For Christ’s Sake! Idiots with Trailers

[r3meyer]

I know when I put my 24' box trailer on the scales at one of the truck stops I was @ 8k.  My Tag Axel bus has a hitch rated for 10k.  However I still don't know the actual tongue weight.  

Still amazes me that people chince on trailer setups.

 

[matt86m]

Sunday's was always fix a trailer day at Glamis Fab!  I sold 2 or 3 of my drop hitches to people just to get them home.

 

[Bldrinker]

You guys realize that damn near every single axle 2500 pulling a fifth wheel toy hauler is over loaded right?  
 

I find it hilarious that if you have 1/2 ton overloaded 1k-2k your an idiot. 
 

But if you have a 3/4 ton over loaded the same amount nobody says a word lol. 

 

[SANDPSYCHO]

Along this same subject, weight your rig. It's to easy not to do.  Get the Cat Scale app (Weigh My Truck) and get it done. You don't even have to get out of your rig. There is never a line and it takes 5 minutes at most, less once you get familiar with using the app.

Download the app, set up your payment method then head to a Cat Scale. Drive up to the scale enter the location code that pops up. It tells you when to pull onto the scale and you get each axle weight on the app.. It also sends you a PDF to your email. Then park your rig our while you're tank is filling at the pump, walk inside to get your certified copy that will be waiting for you. 

It's to easy not to do.

Something I didn't know until I used one is, it is several scales, so each axle sits on a separate scale. Regardless of your vehicle combo you should have no trouble getting each axle on a separate scale. 

Knowing your weight will also let you know how much air to fill each tire. 

I had to weigh my RV to register it, so when I hook up and load up my box trailer for our first trip, I'm going to weigh it all again and I'll be able to figure out what my tongue weight is and my trailer axle weight also what my total trailer weight is.

 

[Sand Shark]

You guys realize that damn near every single axle 2500 pulling a fifth wheel toy hauler is over loaded right?  
 

I find it hilarious that if you have 1/2 ton overloaded 1k-2k your an idiot. 
 

But if you have a 3/4 ton over loaded the same amount nobody says a word lol. 

But they have a diesel!   LOL!

 

[Richard h]

Got to say, the weight will surprise you. Had a 99 f350 extended cab diesel long bed srw and a King of the road 29' 5th wheel with 2 slides. Just a hair over 21K. With all tanks empty and no supplies in trailer

 

[onanysunday]

 

[Bobalos]

Along this same subject, weight your rig. It's to easy not to do.  Get the Cat Scale app (Weigh My Truck) and get it done. You don't even have to get out of your rig. There is never a line and it takes 5 minutes at most, less once you get familiar with using the app.

Download the app, set up your payment method then head to a Cat Scale. Drive up to the scale enter the location code that pops up. It tells you when to pull onto the scale and you get each axle weight on the app.. It also sends you a PDF to your email. Then park your rig our while you're tank is filling at the pump, walk inside to get your certified copy that will be waiting for you. 

It's to easy not to do.

Something I didn't know until I used one is, it is several scales, so each axle sits on a separate scale. Regardless of your vehicle combo you should have no trouble getting each axle on a separate scale. 

Knowing your weight will also let you know how much air to fill each tire. 

I had to weigh my RV to register it, so when I hook up and load up my box trailer for our first trip, I'm going to weigh it all again and I'll be able to figure out what my tongue weight is and my trailer axle weight also what my total trailer weight is.

If you have weight distribution bars, how does it know how to compensate for that??  

 

[Sinverguenza]

Why do weight distribution bars have bolts and not hitch pins? 
 

The ones I have seen maybe 20 of them all have bolts. I don’t use one but my brother in law does. 
 

Reason why I’m asking is because he tows different trailers and they all use the same ball size. When at his house once he was struggling to remove a bolt to adjust his tow ball height ( new to him trailer) and that’s when this thought came to mind. 
He normally pulls the whole hitch off and then insets another hitch when all he would have to do is remove the pins and adjust the tow ball height and done. 
 

why can’t he use hitch pins?

i have an adjustable height hitch with the dual ball size and can pull 12k and it has pins to adjust ball height. 

 

[honEXduner]

If you have weight distribution bars, how does it know how to compensate for that??  

It doesn't, just measures weight on the tires. If you wanted to measure the effects of the hitch setup (tongue/pin weight, distribution %, etc.), you'd have to go across multiple times hooked up differently - there are some good articles out there to walk you through the process. 

