Manipulating the hitch %

[StarGazer]

What's the ideal pin weight to be at? Too heavy and it takes a big chunk out of payload and too light causes other issues, right? Im going to be weighing in at CAT scale but just wondering what % I should be aiming for. I suppose the ideal % is one that leaves you with the most payload but too light is no good either. So what's the magic number?


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[jsims]

My towing manual states that the gross trailer weight should be distributed so that the tongue weight is 9% to 11%. (Tongue weight / Gross trailer weight x 100 = 9% to 11%)

[need-a-vacation]

Star,

For 5vers as I understand it you generally want your pin weight to be about 20% +/-.

Jsims,

For a travel trailer you generally want ~12-15% tw. For an open trailer ~10% is usually sufficient to prevent sway.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by StarGazer

What's the ideal pin weight to be at? Too heavy and it takes a big chunk out of payload and too light causes other issues, right? Im going to be weighing in at CAT scale but just wondering what % I should be aiming for. I suppose the ideal % is one that leaves you with the most payload but too light is no good either. So what's the magic number?


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Since you are referring to pin weight I assume you are meaning for a 5th wheel setup. As I recall the recommended pin weight range would be 15-25% of the loaded trailer weight. With a bumper pull the range is 10-15% and I think most would say it does better closer to the 15% than the 10%. It might be similar for the 5th wheel and do better in the 20-25% range.

[StarGazer]

Yes I'm referring to a 5er. I don't pack much as I'm mostly just an extended weekend camper but wasn't sure of the downfalls of having the pin weight being too light. To preserve more payload I would want to distribute my packing up more toward the rear of the trailer which shifts weight off the pin.


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[goducks]

Can't really have too heavy of a pin weight unless your trucks too small. Too light of a pin weight or loading lots in the rear will causing chucking. Won't have the sway issues of an under pin weight like that of a TT with too light of a tongue weight. It's the ride that suffers when the pins too light.

[StarGazer]

Well I'll be under all my ratings with the new fiver fully loaded even though I never come close to that. But I'm going to hit the CAT scale right out of the dealership to see just how much wiggle room I actually have. Then I suppose it's just trial and error to see what feels best while pulling.

Would be nice if the dealers had scales right on site to figure all that out before signing on the dotted line.


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[3'senough]

15% would be ideal, but there are many factors that play into that such as length from axles to pin, storage locations, front arrangement of living qtrs and so on.

Mine is in the 20-25% category.

Cat scale will give you good data to start with for sure.

[Flapper]

Also, with a 5th, it is very hard to move the percentage very much. You'd have to be carrying lead or gold bars (or livestock) in the bedroom or on the bumper. You can get the total weight up a lot, but getting it distributed so that it has a greater or lesser proportion on the pin is pretty hard. My water tank is in the rear, so I usually travel with full water just to help with pin weight. It doesn't get me much. But since I am close to the line, I figure every little bit helps.

[StarGazer]

Payload will be the only cap that I get close to so managing that will be what I'm concerned with.


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[Sledgehammer]

I'm at 17% on my fiver. It pulled great and never any chucking at all behind my 01 f250, but with my DRW 3500 Ram I get chucking on the bumps and it drives me CRAZY! Hopefully the Mor/Ryde pin box that I got today helps, or im gonna try getting to 20% and see if it changes anything.