Payload question

MichaelL

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Jul 20, 2021
Messages
112
Location
Michigan
I currently tow my 260RD with my F250 super cab gas.
F250 has a payload of 3463 lbs
260RD - UVW 7872, GVWR 9995, approx KING PIN weight 1999.
According to my calculations I have approx 665 lbs of payload in hand

So looking at replacing my 260RD with either 295RL or 303RLS
The 295RL - UVW 8992 LBS, GVWR 10995, approx pin weight 2200 lbs
Again my calculations show approx 463 lbs of payload in hand

The 303RLS - UVW 10,000 lbs, GVWR 11995, approx pin weight 2399 lbs
Again my calculations show I have approx 198 lbs of payload in hand.

My calculations include 2 passengers 350 lbs, truck cargo 300 lbs and hitch 215 lbs

So my question is, is my F250 within a safe payload margin of these 2 new 5th wheels I am looking at?

We travel light, so my truck cargo value is probably on the high side, and maybe also the king pin weight.

Opinions welcome. Thanks
 
Your calculations and guesstimates are based off of a 20% of the GVWR of each of those trailers. That may or may not be actual, as you are likely aware of. Many times, a 5ver camping trailer will go over the guesstimate of 20%.....sometimes 21, 22, or even more. So do the math on each of those on say...22% of the GVWR and see where you end up at. Also remember that the GVWR number may be something that you almost never load the trailer to, or it may be a fairly regular loaded weight. Only you know how much or how little you are going to load it....and only you know how much of the "expected" weight of 865 lbs you are going to have in the truck already when you go camp.

In my case, of a 2018 Momentum 394 with a GVWR of 20,000 lbs, the highest number that it has been loaded is just under 19,000 lbs. My pin weights will obviously vary depending on how and what is loaded in the garage. Some things in my garage area make every single trip, but other things vary from trip to trip. An example is are we taking two motorcycles with us on a trip, or are we taking our bicycles instead of the motorcycles

I know my answer probably isn't exactly what you wanted to hear, but again, only YOU know what, how much, and where you are going to load stuff.
 
Since you know how much weight you added to the pin of the 260RD then just transfer that over to the new 5er.
 
Since you know how much weight you added to the pin of the 260RD then just transfer that over to the new 5er.

That was a thought I had, would that work? Go weigh the 260RD with all camping gear for our next trip, then reweigh empty. A lot of work as nearest weigh station is 30 miles away.
 
That was a thought I had, would that work? Go weigh the 260RD with all camping gear for our next trip, then reweigh empty. A lot of work as nearest weigh station is 30 miles away.

Don't you have a UVW sticker? It should show the pin weight from the factory. You says its 1999 now?
So you've added around 800 lbs to it?
Thats the way I'd move forward. My last 5er I only added about 500 lbs to the OEM dry UVW stickered pin weight. I used that when browsing for another. It's all ball park but closer than assuming 20,21,22%, etc. Of course just using the new 5er's GVWR and 25% would cover all speculation. But in the real world it's not that way.
 
Don't you have a UVW sticker? It should show the pin weight from the factory. You says its 1999 now?
So you've added around 800 lbs to it?
Thats the way I'd move forward. My last 5er I only added about 500 lbs to the OEM dry UVW stickered pin weight. I used that when browsing for another. It's all ball park but closer than assuming 20,21,22%, etc. Of course just using the new 5er's GVWR and 25% would cover all speculation. But in the real world it's not that way.

Yes the trailer does have UVW sticker, but to my knowledge it does not show factory pin weight.
The value of 1999 lbs for the pin weight, is my calculation. It is probably way off.
 
According to how you pack!

I currently tow my 260RD with my F250 super cab gas.
F250 has a payload of 3463 lbs
260RD - UVW 7872, GVWR 9995, approx KING PIN weight 1999.
According to my calculations I have approx 665 lbs of payload in hand

So looking at replacing my 260RD with either 295RL or 303RLS
The 295RL - UVW 8992 LBS, GVWR 10995, approx pin weight 2200 lbs
Again my calculations show approx 463 lbs of payload in hand

The 303RLS - UVW 10,000 lbs, GVWR 11995, approx pin weight 2399 lbs
Again my calculations show I have approx 198 lbs of payload in hand.

My calculations include 2 passengers 350 lbs, truck cargo 300 lbs and hitch 215 lbs

So my question is, is my F250 within a safe payload margin of these 2 new 5th wheels I am looking at?

We travel light, so my truck cargo value is probably on the high side, and maybe also the king pin weight.


pinions welcome. Thanks

My 303 RLS fully loaded for a couple week trip had a pin weight of 2280. I also have a hitch rack that I carry an ice chest full of water bottles, so that unloads the front weight somewhat. All that to say, it is according to how you load it. Your F-250 will work fine as long as you don't load all your weight in the front of the camper. JMO
 
My 303 RLS fully loaded for a couple week trip had a pin weight of 2280. I also have a hitch rack that I carry an ice chest full of water bottles, so that unloads the front weight somewhat. All that to say, it is according to how you load it. Your F-250 will work fine as long as you don't load all your weight in the front of the camper. JMO

Thanks for the info. Also looking for a hitch rack for the same reason.
 
To get the actual pin weight, find a Cat scale. Load up the trailer; water, propane all the kitchen stuff, food if possible, all the stuff in the basement. Get that weight. Then unhitch and get back on the scale for a re-weight. Subtract the rear tire weight. That'll be your actual pin weight. The re-weight is at a discount. All the numbers you get will be useful as well. Happy trailering!
 
I currently tow my 260RD with my F250 super cab gas.
F250 has a payload of 3463 lbs
260RD - UVW 7872, GVWR 9995, approx KING PIN weight 1999.
According to my calculations I have approx 665 lbs of payload in hand

So looking at replacing my 260RD with either 295RL or 303RLS
The 295RL - UVW 8992 LBS, GVWR 10995, approx pin weight 2200 lbs
Again my calculations show approx 463 lbs of payload in hand

The 303RLS - UVW 10,000 lbs, GVWR 11995, approx pin weight 2399 lbs
Again my calculations show I have approx 198 lbs of payload in hand.

My calculations include 2 passengers 350 lbs, truck cargo 300 lbs and hitch 215 lbs

So my question is, is my F250 within a safe payload margin of these 2 new 5th wheels I am looking at?

We travel light, so my truck cargo value is probably on the high side, and maybe also the king pin weight.

Opinions welcome. Thanks

Only you can decide if they are within your truck's capability. We towed a 35ft, 14K fifth wheel with the signature truck for 7 years. Technically over payload but under axle ratings. Towed just fine, no issues.
I'm not advocating going over limits, just giving my .02 cents. YMMV
Rich
 

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