Aluminum Wheel Weight Ratings - Montana Owners Club

Montana_4924 · 03-01-2006, 06:52 AM

Who out there knows anything about Aluminum Wheels on a 2006 Montana 5th Wheel 3400RL?
GVWR = 13,960#
Empty Camper WT. = 11,580#
60 Gal. Water @ 8.3#/Gal. = 498#
Propane = 60#
Each Axle Ratedd @ 6,000#

Marked on inside of aluminum wheels (need tire off to view) they are stamped (16 x 6J ETO WT = 3,042# NZX China DOT-T D89 are these wheels going to break or bend with weight in excess of 3,042#??

If so 3,042# x 4 tires = 12,168# is the total weight allowed on our 5th Wheel RV. With the empty Wt. of our camper @ 11,580# this only gives us a leeway of 588# minus LP gas, Minus 60 Gal. water, Minus Battery @ 46#, Minus Washer/Dryer Combo @ 161#. This puts us on an overload of these wheels by 177#. If we put food, clothes and personal belongings aboard, I'm guessing 300#. Now we are over 477# divided by 4 wheels = 119#.

Will these aluminum wheels total their self when going over a very bad bump in the road with this overload?

Another question, why is this 5th wheel GVWR = 13,960# when the aluminum wheels will only handle 12,168?

Is this "Out of Sight Out of Mind" by Keystone? Do you know what your RV Wheels are rated at?

I would feel much safet if all 4 wheels were the same as the spare wheel which is a painted steel DOT T 16x6K 0305 MAX. 3,750# JG/JCA CHINA. These aren't as great to look At compared to a shiny aluminum wheel but the rating is beyond the GVWR of our 5th Wheel!

ARE WE SAFE OR UNSAFE???

steves · 03-01-2006, 07:09 AM

I wonder if you need to subtract the pin weight from your base # of 11,580 to get the true load on each wheel?

richfaa · 03-01-2006, 07:16 AM

Will watch for the answers...we ordered steel wheels.

cs413 · 03-01-2006, 10:13 AM

Well something's not right. There have been a lot of threads on the aluminum wheels. I have one at the dealer right now waiting on the rim from Keystone. Developed a leak on the driver rear tire on the inside around the rim and it's not the tire. This seems to be a bad pattern. Told the dealer 2 weeks ago planned to take a short trip 3/2 and really want the replacement especially since now I have no spare. Well didn't arrive today and probably won't before next week. I'm still going tomorrow. Just a 100 mile round trip. It looks kind of silly with 3 aluminum wheels and a spare. Plus the center piece that covers the wheel hub falls off the spare so the hub's exposed. But I treasure my time away in the Monty, so I am outta here.

Curt

lightningjack11 · 03-01-2006, 12:31 PM

The weight on your wheels is equal to the trailer wt minus pin wt. Some of the pin wts will get close to 2700 depening on model.

In your case you have a GVWR of 13960. The pin wt will vary depending on load but if you figure 1800 then 13960 - 1800 = 12160 for the wheels. Divide by 4 and you have 3040 per wheel. Not much safety margin. But that is the way the industry operates. When they say 13960 they mean just that. Exceeding it is at your on risk. Make sure you keep your rig weighed when fully loaded. It only takes a few minutes at most truck stops and runs about 7 bucks. Stay below the 3042 even if you have to shift wt to your pin.

Weigh your truck only fully loaded with baggage etc. You will get front and real axle readings.

Then weigh your truck and trailer together. You will get readings for truck axles and trailer axles.

The difference between the truck axle readings is your pin wt. Your total trailer wt is equal to Pin wt plus the trailer axle readings.

hope i said this right

Montana_4397 · 03-01-2006, 12:36 PM

Steves had it right. Your truck carries your pin weight. The remainder is carried on the axles. You have 6K axles and your wheels are spec'd just slightly above your axle capacity. By adding your published pin weight and your 12K combined axle capacity, you have your gross capacity.

Best Regards, Ted

Wrenchtraveller · 03-01-2006, 01:21 PM

Anything you load in your trailer ahead of the axles will increase your pin weight and that is why
you can go over your truck's GVWR if you load your trailer heavy to the front.

Most 3/4 tons pulling Montanas will be over the trucks GVWR before they are over the axle ratings
and the aluminum wheels are equal to the axles in load carrying capacity.

ejc1214 · 03-01-2006, 02:41 PM

Just my 2 cents worth.
I have a 3475RL and when I weighed it I found that my Monty's axles only had 10,220lbs on them with just about what I want carry plus 1/3 water. I have aluminum wheels with hi-gloss sides. That gives me about 2550lbs per tire. The 3400RL should be about same, I would think.

Montana Sky · 03-03-2006, 12:08 PM

On my 3400RL I have 11,250 lbs on the rear axles, 2,100 lbs on the kingpin for a total of 13,350 lbs gvwr.

rickfox · 03-04-2006, 02:48 PM

Same goes here.

The trailer axles are speced at 6,000# each, or 3,000# on each tire. Depending on the tire used, its maximum load rating will also be around 3,000# - for example the LT245/75R16 which used to be used on the trailers - were rated at 3,042# each.

It's right in line that the aluminum wheels would also be speced at 3,042#.

As some of the other posters commented, 3/4 ton TV's will typically reach the rear axle max. load, and be well over the TV GVWR before the trailer axles, tires, and wheels will reach their limits.

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