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time2roll
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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GaryS1953 wrote:
Trailer Specs
Hitch Weight 663 lbs
GVWR 9463 lbs
Dry Weight 5777 lbs
Cargo Capacity 3212 lbs
Vehicle Specs
4WD:
Double Cab, 5.8 V8
9600 lbs / 4354 kgs – 5.3L (3.42 axle)
I would count that as 9463 trailer and the truck is maxed out. Drive and adjust your expectations accordingly. How much does the rear sag once fully connected to roll? May need to tighten up the distribution bars if the rear drops more than a couple inches.
Anything in the bed?
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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GaryS1953
Michigan
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Joined: 05/26/2009
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valhalla360 wrote:GaryS1953 wrote:
Cat Scale
Combination 12520 lbs
Camper 5980 lbs
truck 6540 lbs
Any further help is appreciated.
CAT should have gave you weights per axle. What were those with and without the trailer hooked up.
Also, something isn't making sense with the camper weight. If the empty weight is 5777, that would imply you only have about 200lb in the trailer. Batteries and propane would add that much. Did you take the trailer & truck loaded as if you were going camping? No sense getting weight data that doesn't match what you will actually be towing.
The guy gave me two slips, and they ARE confusing. The first one says: Steer Axle 00
Drive Axle 6540
Trailer Axle 5980
Gross Weight 12520
The 2nd sheet says: Steer Axle 00
Drive Axle 840
Trailer Axle 5860
Gross Weight 6700
This WAS confusing to me. I asked the guy to explain, and he said the Drive axle was the truck, and the trailer axle was the trailer weight. I didin't realize the numbers on the 2nd sheet were different until I got home. The more I think about it I think the truck and trailer numbers might be reversed, and that would make more sense. The curb weight of the truck is supposed to be 5209, and the dry weight of the trailer should be 5777. I do have stuff in both the truck, and the camper, but all the tanks were empty, and we had removed a lot of our stuff right after we got back from camping. I'm guessing there's about 300 to 400 lbs of odds and ends in the basement and the pantry and bedroom.
Gary in Michigan
2014 Chevy Silverado 1500 Double Cab 5.3 Liter V8
1996 Coachmen Catalina RB210 21' Fifth Wheel
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GaryS1953
Michigan
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Joined: 05/26/2009
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time2roll wrote:GaryS1953 wrote:
Trailer Specs
Hitch Weight 663 lbs
GVWR 9463 lbs
Dry Weight 5777 lbs
Cargo Capacity 3212 lbs
Vehicle Specs
4WD:
Double Cab, 5.8 V8
9600 lbs / 4354 kgs – 5.3L (3.42 axle)
I would count that as 9463 trailer and the truck is maxed out. Drive and adjust your expectations accordingly. How much does the rear sag once fully connected to roll? May need to tighten up the distribution bars if the rear drops more than a couple inches.
Anything in the bed? On the camping trip we had a fair amount in the bed, I'm guessing close to 600 lbs, including my fifth wheel hitch, which I had left in because I still have it and need to move it. I took it all out, and it's now empty. That did seem to help a little, but the front of the truck still feels light and less controllable, though it doesn't seem to buck quite as much now. The rear of the truck sags by 1 and half inches when hooked up.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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GaryS1953 wrote:valhalla360 wrote:GaryS1953 wrote:
Cat Scale
Combination 12520 lbs
Camper 5980 lbs
truck 6540 lbs
Any further help is appreciated.
CAT should have gave you weights per axle. What were those with and without the trailer hooked up.
Also, something isn't making sense with the camper weight. If the empty weight is 5777, that would imply you only have about 200lb in the trailer. Batteries and propane would add that much. Did you take the trailer & truck loaded as if you were going camping? No sense getting weight data that doesn't match what you will actually be towing.
The guy gave me two slips, and they ARE confusing. The first one says: Steer Axle 00
Drive Axle 6540
Trailer Axle 5980
Gross Weight 12520
The 2nd sheet says: Steer Axle 00
Drive Axle 840
Trailer Axle 5860
Gross Weight 6700
This WAS confusing to me. I asked the guy to explain, and he said the Drive axle was the truck, and the trailer axle was the trailer weight. I didin't realize the numbers on the 2nd sheet were different until I got home. The more I think about it I think the truck and trailer numbers might be reversed, and that would make more sense. The curb weight of the truck is supposed to be 5209, and the dry weight of the trailer should be 5777. I do have stuff in both the truck, and the camper, but all the tanks were empty, and we had removed a lot of our stuff right after we got back from camping. I'm guessing there's about 300 to 400 lbs of odds and ends in the basement and the pantry and bedroom.
That's even more confusing. I assume the 2nd sheet is the truck weighed without the trailer hooked up but the first ticket shows the truck weighing less (6540 vs 6700).
When you weigh the truck there should be at least 3 pads. You want to get the steering axle on the front one, the drive axle on the 2nd one with the trailer on the 3rd pad. This will give you each of the truck axles and the trailer axle (combined).
Then reweigh with just the truck so you get two additional axle weights.
Stripping stuff out of the rig before weighing will confuse the issue. The water tank can easily be 300-400lb, add in a few hundred in other gear...that can easily shift the hitch weight by 3-5% or push the truck over it's payload limits.
Watch a couple videos on "how to weigh rv at CAT scale" on youtube they will give you a better idea of how to do it and what the results should look like.
Tammy & Mike
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2021 Gray Wolf
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Durb
NW
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Joined: 01/15/2016
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GaryS1953 wrote:Durb wrote:Your truck's keester is still squatting 1.5" with your weight distribution hitch set up. I would apply more tension to the bars by tilting the hitch head down and transferring more weight to your front tires. Try to get your rear measurement to 37.25". Wouldn't hurt.
