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  1. #1
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    Does anybody else "cheat" by loading all their gear into the rear of their RV?

    We just ordered a Solitude 373FB-R. I've been losing sleep the past few days worrying about exceeding the payload rating of our 2016 GMC 3500 SRW Duramax truck. The obvious solution would be to buy a DRW but it wouldn't fit in our garage and that's a show stopper for me. I won't get into all the numbers unless somebody asks but it looks like I would be 16lbs under our truck's (stickered) payload rating if we load all of our gear at or behind the rear axle while traveling to and from our winter home. We just unloaded all the junk from the Reflection we just sold and we think this plan is do-able.

    Does anybody else go to this extreme to stay within their truck's payload rating?
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

  2. #2
    Rolling Along backtrack2015's Avatar
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    I guess I wouldn't plan on going any lower than a pin-weight of 15% of the actual loaded trailer weight. That's my 0.02 from reading here and there about fifth-wheel stability complaints.

    EDIT: I just checked that one out on the GD website. Wow! That is a beautiful unit.
    Last edited by backtrack2015; 09-04-2018 at 03:24 PM. Reason: compliment
    2017 F-350 CCSB 6.7L
    2021 Micro Minnie 2100BH
    previously - Reflection 28BH, Intech Pursue

  3. #3
    Long Hauler howson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bertschb View Post
    ...but it wouldn't fit in our garage
    I'm impressed your SRW fits in the garage! My (previous) 250 wouldn't even fit vertically, let along length-wise.

    When you tow the Solitude you'll soon experience for yourself whether it is OK or not. If the trailer is in charge (and not the truck) your objection to no garage may change. (I had family in Haines, so I am well aware of your winters!) If your experience towing is uneventful (and you can stay within all the numbers) I expect you'll be fine.

    Did you account for the weight of the hitch, too? I don't have a 5vr, but those hitches look heavy.
    2017 Ford F-350 DRW 6.7L Platinum
    2019 315RLTS (purchased 16 Jul 18 from Campers Inn RV in Byron, GA)

  4. #4
    Big Traveler JCZhome's Avatar
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    As far as your trucks weight goes, you have to take into consideration the weight of the driver, passengers, dogs, fuel and everything else that's placed in or on that truck from it's "dry" weight. I don't know how far you're towing but then you might want to consider do you really want to drive with your truck maxed out all the time.

    Like Howson mentioned, I'm impressed the any F-350 will fit in a garage.
    SOLD my 2017 Momentum 376TH being pulled by a 2014 Ford F-350 Lariat, FX-4, Crew Cab, Longbed, Dually. Not pulling the 5er, catch me on my 2013 CVO Harley Ultra Classic.

    Map = states that we've stayed at least one night in our RV.

    http://visitedstatesmap.com/image/AR...TNTXUTWYsm.jpg

  5. #5
    Big Traveler Txfivver's Avatar
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    My F250 SB fits in my garage at my townhouse by about 6 inches total. I love having it inside in the crazy Texas weather. I would love the long bed room and 1 ton payload but that can wait until I retire in a few years!
    2019 Solitude 375RES Onan 5500 Splendide W/D Samsung res. fridge
    2020 Ford F450 Platinum dually 6.7L 4:30 gears
    B&W Companion for Ford puck system 20K lbs
    Jeff

  6. #6
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    I've got multiple spreadsheets to track all the weights and I've used multiple calculators online. I've run the numbers until I'm dizzy. Yes, I'm including the hitch, myself, my wife and the few things we have in the truck as part of the payload calculation.

    My SRW barely fits in our garage. I actually had to cut out the inside wall for it to fit. The bumper goes into that cut out with about 3" to spare in front. That's after I set my parking brake so the truck doesn't roll forward when I put it in park.

    I'm pretty sure I won't be close to 15% pin weight and if so, I can move stuff forward.

