Fifth wheel pin weight question

[BRAYDENJT]

Hello, I’m wondering if I take a 1300lbs golf cart on a trailer behind about a 13000lbs fifth wheel with 2300lbs pin weight if it would relieve the pin weight some (the golf cart would be at the very front of the trailer)

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by BRAYDENJT

Hello, I’m wondering if I take a 1300lbs golf cart on a trailer behind about a 13000lbs fifth wheel with 2300lbs pin weight if it would relieve the pin weight some (the golf cart would be at the very front of the trailer)

If you are at 2300lbs of a 13,000lb. trailer you are already a little light on the pin weight. You are around 17 1/2%. Look for around 22% for a good weight.
You will lose some more pin weight, how much, not sure.
For a test, before adding the trailer, figure how much tongue weight you would place on the rear of the 5th wheel. Go and weigh the rig. Add sandbags, equal to the additional weight of the additional equipment in the rear and reweigh.
You should be able to figure out how much pin weight you will lose.

If you are too light on pin weight, you could experience a rough ride with chuckling and maybe excessive bouncing.

[BRAYDENJT]

thanks, I will try that. Do you know how to tell how much pin weight u have besides the manufacture givin number?

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by BRAYDENJT

Hello, I’m wondering if I take a 1300lbs golf cart on a trailer behind about a 13000lbs fifth wheel with 2300lbs pin weight if it would relieve the pin weight some (the golf cart would be at the very front of the trailer)

I expect you pin weight to becloser to 20% of the trailer weight or 2600 lbs based on my experience measure it on a commerical truck scale. However, it is very easy to find out with the cart on and off the trailer what the pin weight is by towing your trailer to a commerical scale and weigh it as follows: with the tow vehicle off the scale weigh trailer with front legs down and rasied off the hitch then subtract the weight of the trailer hitched to the truck.

Please let us kown what you measured.

[BRAYDENJT]

[QUOTE=Camp CA;6346577]I expect you pin weight to becloser to 20% of the trailer weight or 2600 lbs based on my experience measure it on a commerical truck scale. However, it is very easy to find out with the cart on and off the trailer what the pin weight is by towing your trailer to a commerical scale and weigh it as follows: with the tow vehicle off the scale weigh trailer with front legs down and rasied off the hitch then subtract the weight of the trailer hitched to the truck.
Thanks, I was wondering how much my golf cart would decrease it to see if it would be safe or if I should just get a toy hauler

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by BRAYDENJT

thanks, I will try that. Do you know how to tell how much pin weight u have besides the manufacture givin number?

Yes, but it requires you weigh the rig. You can go to a CAT scale at a truck stop or to a scrape yard or a gravel pit, if they will allow you to weigh, for a cost.
Load the rig and truck the way you would for a trip. All of your passengers, animals, fuel in the truck. All of the items in the 5th wheel, food, fresh water, if you carry any, clothes, etc....

Weigh the rig hooked to the truck, drop the 5th wheel, reweigh. Then subtract your axel numbers to see what the pin weight would be. Then you will need to reweigh, after you add the additional weight of the newly added trailer and golf cart to the rear of the 5th wheel. So, a minimal of 3 weights to see what happens.

This would give you a very close number so you can work on pin weight.
Also, one thing you need to consider, is towing a trailer behind your 5th wheel allowed in your state? Plus, don't forget, is it allowed in the states you plan on traveling in as well. Some states do not allow this can of setup. Do your research.

[oscarvan]

Hate to state the obvious but many states have restrictions on triples. Do your homework.

[Old-Biscuit]

Golf cart is going to be a on a 'trailer' connected to receiver on rear of 5th wheel..........Correct?

Then golf cart trailer tongue weight will be 'minimal' and have minor effect on removing Pin weight from 5th wheel king pin

Where did you get the 2300# pin weight and the 13000# 5th weel weight figures?
Published MFG numbers are DRY Pin weights based on DRY trailer weights
If the 13000# figure is GVWR of trailer then WET pin (loaded trailer) will be closer to 2800#
If 13000# figure is the DRY weight of trailer then add the trailers CCC (Cargo carrying capacity) to that number for GVWR


Best thing to do.....load up truck & trailer 'camp ready' and go get weighed
Truck/trailer combo (steer/drive/axle) weights
Truck only (steer/drive) weights

With those weights you can figure Wet Pin weight, truck GVW, Trailer GVW, truck axle weights, trailer axles weight, GCVW etc

Actual numbers provide better information then MFG. numbers, Internet, Forums etc

[Skilletface]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Golf cart is going to be a on a 'trailer' connected to receiver on rear of 5th wheel..........Correct?

