Quote:
Originally Posted by Tin
Thankfully I am fortunate enough to have the eyes and ears of both a mechanical and structural engineers with over 40 years experience (both fifth wheel owners) and we are in total agreement with escapes owner's manual as it applies to the 5.0 T/A and the pin weight percentage recommended of 19% to 25% range.
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This isn't a structural issue at all.
Are these people familiar with the empty trailer's mass distribution, and the proportions of the trailer? Is their experience with trailers of the size, proportions, and mass distribution of the 5.0TA... or with trailers that do appropriately run 20% to 25%, even when empty?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tin
The bottom line is as a truck buyer or trailer buyer it is your responsibility to educate yourself and do your own research in order to make an informed decision(car salesmen and trailer manufactures may not have your best interest in mind). With 5th wheel trailers knowing its total weight and pin weight are critical to safe towing. With trucks know its ratings and capacities are just as important, especially when buying for a 5th wheel trailer where Payload means everything.
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I agree
I spent some 'quality' time searching the forum, and found only a single case (before this current discussion) of a 5.0TA pin weight as high as 19%... and that was a case in which the owner noted that it had an unusual cargo load.
So, if the 19% (or 20%) to 25% directive is accepted, then
- Does that mean that every Escape 5.0TA owner with less than 19% pin weight - which appears to be all of them - are wrong and recklessly ignoring instructions for proper operation?
- Is an Escape 5.0TA as it leaves the factory unsafe?
I don't think either is true. A typical 5.0TA in operation (and a base/dry/empty 5.0TA out of the factory) runs about 15% to 17% pin weight, and that seems to be appropriate.