Transcript:
Host:
Wyatt, help me out. What weight ratios do I have to consider when I pull a trailer, when I deal with the fifth wheel, when I buy a truck?
Wyatt Boucher:
So there’s a lot of confusing numbers, especially on trailers and on trucks. You want to make sure that the functionality, what the truck is doing, it’s not overworking the engine, but also you’re not breaking the laws of what it’s capable of doing.
Typically with a trailer such as this and you can see the tag that’s located on the side, you’re gonna have two different or three different numbers that as you’re shopping, as you’re buying and you get this number out of your book you’re gonna say okay I’ve got 7,000 pounds to play with I want to feel comfortable that your truck is capable with this trailer right off the bat.
Host:
Explain tongue weight to me.
Wyatt Boucher:
There’s a difference between tongue weight and payload capacity. Your tongue weight is basically off the end of the bumper where the actual hitch sits, whereas the payload capacity is usually with a fifth wheel and that’s actually on a pin or a fifth wheel hitch into the bed of the actual truck.
Host:
What’s the rough rule of thumb? Do I go to the capacity of the truck or do I go to three quarters?
Wyatt Boucher:
We usually hold it back about 30%. If you’re running 7,000 pounds you want to make sure that
you’re somewhere right around 5,000 pounds in total. Just to make sure you’re safe, you’re gonna be able to drive it where you’ve got to and angle it where you’ve got to.
Weights play a huge importance, especially on your axles. If you don’t get proper braking you can cause accidents pretty quick right.
Host:
There’s a legal factor and there’s a safety factor. What’s important when you consider
these weights your truck might be able to do it, but the big question is should you do it with the truck?
Wyatt Boucher:
Most people are very sensible. They are coming in with the right questions and those are definitely them. How much am I pulling? What’s my vehicle rated for? We find a lot of people that’ll go back to dealers to get the pertinent information. So we have the information for both. We have the information for the trailer and the truck.
Host:
So one phone call to Bucars and then I don’t have to let my head hurt anymore.
And you can make sure I’m both safe and legal.
Wyatt Boucher:
There’s a lot of factors involved so Bucars will definitely have the answer for you.