Why do weight distribution bars have bolts and not hitch pins? 
 

The ones I have seen maybe 20 of them all have bolts. I don’t use one but my brother in law does. 
 

Reason why I’m asking is because he tows different trailers and they all use the same ball size. When at his house once he was struggling to remove a bolt to adjust his tow ball height ( new to him trailer) and that’s when this thought came to mind. 
He normally pulls the whole hitch off and then insets another hitch when all he would have to do is remove the pins and adjust the tow ball height and done. 
 

why can’t he use hitch pins?

i have an adjustable height hitch with the dual ball size and can pull 12k and it has pins to adjust ball height. 

On many "mainstream" heads, those bolts usually hold the head at a certain angle too for the bars to work effectively so they need clamping ability to hold position (vs just a pin to adjust height). Obviously there are many different variants out there including some newer styles that allow for adjusting like you are talking about.  

 

[Sinverguenza]

It doesn't, just measures weight on the tires. If you wanted to measure the effects of the hitch setup (tongue/pin weight, distribution %, etc.), you'd have to go across multiple times hooked up differently - there are some good articles out there to walk you through the process. 

On many "mainstream" heads, those bolts usually hold the head at a certain angle too for the bars to work effectively so they need clamping ability to hold position (vs just a pin to adjust height). Obviously there are many different variants out there including some newer styles that allow for adjusting like you are talking about.  

Thanks. Was just wondering. 

 

[dbart]

My setup 2018 2500 HD Silverado/ Duramax/ Allison combo, Trailer is 16' Box that hauled my rhino...I'd be curious what I am loaded but it can't be more than 4-5K?

I have been good without Weight Distribution...

If I went to a bigger trailer, I'd for sure get it.

I can't believe what some people attempt to tow and how fast.

Saw a guy on the 5 fwy last week going 70+ in the lane next to the fast lane (#2) with a single axle Box and that trailer was swaying all over the place!

I got the heck away from him...

:simrak:

 

[Rockwood]

Thanks for writing the story.  I think he was already in trouble with the Excursion towing a 32 footer with a 4 seater SxS, and the loading was the straw that broke the camels back.  

Depends on how he loaded it.  My 28' toy hauler with front bedroom was under all ratings for our Excursion.  It's an F-250 with lowering springs and a permanent camper shell. :biggrin:

 

[NIKAL]

I think this was from this weekend in Vegas. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUVE8afNWCW/?utm_medium=copy_link

 

[dbart]

:kenk:  um....hey that didn't really fit.

:lmao:  

 

[Rockwood]

:kenk:  um....hey that didn't really fit.

:lmao:  

 

[matt86m]

You guys realize that damn near every single axle 2500 pulling a fifth wheel toy hauler is over loaded right?  
 

I find it hilarious that if you have 1/2 ton overloaded 1k-2k your an idiot. 
 

But if you have a 3/4 ton over loaded the same amount nobody says a word lol. 

Come'on man, I don't even know its back there. Tows like a dream,,,,

 

[Phoenix7]

Depends on how he loaded it.  My 28' toy hauler with front bedroom was under all ratings for our Excursion.  It's an F-250 with lowering springs and a permanent camper shell. :biggrin:

Thanks for clarifying.  I didn't know that an Excursion was considered an F-250.

 

[Phoenix7]

I think this was from this weekend in Vegas. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUVE8afNWCW/?utm_medium=copy_link

OMG that is crazy!!  It looks like that guy totally lost control.

 

[HEADINJURY]

I'm curious how you know they left a dealer that way?  

So I saw a YouTube video of a couple who rolled their travel trailer……a 23ish footer towed by a damn Nissan Frontier with no weight distribution set up!

I could not believe a dealer would sell them that rig and let them leave without a WD hitch….let alone grossly over the trucks payload and towing rating. 
 

it made me wonder how many unsafe rigs are on the road, so today I made it a point to look. Between the half tons pulling 30 foot travel trailers and the I kid you not 4Runner pulling a 20 foot toy hauler only 1 rig had a distribution set up. A Ram 2500 pulling a single axle Coleman. So 6 rigs total and the only one running a distribution hitch probably didn’t need it. 
 

I am surprise we aren’t seeing more crashes. Honestly I can’t believe dealerships would let these off the lot like this. 

Are you going to answer my question?