looking at the spread sheet the op posted I think he is fine shape whichever is chosen. The 5th wheel king pin wt is likely closer to 20% but getting on the scale is the tell all.
As long as the truck is under the FAWR and RAWR and tires are within max load at max psi, then it is time to go camping.

 

As adults, we are ALL allowed to make those decisions....but YOU weren't the guy asking what we thought about the three choices he posted, He was! Do you think he would have posted the original post if he already knew the answer? So we, as forum members offer our opinions and actually try to inform/educate someone when they ask a question like his. So, FTLOG, get off my *** for trying to help!...... Which, so far has been a lot more than you have offered in this thread!!!

 

"trying to help" is one or two suggestions. In this one thread you posted 6 times. Excessive?

 

I don't believe I've ever seen anywhere in the forum rules what defines "excessive".....I guess you are in charge of making that determination. You've posted a grand total of TWO times in this thread, so I guess that is your ""trying to help" contribution....neither of which offered even one word of advice to the original poster. At least some of us contribute in a positive manner, whether you like or agree with it or not.

 

I think the pin weight in the spreadsheet is off by at least 1000#. 15880 GVWR trailer and a 988# pin? Even using the 13% in the spreadsheet would be 1000# heavier than that. Using a realistic pin of 2500 - 3000#, the truck is 1500 - 2000# overloaded.

 

I think you have misread the spreadsheet info. The 15880 lbs is the GCVWR.....NOT the GVWR.

 

I see. Those weights are much better then! BTW, I'd rather be at 100% of payload with a 5th wheel than 80% of payload with a tagalong. Those who have towed both can attest to the difference. If you are pushing the limits of a tagalong, a hensley arrow or ProPride 3P are VERY helpful.

 

OK, I get it. Big difference between 'COULD' and 'SHOULD". i'm a big boy who is responsible for my own actions and consequences.

Back on topic.
backtrack2015 - I'm right there with you. I have no desire to pull a 30ft+ 'anything' down the road. the issue for me is 5 bodies. We wanted dedicated sleep areas, less wear and tear by constant configuration changes to accommodate a murphy bed. Unfortunately, that's very difficult to find with our current weight limitations. it is what it is.

2009kr - I'm trying like mad to find a 5er that is within specs and meets our needs because of the difference in towing a TT and a 5er. And I've come close.............like REALLY close.

Grand Design Reflection 290BH
I've seen two numbers for Trailer GVWR (10,195 and 9,998) so lets assume trailer is loaded to 100% capacity with trailer GVWR at 10,195.
IF I use the generally accepted 25% rule to estimate GVWR PIN weight (2,549)...........I would be 1,030 lbs. over Truck GVWR and 220 lbs. under truck rear GAWR.
IF the MFG estimated UVW PIN weights are accurate (15%) and I use that percentage to project estimated GVWR PIN weight (1573).........I would be 53 lbs over truck GVWR and 1200 under truck rear GAWR................COME ON!!!!!!!! 53 lbs...........REALLY?????



53 lbs................doesn't get any closer than that

Maybe I can leave the wife at home.......

 

 

Wouldn't the extra 'stuff' you added account for the extra 70 lbs? If that is the case, are you saying that GD's numbers are probably pretty close?

i'm not sure what the reality is of loading the trailer to 100% capacity but I know 'stuff' adds up quickly.

IF PIN really is 15.43% of trailer GVWR is accurate, then I would be fully legal at 95% capacity.
If PIN is closer to 15.00%, i'd only be 9 lbs over at 100%.
Anything above that and I start to get nervous. 25% is probably a no-go for me.

53 lbs............
That's like 7 gallons of gas....at 10 mpg, I'll burn that off pretty quickly.
How much does that factory exhaust system weigh?
Who needs a spare anyway
That bull guard, who needs that? i'm not going to go camping in a cow field....

 

I felt that the advertised GD pin-weight number was very close. As you said, the crap I added could easily add 70 lbs to the pin.

I can see it now, you'll be carrying around bits of the truck (spare tire) in the rear-most storage compartment of the fiver.

Edit to add: The loading really depends on the family and the purpose... to get the trailer livable, my wife added 211 lbs of permanent stuff, I added 208 lbs of permanent stuff, and I added a 110 lb MORryde pin box. We might take 100 lbs of food/water/clothing with us when we go (one or two nights at a time as a family of four). That adds up to 519 lbs of cargo + 110 lbs of "modification" over the unloaded dry weight. My cargo capacity is ~1700 pounds. Thus I still have roughly a 1000 lbs before I hit GVW for the trailer. I don't know how you pack or what you're planning to do, this is just an example.

 

flysniper wrote:
In my opinion, there is no reason to calculate a pin weight at either 15% or 25% for a 5ver. The generally accepted number is 20% and that of course can change a little with the actual trailer. But for estimating, go with 20%. So 20% of the GVWR of the GD is going to be in the neighborhood of 2040 lbs You will never see a 15% number on a 5ver for pin weight, so you might as well put that number out of your head. The manufacturers had no idea how someone is going to load their own personal trailer, so generally they will give you a pin weight for an empty trailer because....well.....it's empty when they sell it. You will still be over your payload capacity, as this is just the trailer, and not the 5ver hitch passengers, and all the other things we talked about earlier.

That Grand Design is a beautiful trailer.....I can see why you like it.

 

That in itself is misleading to people as many triple axle toyhaulers will be at 15% or BELOW, loaded. I know you are talking about 5th wheels, but making generalizations like that is what has derailed the thread to begin with.

 

Someone mention my name?

 

Case in point!!!