    We tow 1,000 miles to Palm Springs in November and 1,000 back to Oregon in April. The thing that makes it's soooooo difficult is knowing I only need the max towing capabilities of my truck for 2-3 days per year. The only other towing I do is my enclosed RZR trailer and a boat and they don't weight much compared to the 5th wheel.

    Our 3500 SRW has no problem whatsoever towing our Reflection with a pin weight of 2,900. If we tow with all our gear aft, I'm estimating the pin weight of our 373FB-R at 3,150. Not a huge difference although the 373FB-R will weigh more overall.
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

  7. #7
    Site Team Second Chance's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by backtrack2015 View Post
    I guess I wouldn't plan on going any lower than a pin-weight of 15% of the actual loaded trailer weight. That's my 0.02 from reading here and there about fifth-wheel stability complaints.

    EDIT: I just checked that one out on the GD website. Wow! That is a beautiful unit.
    15% is WAY too low for a fifth wheel - that's upper end for a travel trailer ("bumper pull"). I wouldn't get below 20% for stability and safety.

    Brian - if you load the 373FB-R to capacity, it should put about 3,860 lbs. on the pin. What's the left-over rear axle capacity on your truck per the scales (full fuel, occupants, hitch, etc.)?

    Rob
    U.S. Army Retired
    2012 F350 DRW CC LB Lariat PS 6.7
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes,
    Sailun LRG tires, solar, DP windows, W/D
    (Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
    Full time since 08/2015

  8. #8
    Site Sponsor Rapid1's Avatar
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    Yes, as Rob asks, what are the TV axle weights with the trailer ready to tow, loaded correctly (20%+ on the pin). Trying to load the trailer to unload the pin is completely the wrong direction to go. That is unsafe...far more unsafe than exceeding the yellow sticker by a few pounds.

    If you aren't comfortable exceeding the yellow sticker in the door, get a new truck. Otherwise, as long as your axles/tire weights and gross combined weights are not exceeded and it pulls well, I wouldn't worry about it. That said, you do what you need to do...but too much weight aft of the axles will get you in all sorts of trouble, just driving straight down the road.

    I know this from experience by towing a Ferrari Testarossa up to Oregon from Phoenix AZ. I took a 1 ton dually down there with a friend's race car trailer...when I loaded the car, because it was so wide in the back, it wouldn't go past halfway because of the wheelwells inside. At 40mph leaving the store, it would sway so bad it was undriveable. But, I had already spent the budget on fuel getting there and I was not about to go home without the car...Home Depot to the rescue...a pallet full of decorative rock later, loaded thru the door in the front of the trailer, it was balanced enuff to get it home. Very expensive trip and never, ever again, will I get in a situation like that. A front loaded trailer will still tow well, within limits, of course, but extra weight in the back is a demon.
    2018 Reflection 303RLS
    2006 Chev 2500HD Duramax CC/SB/4X4
    Superglide2700 Bakflip F1

  9. #9
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rapid1 View Post
    Trying to load the trailer to unload the pin is completely the wrong direction to go. That is unsafe...far more unsafe than exceeding the yellow sticker by a few pounds.
    If I'm not exceeding the truck's GVWR, GCWR, max towing weight and payload nor the trailer's GVWR, why would it matter if I shift weight from the front of the RV towards the rear to lower the pin weight? If the pin weight is still at 21%, how can this be dangerous??????
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

  10. #10
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Second Chance View Post
    ...Brian - if you load the 373FB-R to capacity, it should put about 3,860 lbs. on the pin. What's the left-over rear axle capacity on your truck per the scales (full fuel, occupants, hitch, etc.)?
    We won't be anywhere near loaded to capacity. I should be about 1,700lbs under GVWR. The left over rear axle capacity would be about 350lbs.

    Remember, these are all estimates at this point as our new Solitude was just ordered last week. I have good numbers from our Reflection. I know how much all our gear weighs and I know how much the washer/dryer/propane and batteries weighed. The only thing I don't know is the exact weights of our yet to be built 373FB-R.
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

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