tow rating for truck compared to trailer

[John Diesburg]

Is there a rule to follow as to the trucks tow rating compared to the 5th wheel I want to pull so I do not stress the truck too much on long driving days or mountain driving?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Hi @John Diesburg , engineers rate things (all things) and list max ratings. They expect that one will run those things at 80% of those ratings over extended time lines. any time you run at more than 80% you shorten that things life. Its good that you consider this in choosing vehicles, I commend you.

 

[John Diesburg]

Thanks so very much Kevin. Exactly what I’m looking for.

 

[John Diesburg]

So I imagine that if my truck is rated for 12200 lb that I should stay below 9760 lb with everything loaded including my weight then . Is that right? or is it 80% dry weight? And I have a payload capacity of 3600lb . Thanks again. John

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Payload is truck gvw and trailer and truck is gcvw. and yes you are on track. You should work with two numbers. When loading trailer you do not include un-sprung weight.(axle, wheels, and tires). But the truck has to haul those things, so are considered in the gcvw.

 

[Gizmo]

Trucks are rate by the manufactures to pull TT and 5th wheels with minimum tongue/pin weights. Real quick a TT is rated at 10% or 1000 pounds for 10,000 pound TT but they can as much 15% and that would be 1500 pound tongue weight. Now a 5er rated with 15% pin weight so 10,000 5er would have a pin weight of 1500 pounds but I have never seen a 5er with a 15% pin most 5ers are closer to 23 to 25% depending on the floor plan. That same 10,000 5er would weigh around 2300 to 2500 pin weight.

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