Pin Weight Percentage

[JandC]

I have crunched these numbers several different ways after my last two trips across the scales. Came across this site/formula which gave me my Pin Weight Percentage.

http://www.towingplanner.com/ActualW...WheelCatScales

After entering all my numbers from my most recent scale tickets, I end up with 23.6% Pin Weight.

I am slightly over on GVWR, which I think I have made some adjustments and possibly taken care of that.

What is the most desirable Pin Weight percentage? I have read it should be in the 20% to 25% range, is that correct?

[jhudson]

From my last weighing my pin is 3400# and percentage is 23 percent. I too run the same unit, one year older, and was over my GVWR also by 280 pounds. I also have taken care of the issue. With the amount of storage on these rigs very easy to "fill" them up. As to your question, I believe the desired pin weight is just like your stated...20 -25 percent.

Jay

[robebeckl]

What was your pin weight ?

[JandC]

quote:Originally posted by robebeckl

What was your pin weight ?

My pin weight is just under 3,600.

[1retired06]

3600 seems a bit heavy? Keystone web page shows 2815 as the heaviest hitch weight for any of the floor plans.

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

3600 seems a bit heavy? Keystone web page shows 2815 as the heaviest hitch weight for any of the floor plans.

Pin weight can be effected by how you load a trailer, but I agree, 3600 seems high. Our 3675 was 2925 when weighed at the rally. Maybe they had their winter clothes in the closet?

[Art-n-Marge]

A residential fifth wheel can be 18% to 25% since much of the storage areas are forward of the front axles. A utility trailer (horse, cargo, car trailer, etc.) can be less or about 15% since there isn't as much bulk in the front of the trailer. No one's numbers seem out of line. I am between 19% and 20% which is lighter than what most of you have measured but I probably don't carry as much stuff as you folks and manage weight thusly.

The biggest concern is whatever the percentage, it's carried by the TV and it's the TV that must be watched closely. I was originally overweight over the rear axle and the gross weight until I converted my F-250 to F-350. Getting air bags was not the legal way to solve this problem. The process was a long story, but legally done per California law, even though there are those who might still argue otherwise. It's been a while since I last weighed and I should get back to the scale and reconfirm especially since we now full-time, but we have been VERY careful NOT to add much over what was our typical non-full-time trip.

[JandC]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

3600 seems a bit heavy? Keystone web page shows 2815 as the heaviest hitch weight for any of the floor plans.

Our paperwork listed the 2815 pound hitch weight for the 3725RL.

Don't know if that included the second air or not. I know it did not include a side-by-side washer/dryer, a pantry full of groceries, king bed with full storage under, closet full of stuff, and stored items in the front and side basement areas. All of the aforementioned added weight is forward of the axles, therefore will add to the listed factory "dry hitch weight".

Actually, now that I think about all that extra weight in front of the axles I am surprised my pin weight isn't closer to 3800 pounds!

[1retired06]

So what is the pin weight capacity for your 350 SRW?

[Hooker]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

So what is the pin weight capacity for your 350 SRW?

It's on the number of the Tire and Loading Information sticker for total cargo capacity. That number is for total cargo capacity, including PW and anything else is in the truck.

[Irlpguy]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

So what is the pin weight capacity for your 350 SRW?

The pin weight "capacity" of any TV is determined by what the sticker on the driver side door shows as the GVWR of that particular truck. For instance on my 2012 Dodge DRW long box extended cab the GVWR is 12,300. When I load my truck with "all" that I will carry in it loaded and ready to go I subtract that figure from the GVWR and I am left with a number that tells me what I can carry without exceeding the GVWR of my particular truck. In my case the truck loaded with my tool box, generator, hitch, wife, myself and dog and full of fuel weighs 8884 lbs that leaves me the ability to have a pin weight of 12,300 - 8884 = 3416 lbs.

My actual pin weight determined by first weighing the truck fully loaded but not hooked up, then weighing the truck hooked to my 5er loaded and ready to go was 2799 lbs. The remaining load capacity after weighing the truck loaded 3416 - 2799 leaves me with 617 lbs that I could either add to the pin weight or the cargo weight of my truck without exceeding it's GVWR.

The factory installed tires, axle rating and springs are somehow used to determine the GVWR of each truck.

When I enter the information from my scale ticket into the link provided it gave me the same numbers I had determined using simple math. However it gave my the percentage of pin weight based on the overall weight of the trailer, nothing to do with the truck. My percentage was 18.3%. I do not care what the percentage is as long as I do not exceed the GVWR of either the truck or trailer axles.

Depending on the type of trailer, you could conceivably have a "pin weight" of 50% with the other 50% being carried by the trailer axles. As long as the pin weight did not exceed the GVWR of the truck it makes no difference what the percentage is.

