Weighed the Pinnacle

[F350guy]

I know this may mean nothing to most but I like reading this kind of stuff so thought I would post my numbers. I weighed the truck first and then went back to the scales with the Pinnacle attached. This was Sunday evening after we had loaded most everything we own for our month long trip to the Colorado Rockies, which by the way is on hold this morning in Goodland, Ks waiting for the winter storm to abate somewhat. We have winter clothes, summer clothes, hiking stuff, a full pantry, fridge and freezer and a third full fresh water tank for traveling. In addition, when we bought it we had a Splendide washer/dryer installed along with a Reese Goose box exchange for the pin, which weighs 220 pounds by itself.

My actual pin weight is 3160 compared to the 2445 dry posted weight by Jayco for my model. The axle weight is 11,620 which Jayco lists at 10,280. Total weight is 14,780. My Pinnacle has a 15,500 GVWR.

For my truck, with the Pinnacle attached, I have 5180 on the front axle and 6700 on the rear. Ford rates my front axle at 5600 and the rear at 7230.

We did 550 miles yesterday and averaged 11.0 mpg on the monitor. We've had way too many rv's in the past 40 years and this may be the best matched combination we've ever had. Really rides nice. Now, back to staying warm, which so far is being managed nicely by the heat pumps and the fireplace.

[Rustic Eagle]

Jim,

Great scaled 'ready-to-camp' weight information....., many folks don't realize how fast loaded weights can add up, especially compared to published weights (web site, brochure, etc.).

If you get a chance feel free to post your loaded 'Pin Weight' over at the "What's Your "Scaled" Tongue/Pin Weight?" thread here:

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...t-57188-4.html

Bob

[Slurugger]

Good to know your numbers before you go.

Regarding your comment about how the combination works together, can you share some of your past setups that didn't tow as well as this one? Mainly, I'm curious if some of your previous setups were short beds and how much better the longer bed makes towing a large fifth wheel?

[F350guy]

We changed from a diesel pusher motor home to a 2013 Excel Winslow, a 35' 5" rear kitchen model with a 17,500 GVWR, 3100 hitch weight, 13,200 on the axles for a total of 16,300 fully loaded for another month long trip.

Our first truck was a 2012 GMC 3500 crew cab short bed with 2wd. Miserable tow for 2 1/2 years. Lots of chucking, bucking even after adding a set of AirLift bags to the rear and better shocks. My hitch was a B&W Companion. Changed to a 2015 GMC 3500 dually crew cab 4X4 in 2014 and at the same time bought a Trailer Saver BD3 air ride hitch and that pretty well took care of the ride issues. It could still be rough riding under certain conditions, like bridge joints, but was acceptable. In 2017 I sold the GMC and got a Ford F350 crew cab dually. It gave us a little better ride than the GMC but still could be rough under some conditions. When I say rough I mean when it would buck due to uneven pavement it would take a few cycles for it to settle down.

We then decided to get a new fifth wheel and I wanted a single rear wheel as duallies just are not my thing. Got the truck in December and the Pinnacle in May. I pulled the Excel a few times with it and it actually rode better than either of the duallies but would still buck. After we got the Pinnacle I could not believe the difference. I finally decided the Excel with its rear kitchen was too heavy in the rear and too light with the pin. I think that contributed heavily to the bucking, no matter what truck we had.

I won't ever know how well the Pinnacle would tow with a short bed, probably fine, but with this combo if there is a buck due to a bridge joint or whatever, it only happens once and is not bone jarring. I kind of did not want a long bed this time but to get Ford's 12,400 GVWR it has to have the longer wheel base. Plus, it has a 48 gallon fuel tank compared to a 34 on the short beds.

[klassic]

Great post.
I’ve been eyeballing the 32RLTS.
The DW wants a shorter trailer.

[Jakeman]

Thanks for posting. This excellent info. I finally weighed in loaded yesterday. After several tries and getting the rig loaded properly and a full tank of fuel in the truck this is where we are:

2020 Eagle 317RLOK
2015 GMC 2500HD /Duramax
Crew cab standard bed 6'6"
Super Glide hitch
Front axle: 4820 / GAWR 5200
Rear axle 5900 / GAWR 6200
Puts me at 10,720 for GVWR which is 720 lbs over spec.
Pin weight is right at 2400
Entire rig is at 20,100 which oddly enough puts the Eagle under the weight it specs at 12,900 max

Note: Because of the way we travel, we never haul water and since the truck is used almost exclusively to pull the 5th wheel I put timbrens on it vs air bags.

The unit rides and handles perfectly. Never pulled a 5er but already know I'll never go back to bumper pull.

Now if one of you pros could teach me how to back up properly, I'm all set.

[rkymntsno]

This is my first 5'er and let me tell you, at 42' it is long. The 355mbqs stats say the pin weight is 2500 lbs. When I went to the scales pin weight was at 3100 lbs. Which I'm fine with as our Ram 3500 SRW has a payload of 4200 lbs. Still under both front and rear axles. It's amazing what you find out when you actually go to the CAT scales!

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by rkymntsno

snip...... It's amazing what you find out when you actually go to the CAT scales!

X2

Bob

[F350guy]

I forgot to say my total weight is 23,500. The GCWR for my truck is 30,000 so very good there also. Most trips we will be loaded somewhat lighter.