Weighed RV and truck this weekend

[Paule]

18800 pounds, truck full of diesel and maybe 15 gallons of water in RV tanks. Also had a 2 ft high row of firewood behind the cab. Everything else is typical cargo... 2 adults, dog, food, cloths, tools, chairs, folding tables etc..

RAM specs say I can be 25300 lbs total and tow 17020. Cossoads says trailer can be 11622 lbs.

If I assume Ram truck weighs 8700, loaded, then trailer should be about 10100 lbs. If I fill fresh water...add 400 lbs to est 10500 lbs.

I should be good, right? Am I missing anything?

[rcflyer]

Originally Posted by Paule

18800 pounds, truck full of diesel and maybe 15 gallons of water in RV tanks. Also had a 2 ft high row of firewood behind the cab. Everything else is typical cargo... 2 adults, dog, food, cloths, tools, chairs, folding tables etc..

RAM specs say I can be 25300 lbs total and tow 17020. Cossoads says trailer can be 11622 lbs.

If I assume Ram truck weighs 8700, loaded, then trailer should be about 10100 lbs. If I fill fresh water...add 400 lbs to est 10500 lbs.

I should be good, right? Am I missing anything?

What is your pin weight percentage?

With a 10,000 lb trailer you should have about 2500 lbs of pin weight.

[Dayle1]

When you weighed the combo, you should have obtained individual axle weights. What is your truck's rear GAWR, most likely around 6100 lbs for a 3/4 ton truck. This is usually the 2nd most problematic rating for diesel trucks towing fifth wheels. Also, in the case of diesel trucks, usually the axle is not the limitation, but the tire/wheel package. So, if you are under the truck's rear GAWR, then you are good to go.

The most problematic rating, however may be the truck's GVWR. If it is around 9200 lbs, then you may be over that number. If it is 10k lbs, then you are ok. Many 3/4 ton diesel combos exceed the truck's GVWR, especially when the GVWR is the lower number.

Anyway, you need more numbers to know for sure. But just for grins, your truck probably weighs 7k lbs dry. Trailer is 8500 lbs dry with a 1500 lb pin weight. So, if you load the trailer to 10.5k lbs, the additional 2k lbs at 20% would increase the pin weight from 1500 lbs to 1900 lbs. This would put the truck at 8900 lbs without considering other cargo/passengers in the truck, so it would be ez to exceed a 9200 lb GVWR.

[Paule]

Rear axle was 5650 actual vs. 6000 lbs truck rear GAWR. Tire/wheel package rates 6500 lbs. Thanks, I Would not have looked at tires. FYI, trailer axles weighed 7960 and my truck front axle weighed 5190.

If you add Ram's front and rear axles, you get 11750 vs 10000 for GVWR. Going to Google that now, lol.

[Dayle1]

Originally Posted by Paule

Rear axle was 5650 actual vs. 6000 lbs truck rear GAWR. Tire/wheel package rates 6500 lbs. Thanks, I Would not have looked at tires. FYI, trailer axles weighed 7960 and my truck front axle weighed 5190.

If you add Ram's front and rear axles, you get 11750 vs 10000 for GVWR. Going to Google that now, lol.

Only big rigs and maybe motorhomes are rated such that the GVWR is equal to the total of the GAWRs. Guess the manufacturers don't feel that the average Joe can deal with too many variables and will try to put the full GVWR on a single axle. However, I am surprised that you have exceeded even a 10k GVWR since you are at 10,840 lbs. As I stated many 3/4 ton diesel setups exceed the truck's GVWR. In some states, you can license your truck for a higher GVWR you want, if you are willing to pay for it. In fact new car dealers frequently under license trucks. 3/4 ton = 1500 lbs, so for example if your dry weight is 7000 lbs, they will register it for 8500 lbs, the cheaper fee makes the total selling price look a little better to the buyer. Anyway, you may be able to re-license for the full 11750 lbs., just depends on what your local DMV says. Otherwise, just stay under both GAWRs and you may be OK.

[denviola]

I had a Dodge 2500 diesel 4 door long bed with 4wd. It ended up with a class 3 license in PA due to weight, which was 7200 # without me in it. The dealer told me the 2500 diesel actually had the 1 ton axles (both) and front (only) springs due to the extra weight of the Cummins, and a separate repair shop I use told me the same thing. The rear springs were 3/4 ton, and I ended up using the Firestone air bags with no issues. This info is a few years old, however and may or may not be true. Friends with gas 2500s same brand often commented that the ride in mine was rough compared to theirs, but seat of the pants data has limited value. Just food for thought.
Denny

[jakesz28]

Originally Posted by Dayle1

Only big rigs and maybe motorhomes are rated such that the GVWR is equal to the total of the GAWRs. Guess the manufacturers don't feel that the average Joe can deal with too many variables and will try to put the full GVWR on a single axle. However, I am surprised that you have exceeded even a 10k GVWR since you are at 10,840 lbs. As I stated many 3/4 ton diesel setups exceed the truck's GVWR. In some states, you can license your truck for a higher GVWR you want, if you are willing to pay for it. In fact new car dealers frequently under license trucks. 3/4 ton = 1500 lbs, so for example if your dry weight is 7000 lbs, they will register it for 8500 lbs, the cheaper fee makes the total selling price look a little better to the buyer. Anyway, you may be able to re-license for the full 11750 lbs., just depends on what your local DMV says. Otherwise, just stay under both GAWRs and you may be OK.

When I went to register my 3/4 ton I looked at the door tag and title and was going to register it for the 9800 lbs I think it was rated at. The lady working the counter argued that I did not have to register it that high and I think she only registered it for 6000 lbs.She said since it personal use and not a business I would be fine.

What's funny is I know a DOT cop and when he saw a picture of the new trailer he said you better not be registered for only 6000 lbs. Then laughed at me when I told him the story of registering it.

[Paule]

When purchasing here in WI, I did not have plates to transfer. Dealer suggested I register at the larger class. My plate has a small "c" On it.