Then golf cart trailer tongue weight will be 'minimal' and have minor effect on removing Pin weight from 5th wheel king pin

Where did you get the 2300# pin weight and the 13000# 5th weel weight figures?
Published MFG numbers are DRY Pin weights based on DRY trailer weights
If the 13000# figure is GVWR of trailer then WET pin (loaded trailer) will be closer to 2800#
If 13000# figure is the DRY weight of trailer then add the trailers CCC (Cargo carrying capacity) to that number for GVWR


Best thing to do.....load up truck & trailer 'camp ready' and go get weighed
Truck/trailer combo (steer/drive/axle) weights
Truck only (steer/drive) weights

With those weights you can figure Wet Pin weight, truck GVW, Trailer GVW, truck axle weights, trailer axles weight, GCVW etc

Actual numbers provide better information then MFG. numbers, Internet, Forums etc

X2, assuming this golf cart trailer is one of those single axel light weight trailers, pay close attention to the frame and suspension as they are not designed for tandem operations and the weakest point on that trailer will be the suspension.
I’ve witnessed several failures of this type on the road.

[MandK]

Originally Posted by BRAYDENJT

Hello, I’m wondering if I take a 1300lbs golf cart on a trailer behind about a 13000lbs fifth wheel with 2300lbs pin weight if it would relieve the pin weight some (the golf cart would be at the very front of the trailer)

Simply put, Yes it would. But be careful of your axle weights. Worse case scenario, If you put 500 pounds on the hitch of the 5er and it’s a 40’ 5er with the axles in the middle, it’ll take 500 pounds off the truck and that’ll put 1000 pounds on your trailer axles. If you have 6000 pound axles and your trailer weighs 13000 with 2300 on the truck without the golf cart the axles have 10700 on them. Now add the 1000 pounds to the axles. 11,700, getting close, You can figure it all out with a tape measure a scale and a calculator and you know your specs. Go from there.

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by MandK

Simply put, Yes it would. But be careful of your axle weights. Worse case scenario, If you put 500 pounds on the hitch of the 5er and it’s a 40’ 5er with the axles in the middle, it’ll take 500 pounds off the truck and that’ll put 1000 pounds on your trailer axles. If you have 6000 pound axles and your trailer weighs 13000 with 2300 on the truck without the golf cart the axles have 10700 on them. Now add the 1000 pounds to the axles. 11,700, getting close, You can figure it all out with a tape measure a scale and a calculator and you know your specs. Go from there.

Well tandem axles never act as a true fulcrum, it will place part of the 500# on the trailer axles, and remove a small amount from the 5th wheel pin.

[MtCamper]

When I towed my side by side behind my fifth wheel the first thing I did was a weight and balance on the flatbed trailer. Using a bathroom scale under the tongue jack, I located the SxS on the trailer to give me 15% hitch weight. Then I towed it behind the truck just to see how stabile it was. It ended up being less than 200# and was negligible as far as my pin weight was concerned. You should have no problem with weight but be careful on you turns. If you have a short tongue on the trailer, you can hit the rear of the camper with the corner of the flatbed in a tight forward turn. Find a big parking lot and find out before you hit the road.

[BRAYDENJT]

Originally Posted by hamm2018

Yes, but it requires you weigh the rig. You can go to a CAT scale at a truck stop or to a scrape yard or a gravel pit, if they will allow you to weigh, for a cost.
Load the rig and truck the way you would for a trip. All of your passengers, animals, fuel in the truck. All of the items in the 5th wheel, food, fresh water, if you carry any, clothes, etc....

Weigh the rig hooked to the truck, drop the 5th wheel, reweigh. Then subtract your axel numbers to see what the pin weight would be. Then you will need to reweigh, after you add the additional weight of the newly added trailer and golf cart to the rear of the 5th wheel. So, a minimal of 3 weights to see what happens.

This would give you a very close number so you can work on pin weight.
Also, one thing you need to consider, is towing a trailer behind your 5th wheel allowed in your state? Plus, don't forget, is it allowed in the states you plan on traveling in as well. Some states do not allow this can of setup. Do your research.

To be clear as far as I can see triple setups are legal in the state im in (louisiana) and where I would be traveling (Texas) or (louisiana)

[hamm2018]

Originally Posted by BRAYDENJT

To be clear as far as I can see triple setups are legal in the state im in (louisiana) and where I would be traveling (Texas) or (louisiana)

Great, so no worries on that issue. When you have your weights, please post the numbers and the weigh sheets.