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Truck squat question

SUMRX4
Explorer
Explorer
How much does the rear of your truck squat once hitched and landing gear are up? Never owned a 5er before so just curious.
24 REPLIES 24

handsome51
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2001 ford F250 7.3 diesel with a 8ft bed. I have hewing helper springs on the rear. I have a generator, air hitch,37gallon fuel tank in the bed. When hitched I have a little over 3,100 pounds hitch weight. And when you look at my truck it is just a fraction above level.Been towing my 5th wheel this august for 16 years. And never had a problem.

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
SUMRX4 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you have not owned the RV long just wait they mysteriously gain weight.

So true in many cases and itโ€™s easy to do but the wife and I always try to stay with minimal stuff. If it doesnโ€™t get used at least once every few trips itโ€™s gone. House is the same way.
Plus with this rig I canโ€™t because I realize I can overload my truck if Iโ€™m not careful.


Our RV weighed 18,075# at the factory. Dealer added my 6500 Gen at around 400#. My RV after 6 years weighs 24,000#. Does not seem possible but the numbers don't lie!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
If you are adding 3,160 to your rear axle, you would still be under your RAWR. This would mean your rear springs are capable of carrying that load. I'm sure you know that. ๐Ÿ™‚ If you want to keep the truck, closer to level, additional spring support will do that.

Jerry

SUMRX4
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
If you have not owned the RV long just wait they mysteriously gain weight.

So true in many cases and itโ€™s easy to do but the wife and I always try to stay with minimal stuff. If it doesnโ€™t get used at least once every few trips itโ€™s gone. House is the same way.
Plus with this rig I canโ€™t because I realize I can overload my truck if Iโ€™m not careful.

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
If you have not owned the RV long just wait they mysteriously gain weight.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

SUMRX4
Explorer
Explorer
As loaded currently Iโ€™m at 3,160lbs rear axle difference between loaded/hitched and unloaded

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
rhagfo wrote:
SUMRX4 wrote:
Have a 21 GMC 3500 SRW and a 21 KZ 387FLF. Iโ€™m within my trucks weight limits but just curious what was typical. Having never towed a 5th before I didnโ€™t know what to expect. Iโ€™m considering adding Timbrens just to keep it level.


Well are you sure you are within limits? Have you scaled your TV ready to go with all passengers? Have you weighed the combination?

16,200# GVWR 22% of that puts pin at 3,564#, + hitch, + stuff in bed.


IMHO that is too much RV for his truck!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
way2roll wrote:
Mine squats to level. Not sure the amount, probably 3". Truck beds are a little higher than level to begin with to compensate for a load.


That is EXACTLY how it should ride and at that stance you are on the overloads giving a better ride. Big mistake people make is adding bags and airing truck to ride at the same stance loaded as unloaded.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
ZERO!!!


Show off!!

That is one thing I could not find in a used unit.


I was wondering if anyone was going to call me out on that statement. ๐Ÿ˜‰

YES I have the factory rear air ride system and LOVE it! Top of back corner of the bed is 55" empty and 55" with my 6k pin weight pressing down. Truly an awesome system.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

valhalla360
Nomad
Nomad
rhagfo wrote:
SUMRX4 wrote:
Have a 21 GMC 3500 SRW and a 21 KZ 387FLF. Iโ€™m within my trucks weight limits but just curious what was typical. Having never towed a 5th before I didnโ€™t know what to expect. Iโ€™m considering adding Timbrens just to keep it level.


Well are you sure you are within limits? Have you scaled your TV ready to go with all passengers? Have you weighed the combination?

16,200# GVWR 22% of that puts pin at 3,564#, + hitch, + stuff in bed.


Beat me to it.

If you are up at 25% pin weight, that's north of 4000lb out of the trucks payload.

5ers are usually in the 20-25% range for pin weight.

Of course it depends on how much sag you have. Usually they sit a little high in the rear empty so an inch or two of squat usually just gets the truck close to level. If your headlights are scanning the treetops when loaded, airbags/sumo/timbrens are options to limit squat...this presumes you aren't over the weight limits for the truck.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
JIMNLIN wrote: "Not all LDTs have the same suspension even in lets say a 250/2500 size...even in the same brand."

^^My 250, a good example...It has heavier coils upfront, and an extra spring on rear suspension. It sits fairly level empty, and not much different hitched. May drop an inch or two at most, measured at the top of TG.

Jerry

rhagfo
Explorer
Explorer
Never measured the Ram 3500 DRW, it sits a little tail high with the 5er attached, seems to drop a bit. I think once it starts engaging the overloads it slows way down. Maybe I will measure next time.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

way2roll
Nomad III
Nomad III
Mine squats to level. Not sure the amount, probably 3". Truck beds are a little higher than level to begin with to compensate for a load.
2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS

JIMNLIN
Explorer
Explorer
SUMRX4 wrote:
How much does the rear of your truck squat once hitched and landing gear are up? Never owned a 5er before so just curious.

Not all LDTs have the same suspension even in lets say a 250/2500 size...even in the same brand.
My current 3rd gen 2wd 2500 Dodge/Cummins has no aux rear upper over load spring pack and sags a good 3.5"-4" with 2680 lbs in the bed. Even with 1800 lbs of redi-mix in the bed I still had to add SuperSprings.

Previous 2nd gen 2wd Dodge/Cummins had one more leaf in the main pack and the aux upper over load springs. Same trailer dropped the trucks rear 1.5"- 2".
All dims are my actual tape measurements.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers

'03 2500 QC Dodge/Cummins HO 3.73 6 speed manual Jacobs Westach
'97 Park Avanue 28' 5er 11200 two slides