Ok, get your opinions and recomendations warmed up.
I just purchased a 40 Weekend Warrior 5th wheel trailer. I am attempting to tow it with my 96, 2500, 4x4 Cummins Dodge. I have a factory trailering package but it did not come with the factory contact overloads. I very recently installed Hellwig's four leaf overload packs (3000 lb)

Ok here goes. I hooked up for the first time today and got quite a shock. The truck squatted drastically. I unhooked and tightened the overloads to the max. Still squatting. Besides not holding the truck up the clamp bolt brackets will get into the frame when loaded and make all kinds of fun noises (

I am considering Firestone or Air lift air bags. Our group has five of these trailers including mine. My hith weight is 400 lbs more than the 35 footers. The 35's do not squat the trucks near as much as mine. I believe the hitch weight is 2450 lbs. I haven't even loaded my Land Cruiser into it yet. That definitely will not help the situation.

What are you all doing to compensate and how is it working for you?
Lay some opinions and recommendations on me short of replacing the truck or trailer.

 

Air bags will make your day without ruining your ride when not loaded!

Rick

 

Don't want to rain on your parade, but you have too much trailer for a 2500 and probably would be pushing it on a 3500. Goodluck,,Rick

 

You need to weigh your truck unhitched, then weigh it hitched. I think you will be shocked at your pin weight. Mine is about 3400 with a 36' fiver on a 3500 dually. I am under GVWR by just a little bit. I do not "squat", but sure do come down with that much weight.

 

Hate to say but i agree

The cummins can pull it, its the pickup that isnt enough...

Tx

 

I will not chastise you about "overloading" your truck, here in Oregon we do not pay much attention to GVW. I have the Firestone air bags on my 2004 and am really happy with them. With my slide in lance camper my GVW is 11550 and I can set the rear of the truck above level at 60PSI in the air bags. I do run my tires at max inflation when carrying the camper to keep temps down and stability up. Just finished a 3500 mile trip with no problems at all. I think the bang for the buck and the ease of compensating for variable loads make the air bags a winning solution.
I would think the biggest concern with a 40ft fiver will be CGVW. Could make some of the hills seem pretty steep.

Best of luck

Jim B

 

Well, actually, loading your cruiser up will probably help a little, by putting more weight behind the trailer axles, but most likely not by much.

I hate to say it, But you have a bit much trailer for your tow rig. I wouldn't even pull something that big with mine.

 

You're right . I've delivered these trailers with my dually and wondered what people would haul them with if they even loaded them with a couple of quads and camping gear for a weekend . The engine will pull it . Will the brakes stop it ?

 

Most RV'rs would be shocked at the weight they put into the rv, I was!! Several years ago I was on the way home with a new to me fifth wheel that was completley dry of any fluids,and completley empty in all compartments and inside, for grins and giggles I stopped and weighed the rig, stuck the reciept in the glove box and went home, as summer approached the wife and I cleaned out our old fifth wheel and loaded the new one up, same truck was used and the first time out we stopped and reweighed and I was shocked to say the least. Most of us grossly underestimate the weight we put in these rolling houses if we even think about weight at all !! If the DOT ever cracked down on RV'rs I know with out a doubt for the first year you would see numerous RV's on the side of the interstate unloading thier rigs to comply with the GVW ratings. Goodluck,, Rick

 

