My new 5er I am looking at is an '05 Pilgrim 320BH 5SS. 37 feet worth of pure travel trailer beauty! It has a DRY pin weight of a little over 1300 lbs. I am thinking that with it loaded it will be close to 1500 lbs. With my 2500HD is that going to be too much weight on the truck or am I doing ok? I only have a toolbox in the bed that weighs about 150lbs max when I have all of my junk in it.
What about rear end sag and steering control? If it is sitting on the overloads is it going to bounce a lot with that big trailer behind it? What about using helper springs and or airbags? Which is more preferable? Thanks

That pin weight seems awfully light for a 37' trailer, but if that's the correct number, you'll have no problems with it. If you figure that your truck weighs around 7,000lbs, give or take a couple hundred pounds, you will have 2,200-2,500lbs of payload capacity, which includes passengers, fuel, fifth wheel hitch, odds and ends, and pin weight. That should still leave a comfortable margin. Forget about horizonal load pulling ratings, or GCVW. Those are full of puffery. The figure that matters is your TRUCK's rated GVW of 9,200lbs. Stay within that and you're fine. Others have noted at various times that if you add the rated front and rear axle capacities together you get more than 9,200lbs. That's true, but for liability and longevity reasons it is useful to stay within the factory rating. If you need more capacity, you need more truck. The powertrain is not the limiting factor. It will handle well over its rating. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

TC

HB02, first off I like your handle.;) Now let's talk about this 5ver.:rolleyes:

Below is a link to Pilgrim RV's website with specs on the 5ver you are looking at. Keep in mind the RV manufacturers almost always show dry weights before any options are added.:o:

The 320BH-5 model they show doesn't have the SS designator, I'm assuming that means super slide. Is the slide standard equipment on this unit or an option? If it is an option you have to add the slide weight as well. Also, the weights are for aluminum siding with fiberglass caps. If you will have fiberglass sides add that weight as well. Then start adding A/C, awning, and everything that is on your unit that isn't listed as standard equipment. :rolleyes:

Pin weight is shown at 1360lbs, right at 15% of the dry weight. Depending upon where your tanks are located you may see more pin weight. If the holding tanks are in front of the axles figure that weight will be more towards the pin side, OR if over/behind the axles it shouldn't affect pin as much. Best to cover all the bases before signing on the dotted line. ;)

Nice looking rig though. I haven't heard much about the Pilgrim brand so no intel there. Might check on RV.net to see what others are experiencing with this brand if you haven't already. Later. JJ :)

http://www.pilgrimrvs.com/pdf/pilgrim_literature.pdf

I am glad I did my homework then. After talking to Pilgrim and their dealers, I have honestly found that there are no such things as options on these trailers. It comes STANDARD with everything you might consider an option, ie A/C, awning, etc. The 5er I am looking at does have a super slide as standard and fiberglass sides are not available on the Pilgrim line itself (although the Openroad BY Pilgrim has fiberglass sides).

The tanks that are forward of the wheels are 2-40gal greywater tanks (80 gal total!) but I don't ever plan on running with those full or even with much in them. Everything else is just behind the wheels.

The only difference I can figure on pin weight is when I actually get it loaded because there is a lot than can go up in the overbed part due to the bedroom being up there. But it also has a garage in the back that should offset a lot of that forward weight. The wheels are also almost directly in the center of the coach so I think that will help me when I load cause I can play with where I put stuff to help keep pin weight at 1400 lbs or so.

RV.net folks have had nothing bad to say about them at all! They are a great trailer and if you are considering an upgrade I would definitely recommend them for a looksee. They are a great looking trailer with great factory service should anything go wrong (which no one has said they have had anything major go wrong). Even those who have not bought the Pilgrim only did so because they said they got a better deal (cheaper) on a different trailer:confused: . But for what you get with the Pilgrim compared to what I have to option for on another trailer, there is a lot more bang for your buck on the Pilgrim. Better quality too, Ok, enough of that, this was about pin weight.
So when you load your trailer, how much can you expect pin weight to increase with a trailer that is loaded to capacity when it is loaded evenly?

Sounds like you’re all set. I took a hard look at an Open Road TT by Pilgrim. I was very impressed with the construction, fit and finish. There were some features unavailable on the Open Road that I wanted and found on my Arctic Fox, primarily in tankage and cargo capacity, but it was a tough choice and I don’t think I could have made a bad selection either way. Dmaxallitech has an Open Road 5er and I don’t recall any complaints from him.

TC

For stability, no less than 15% of total weight, and no more than 25% (rough figures). There is an issue of pin weight increasing when the brakes are applied. This is not a bad thing for the trailer or handling, but the weight may exceed rear axle weight capacity, which is why you want to be BELOW that number when loaded. It may not break the camel's back the first few times, but.... over tentioned metals deteriorate over time. RF

There is an issue of pin weight increasing when the brakes are applied. RF
Is this because of the weight transfer by the brakes being applied?
So I need to have at least 1750lbs on the truck according to the GVWR on the trailer. So at that pin weight I should be well within the weight rating for the truck. That all makes sense now.

So on that note, what about the use of airbags or helper springs? Are they really needed with that kind of weight on the truck or is it not neccessary? I am just curious because I am worried a little bit about stability.

Haulin,
A rear stabilizer bar (or even a heavier than stock) has more affect on stability with a tall fiver than any other modifications. The air bags, act like overload springs, where when the load gets to a certain weight, the bags (or overload spring) bears the additional weight, preventing the other leaves from being damaged (sagging or breaking). Air bags are much smoother because expansion and contraction of the bags instead of spring compression. They are also used to "level" the loaded truck to same as unloaded, in order to keep the headlights down, and the trailer level for traveling. I used Firestones on my C1500HD and K2500, but did not need them on the C3500. I certainly do not need them on the C5500, but am seriously considering going to air ride...because it makes for a rough ride unloaded. RF