Something I Don’t Understand.

[JohnWedell]

I took the cat scale numbers from my last trip to Florida and plugged them into the spreadsheet I made for the new ram I ordered. The trailer axle rating is 2000 pounds under and the truck gross vehicle weight rating and rear axle weight rating are both 2000 pounds under. The pin weight is 3700 pounds and the trailer is over weight. Since the pin weight sits in the truck why is it counted as trailer weight and is it not counted as cargo weight and relied on the truck to carry and stop that weight. This is what I don’t understand, if somebody does please clue me in. thank you

[mass-hole]

The trailer’s frame/structure still has to contend with the 3700 lbs weight. The truck is just holding it up via the hitch.

[SkyBound]

Pretend that your 5th wheel has its own front axle instead of a pin. The axle would be carrying the weight that your pin actually is. The imaginary axle is part of the unit and its weight thats being carried, plus the weight that the real two axles are carrying, combined is your total trailer weight.

Now instead of an imaginary front axle, slip the back end of your truck under it to act as that axle. The weight is still there as part of the trailer, but it's just pushing down on your truck instead.

[norty1]

The trailer axles only share the amount left over when the tongue weight is subtracted. Either the truck or the front landing gear bear that weight.

[RedHorse1]

I have a similar spreadsheet that I maintain as a “work in progress” since I seem to come up with changes that I incorporate as I think of them. I Noted the version you shared a couple of days ago and plan to download and compare our calcs, never too old to learn. ��
Nice work!
As to your Q, I’d explain it like this; your 5th weighs “X”, part of that weight is on the axles and part is on the pin. You can get both weights from the Cat Scale and added together they are the GVW.