Overall the boys are right but I went to the manfacturers site and that is quite a promotional deal, lots of features, pictures and options NO specs. 1st the trailer is a tandem or tri-axle, 2nd what model and axles are in these trailers. The trailer is designed supposedly with the right axles to carry it loaded with cargo which means it's brakes are also engineered to stop it loaded to the same weight. Toy haulers are different than standard 5th wheels to accommadate the concentrated increase in weight behind the rear axle pivot point, this point will change depending on tandem or tri. Add 4000lbs of Toyota behind the rear axles will release more weight than one realizes on the tongue weight. Windyr putting enough air in your air bags to make the truck more than level is also wrong, trucks and trailers perform better loaded "level" equallizing the weights for proper steering and control. Helwig helpers overloaded cause excess stress on the spring hangers and springs as the stress is not allowed to follow the natural path of deflection built into the spring steel. Dual wheels on a Dodge diesel does stabilize the load and has increased spring size but the frame (width and depth) and basic running gear are the same. A dual wheel kit and larger rear brakes will help (GM brake update). The trans is the weak link but can be also updated to handle the load as lots of dually's had trans failures too. We know all this because our camper is mounted on a 24' gooseneck 5th wheel and when the Jeep is on the back it rides way better and my hitch weight decreases by 800-1000lbs. Total gross weight is 20860 with 4 quads and 22,410 with the TJ, axles on the trailer 7000lb- 8800GVW+14000lb= truck trailer GCW 22,800. The only place my unit comes in a little heavy is the rear axle but front and rear are close to the same weights, I use the air bags and no overloads to level the truck. According to Dodge my truck is way over weight with the trailer, according to the DOT Alberta I can haul 2 tons more same combo?? PK

 

I am the fifth one in the group to tow one of these. They tow well and stop well behind the 2500 Dodge. Not only in my group but many-many other people tow these behind 2500's My truck is the only one that squats below level. All the others have factory contact overloads. I chose the Hellwigs (

I found the trailer specs on this site:

http://www.a1warriortrailers.com/slc.htm[/URL]

I am under weight specs towing empty or loaded. I do respect all that you have said and hope to hear more. I know that these trailers should probably be towed with a more appropriate vehicle but the Dodge is up to the task. Well, except for the springs. I purchased a new set of bags today. I am going outside right now and begin the installation.

Oh, almost forgot to ask, what is the GM brake update??

Please keep the information (good or not so good) coming

Don

 

The Dodge drum brakes on the DRW are not that great so some of the guys were updating them to the GM DRW (13x3.5") units which are better. GM also used to make a larger 3/4 HD brake unit to fit that axle on the corporate 14 bolt stock was 12x2.5 and 3" shoes would fit the same backing plate. Search the forums and you can find the info. Looked at the trailer specs amd most of the weight from the Toyota if loaded at the back it is going to settle right over the back 2 axles out of 3 on the trailer. Look to see where the fresh water tank is, the more forward it is located more weight will go directly on your hitch. Check on your tires it should also give you the weight rating at different inflation pressures. I have 235/85 R16 load range E 3042lbs per tire. In the 2003 and newer trucks 3500SRW are rated 1100lbs heavier and the only difference from the 2500 is the overload springs. Hook up the trailer weigh it loaded put enough air in the ride share bags to level the tow unit, unhook the truck and then it will give you the truck weight, the trailer axle weight and the pin weight. Be careful until you are used to it, leave lots of room for stopping until the brake controller is adjusted to stop evenly with the truck. PK

 

Nothing has been said about your tires. If you have a SRW and you do I will bet your are way over the load caps for your rear tires. And not much is said about the stress a 40 footer will place on your side to side sway running down the road. Take it from someone who has done all I can do to a 2500 towing a 36 footer. You are a time bomb with a 40 footer.

DO NOT KID YOURSELF.....

I added two full length leaf springs and rear swaybar and my truck handles my 36' 5er great but my rear tires are maxed out. I still drive with caution.





Do yourself a favor... Under a controlled test. Run your trailer tires off the the side of the road at 40mph and watch see what happens. Now think about doing it at 70 and loaded. Bye-Bye

 

you need a bigger truck. that is all

i played around with a 1/2 ton a 3/4 ton and finally gave up trying to get by cheap with the tow trig and stepped up to the bar and paid the price for the dually

when the forty mph wind hits your forty foot sail you will understand. hope you and your family survive

the difference in stability from a srw to a drw when hauling a load is like night and day

 

With my 1ton I am bellow my limits by 1500lbs fully loaded with the Superlite 30'. My wife liked the full size one better but I did not want to have a bad towing experience my first time out. The full size would have put me 2klbs over my limit after loading it. The way I set it up it towes perfect, even in wind with a semi passing I am rock solid.

I agree you need a bigger truck for that trailer.