camping experience.
Joe
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2016 Tiffin 40 QBH
2015 38RSSA, traded
2005 TK3 #1869, 10 yrs of memories,
2017 F450 KR--one more Ford is it
2009 F450 4x4-died; 2010 F450-retired
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