The problem with air bags is that it hardens the rear suspension creating a fulcrum. Adding weight (tongue weight) far behind the rear axle creates a lever and will cause your front axle to unload. The reason your 5th wheel of almost equivalent weight didn't have the same effect is because the weight was directly over the rear axle.
I assume you weighed the truck with the trailer attached and also weighed the trailer's axles. It would be nice to know what the truck weighs without the trailer attached to help determine your tongue weight. If your axles come in at 5,980 and you have 12% tongue weight, then your trailer weighs 6,795 pounds with 815 pounds of tongue weight. Starting to get kind of heavy for a half ton truck.
I'm not sure I understand about putting tension on the bars by "tilting the hitch head down". I have a Curt 17601 weight distribution hitch with integrated sway control. I don't know how I would tilt the hitch head, but I could raise the height of the equalizing/sway bars, which obviously would put more tension on them. Is that what you meant?
Thanks, Gary
Search Curt 17601 on Google and an installation video will come up, or copy and paste this URL. (https://youtu.be/ki7Z_FtfFEY). They show how to adjust the two adjustment screws on the hitch head to tilt the bars down thus increasing spring tension.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Joined: 05/06/2013
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valhalla360 wrote:GaryS1953 wrote:
Cat Scale
Combination 12520 lbs
Camper 5980 lbs
truck 6540 lbs
Any further help is appreciated.
CAT should have gave you weights per axle. What were those with and without the trailer hooked up.
Also, something isn't making sense with the camper weight. If the empty weight is 5777, that would imply you only have about 200lb in the trailer. Batteries and propane would add that much. Did you take the trailer & truck loaded as if you were going camping? No sense getting weight data that doesn't match what you will actually be towing.
Tongue weight was on the truck weight….
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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JRscooby
Indepmo
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Joined: 06/10/2019
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GaryS1953 wrote:
The guy gave me two slips, and they ARE confusing. The first one says: Steer Axle 00
Drive Axle 6540
Trailer Axle 5980
Gross Weight 12520
The 2nd sheet says: Steer Axle 00
Drive Axle 840
Trailer Axle 5860
Gross Weight 6700
This WAS confusing to me. I asked the guy to explain, and he said the Drive axle was the truck, and the trailer axle was the trailer weight. I didin't realize the numbers on the 2nd sheet were different until I got home. The more I think about it I think the truck and trailer numbers might be reversed, and that would make more sense. The curb weight of the truck is supposed to be 5209, and the dry weight of the trailer should be 5777. I do have stuff in both the truck, and the camper, but all the tanks were empty, and we had removed a lot of our stuff right after we got back from camping. I'm guessing there's about 300 to 400 lbs of odds and ends in the basement and the pantry and bedroom.
This is the fault of internet. We tell you to weigh with and without the trailer, but just assume you will know how to use scale. I'm sorry.
The Cat platform is divided into 3 sections, normally with blue lines around each. When you pull on you should park with one line under the TV, so front axle is on 1 segment, rear on 2nd, and trailer on 3rd. Parked like that each time you weigh the ticket will have 4 numbers; STEERING,(=front axle) DRIVE,(=back axle of TV) TRAILER, (=the trailer axles) and GROSS (=total weight of unit) The pass w/o trailer the 3rd segment will read 0
With all those numbers we can figure out what adjustments need to be made. Subtract Gross w/o trailer from gross with it, you have weight of trailer. Subtract what scale reads as Trailer from that number, you have tongue weight. Is that percentage in the 10-15% range?
Comparing DRIVE weight to ratings on rear tires, are tires overloaded at 35PSI? (BTW, I have never seen factory recommend tires on 1/2 ton be maxed out on sidewall labeled pressure)
Weight on front w/wo tells how much the TW is subtracting from front. Is that enough to cause issue?
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Not confuse something so simple, even more, but assuming you’re correct with what your stated dry weight and gvw of the trailer is, then it is really an overbuilt trailer or it’s a toyhauler.
As the vast vast majority of “normal “ travel trailers don’t have 3000lbs ccc. If that’s the case you likely have a substantial/heavy tongue weight. And if your truck is only settling 1.5” over the rear axle, then you probably have the wdh setup just about right.
And since you never complained, thru the mass confusion here, of trailer sway, you certainly don’t have a light tongue weight. Combined with the fact that the greater the tongue weight, the greater the bucking effect and greater effect by contraction jts in concrete highways.
^All this above predicated on the weights you gave being correct.
While you’ve still not provided much for meaningful numbers or feedback, all points lead to there is no problem but you could help yourself with some real tires and stiffer rear suspension, maybe.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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PS
You didn’t use the scale correctly and had your whole truck on the drive axle pad for #1 and whatever #2 is, is useless.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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The scale operator should have instructed you on what to do to get proper weights. He just took your money.
Fender measurements are almost as good as weights. 1-1/2" of squat in the rear is FINE. You don't need to be at unloaded ride height. The truck is designed with 2" of rake to ride level while having a load in the back.
The most important measurement is the front fender. You need three measurements. One unhitched. Two hitched withOUT the bars attached. Three hitched WITH the bars attached. You are missing measurement #2 here.
The ideal range for measurement #3 is halfway between measurement #1 and #2. Closer to #1 is better.
Are the bars easy to install? If so they are NOT doing their job.
Quote:
Truck Measures without hooked up
Front 35.75"
Rear 37.75"
Truck Measure after hooked up
Front 36.00"
Rear 36.25
You are only .25" off in the front so you should be transferring PLENTY of weight, assuming you measured in the exact same location both times.
Putting 10-ply tires on half ton trucks since aught-four.
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