3500 dually pin weight exceeded

[garyg]

I pull a 40ft 5th wheel trailer behind a 2011 GMC 3500 dually, diesel, denali crew cab. On my last trip I did weight measurements at a truck stop and determined that I have exceeded the maximum pin weight specified for the truck. I have not reached limits for any other towing weight limits.

Total trailer weight = 15,900 lb. (17,000 lb limit in owners manual)
Pin weight = 3780 lb. (3500 lb limit in owners manual)
Total trailer, truck, cargo weight = 26,000 lb. (29,200 lb limit in manual)
note: 5th wheel hitch is rated to 18,000 lb.

Acceleration, braking (we have disk brakes on the trailer) and ride is satisfactory while we tow the trailer.

QUESTION: Should I be concerned about exceeding the pin box weight limit by 300 lb? Are there any modifications to the truck which can/should be done because of this weight?

 

[Bryce418]

I had a customer that was having launch shudder issues with a trailer of similar weight and distribution. While discussing the issues he was having we noticed the excessive pin weight. All of the engineers said they weren't concerned with a couple hundred pounds overweight.

 

[hondarider552]

As long as your not over the rear axle weight limit, I wouldn't be worried about it.
3700 lbs is a bit of weight, but the dually will handle the weight better.


How did you figurte the pin weight? Weigh the truck by itself, then hook it up and weigh it and see the rear axle weight differences?

 

[blacktruck]

How do you figure it?

How do you figure your pin weight? I know how I would but I'm curious here about how you are coming up with that number. Where do you find it listed regarding the maximum pin weight? Is that a specified by the hitch manufacturer? My truck has a max payload listed and a max GVWR but no pin weight. Your pin weight could be the same as the max payload if you have nothing else in the bed of the truck. I would think the numbers you posted would be good but I'm away right now and don't have the manual with me. Is there a way to reload the trailer to better distribute the weight. I wouldn't be worried about a few hundred pounds but maybe by reloading you could eliminate the problem.
Just a thought anyway.
Stay safe out there.
Ken

 

[hondarider552]

Most trailers say the pin weight but can be wrong.

What I did on my LBZ, was go weigh truck truck by itself, loaded. Then go hook up the trailer full of everything your going to need, water etc, then go weight it again, and see what the weight difference is from the unloaded to loaded strictly on the rear axle. That will give you a pretty close pin weight. There will be 1-300 lbs more on your front end as well.

 

[nuffsaid]

If you really want to know where you are with weight, you need to weigh each axle as you go across a scale starting with the front axle all the way to both trailer axles. When I scale my 2500 fully loaded pulling my 5er with a trailer behind it, I have 4500 front axle, 6700-7000 rear axle and 4800-5000 on each of the trailer axles. My rear tires are only rated for a total of 6600, so I am a little over, but adding an extra 5 lbs of air to the tires works good enough until I burn some fuel and the weight is back within limits. On a dually, you have a huge cushion, I wouldn't be worried at all.