Spare Tire Mount on 5er

[lesbott]

I have a 2010 Cruiser 5er model CF30SK which I pull with my Ford F250 SD shortbed 4x4 Diesel. With the 5er all loaded up I am around 2300 lbs pin weight with about 11k lbs total trailer weight. I am looking for way to reduce the pin weight for the F250. I have move some items around in the unit to help. The spare tire is mounted up front under the basement storage. I am wondering if the spare can be move to the back of the 5er, possibly on the rear bumper with a spare tire mount, maybe camping world. Not sure if the bumper would take the this weight. Anyone done this?

Thanks for any inputs

[cwit]

There is a lot of them mounted back there.If I mounted my spare there I would not mount much more. Check your welds good and go for it if all right.

[KennyB]

I had the dealer mount the spare tire on the bumper when we bought our 30SK and it's been great so far going across America on some terrible roads. http://www.runnerduckreview.wordpress.com

[Dayle1]

With 2300 lbs pin weight, how much margin do you have on the truck's rear GAWR and tire capacity? The GAWR is probably 6084 lbs which is the tire rating. The spare tire is located about 2/3 of the distance between the axle centerline and the king pin. So, a 60 lb tire/wheel assembly is adding 40 lbs to the pin weight and 20 lbs to the axle weight. Now move that 60 lbs to the rear bumper and add 20 lbs more for a tire mount and that will further reduce the pin weight. But all that weight is now on the trailer tires.



So, here is the question. How often do you hear about truck tire failures on the road vs. trailer tire failures? Which doesn't need to carry more weight? Now if your goal is to level the truck, then air bags or timbrens are another option. Personally, I don't like the idea of 60 lbs bouncing around on the rear of the trailer frame and a tire cover to protect the tire from direct sunlight. Just my $0.02.

[lesbott]

Thanks for the inputs. My previous Sandpiper pull trailer had the spare mounted on the rear bumper and was no problem for the 12 plus years we had the unit. Even a trip though Alaska and some BAD roads. Had to change the cover due to sun every few years.
I was at 6320lbs on the rear axle with a GAWR rating of 6100. I intend to add air bags to level the truck, but would like to be under the GAWR even though an F350 is rated to GAWR of 7000lbs using all the same components. I has about 200lbs of firewood and ice chest in the bed - which can be moved. That would get me pretty close but not much margin. Just looking at other options
I believe the Michelin tires are rated at 3640lbs for a total of 7280 lbs - should I not worry about the GAWR and just install the air bags??

[Dayle1]

You are right the F350 uses the same components and the only reason the rear GAWR is higher is due to higher rated tires on the F350 compared to the F250. And the tires you are running now are even higher yet. The axle is the same as used on the DRW models except maybe tube length. So, other than tires and wheels, everything else is capable of handling whatever Ford specifies for the F350 DRW.But go to DieselStop or another truck forum and you can get much more details on the Ford than I can recall. Other that the limits of the tire rating and how level the truck sits, total weight won' change and it takes both the truck brakes and trailer brakes to stop the entire load. Only other thing to check is the wheel rating, but again chances are F250 and F350 SRW are using the exact same wheels.

[greyeagle]

I had the same problem with my setup andour 28CK. I was over by some 500#s on the pin but under GCWR by at least 2500#s.



Without going into a mathematical formula of weight and balance, Idid the following:

Shift as much equipment from the basement, that you use on an every trip basis, to an area rear of the axles, inside the unit. Then carry about 1/3 capacity in the fresh water tank.



This will shift the center of gravity (CG) aft and will cause the pin weight to decrease.

You need to get the pin weight down to approx 1600 to 1700#s. Luckily I was able to get my pin wt down without moving the spare.

[fixit5561]

I took my spare from under the trailer and put it onto the back bumper. I havent had any problems with doing that at all. I had it only on the back by itself for 2 years.



Then I added a trailer hitch to the back which is also welded to the bumper. So it strengthened the bumper doing that. But I havent had any problems at all with it in the 2 yrs it was there by itself.

[gtoguy1967]

Wow, All this talk about weight, I don't think our camper could get any more put in it, We go to a race and you can't get any more in it, The bed of the truck is full of fire wood. Our truck doesn't squat any more than any other time and it tows like a dream, Is it just cause I have a Chevy ? Excuse me while I put my flame suite on,,,,,

[gtoguy1967]

Ok, I have numbers, This was when we towed to Bristol, Tn The truck didn't have any fuel in it, Or very little. You couldn't pack the cmper any tighter. This was on a Cat scale,

Steer axle: 4380

Drive Axle: 4940

trailer Axle: 7740

Gross Weight: 17,060

One other time we weighed it we towed to Talladega, Al

Steer Axle: 4440

Drive:5560

Trailer:7680

Gross: 17680

I wont mention the speeds that we ran with it loaded this way but let's just say there was no grass any where near. No issues towed like a dream, No less than 9.9 MpG truck is bone stock. I would never even think about air bags, helper springs or even moving any weight around.

[Chrisnan23]

Yeah but it's a Chevy so it drove like a lead sled didn't it?

The air bags will help a great deal as mentioned.

[gtoguy1967]

Well, I post and look who pops in,,,

[Chrisnan23]

Couldn't help it!
Is your mail box still there??????

[gtoguy1967]

We have a new shinny one. She is standing tall and strong.

So where are you and Nan calling home ? I'm guessing your still living in the camper ??

[Chrisnan23]

Yup! Living in Wichita KS for now.
Is this a Hyjack of the post?

[salda01]

Originally Posted by Dayle1

You are right the F350 uses the same components and the only reason the rear GAWR is higher is due to higher rated tires on the F350 compared to the F250.

There is a bit more different between the two. The 350 is a 1 ton, 250 is 3/4 ton. 350 has a completely different suspension system to accomindate the weight difference. I believe the brakes are slightly larger on the 350 as well.

[pawpaw]

The fresh water tank on my cf29rk is located very far aft and off sets forward weight without getting anywhere near the trailers maximum allowed gross weight. This might help you.

[hhh]

Originally Posted by salda01

There is a bit more different between the two. The 350 is a 1 ton, 250 is 3/4 ton. 350 has a completely different suspension system to accomindate the weight difference. I believe the brakes are slightly larger on the 350 as well.

The only difference on the 2008 F250 and the F350 is

Rear spring blocks, 2� on the 250 and 4� on the 350.
Extra rear leaf on the 350


Rear axles are slightly thicker on the 350.




Edited by: hhh