JMHO

[Art-n-Marge]

I thought I had read somewhere that one should not exceed a pin weight of more than 25% of a gross weight or the front part of the trailer around the pin might start having structural problems. With as often as I've read about frame flex and this even happens when the ratings are not exceeded, I'd certainly not try and go over 25%.

Otherwise, I agree with IRLP that it's not the percentage of the pin weight, but the actual weight number and that it does not exceed any of the rated points (especially rear axle, gross vehicle or trailer or combined weight rating of the TV).

[Hooker]

quote:Originally posted by Irlpguy

The pin weight "capacity" of any TV is determined by what the sticker on the driver side door shows as the GVWR of that particular truck. For instance on my 2012 Dodge DRW long box extended cab the GVWR is 12,300. When I load my truck with "all" that I will carry in it loaded and ready to go I subtract that figure from the GVWR and I am left with a number that tells me what I can carry without exceeding the GVWR of my particular truck. In my case the truck loaded with my tool box, generator, hitch, wife, myself and dog and full of fuel weighs 8884 lbs that leaves me the ability to have a pin weight of 12,300 - 8884 = 3416 lbs.

My actual pin weight determined by first weighing the truck fully loaded but not hooked up, then weighing the truck hooked to my 5er loaded and ready to go was 2799 lbs. The remaining load capacity after weighing the truck loaded 3416 - 2799 leaves me with 617 lbs that I could either add to the pin weight or the cargo weight of my truck without exceeding it's GVWR.

The factory installed tires, axle rating and springs are somehow used to determine the GVWR of each truck.

When I enter the information from my scale ticket into the link provided it gave me the same numbers I had determined using simple math. However it gave my the percentage of pin weight based on the overall weight of the trailer, nothing to do with the truck. My percentage was 18.3%. I do not care what the percentage is as long as I do not exceed the GVWR of either the truck or trailer axles.

Depending on the type of trailer, you could conceivably have a "pin weight" of 50% with the other 50% being carried by the trailer axles. As long as the pin weight did not exceed the GVWR of the truck it makes no difference what the percentage is.

JMHO

The sticker noted above still gives you a max cargo capacity regardless of GVWR. It's different for every truck.

[Art-n-Marge]

Good point, Hooker.

My experience has also shown that the actual max cargo capacity on a sticker or user manual will probably be different for every truck since so many things can affect the weight that is left over for cargo. Pin weight is just one of those things that add to the cargo weight. You can have two trucks that sit side by side and look virtually the same but have different weight capacities from the sticker because something as simple as custom tires and wheels can make a difference.

[Phil P]

Hi

We pull ours at a total trailer weight of 15,500 lbs the trailer is rated at 15.909 Lbs.

At 15,500 with the water tank full and all of our “stuff” we need we are at 23,350 Lbs gross. This is within 150Lbs of the maximum GCWR for the TV. The Dutamax DRW 4 door cab and long box when the fifth wheel is mounted in the location specified by GM you will be very near the front axle limit if you exceed the TV capacity the front axle will be overweight while the rear axle will still have a lot of capacity left. This is in reference to the GCWR of 23,500 lbs the newer vehicle is rated at 30,500 lbs so I don’t know anything about how that one works out.

Phil P

[egregg57]

Good discussion!

[dieselguy]

Since we seem to be so enamored by weight ... here's a handy little webpage. http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-...eight-fw.shtml
There are 4 different weight calculators to be clicked on top middle page.

[Artemus Gordon]

I have read tons of these discussions. Two things I believe remain true, correct me if I am wrong! Air Bags do not change towing/ hauling capacity. Second, the entire GVWR and other calculations are based on many factors, including but not limited to brake size and size of all shocks/springs?

[jfaberna]

Since I retired, I don't do complicated math. I burnt out my math brain during advanced differential equations in college. So for me I took the maximum percentage I heard which was 25%. On my Monty with a GVW of 15900 lbs, I rounded to 16000 and got 4000 lbs pin weight. The Ram 3500 I picked with a 3.73 rear could take a rear axle load of 6000 lbs. So even with my fat butt in the truck I should be good and no trips to the scales are planned. I'm sure I'm not at 16000 yet.

[MHC305RL]

Both of my truck manuals (2006 F350 DRW, 1992 Ford F150) show that the only thing that changes towing capacity is gear ratios. Once you have looked up your particular truck (1/2 ton, 3/4, 1 ton, SRW, DRW, body style, engine, etc.) then nothing except gear ratios change the towing capacity. Not air bags, G rated tires, etc. Will it make it tow better? Maybe/Probably. But it WILL NOT make you legal if you end up in court because of a wreck. Just buy enough truck.