We have never had a fifth-wheel but with TTs, there is always a hitch wt. of, I think, 10 to 15% of the GVWR. So, we looked up what the hitch weight "should be" for a fifth-wheel and it said 15 to 25% of the GVWR if I remember correctly and I know it was at least 15%. Now I noticed that both Scamp and Escape had a weight lower than 15%, about 11% with the Scamp and about 6% with the Escape. Now, it has been awhile since I had math but I think I did the computations correctly. Both of these are single axle so I could not find a stick built to compare with but I did find an Allen camper similar in size, more or less, to the Escape with the GVWR being only 100 lbs more on the sticky and the difference in hitch weight being 500 lbs on the sticky and 275 lbs on the Escape. So, I'm confused! Could the single axle be the difference that would make this make sense? * I got my figures from the current RV Buyer's Guide and my % estimates from a couple of different websites. Might they mean the UVW? Thank you for your thoughts.
Tue, 02/25/2014 - 10:37
#1
Hitch Wt. As a % Of GVWR?
I've never heard of a hitch weight as a Percentage of trailer weight.
There are so many variables that go into each trailer that the manufacture specifies the "tongue weight" for each trailer individualy or by floorplan.
BTW on a fifth wheel it is called the "pin weight".
The tongue/pin weight would vary greatly depending on how far the ball/pin sits away from the axle and which options your trailer has (i.e.: is the bath in the front or rear, is the kitchen in the front or rear, are they both in the rear).
You should be able to take your trailer to a hitch shop or an RV dealer and ask them to weigh the hitch/pin for you to get the exact weight.
In re-reading your post it sounds like you are comparing a single axle trailer to a tandem axle trailer and getting 500 lbs difference in tongue weight. That could easily be the case as the two axles share the load and the front axle takes some of the weight off of the tongue, I've even seen some tandom axle trailers balanced so well that they do not need a tongue jack.
Good luck and happy Scamping.
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
Alan from Scamp gave us a follow-up call on the brochures that they sent to us and it appears the hitch weight (pin) is not correct but actually 500 lbs. I have noted a few errors in the information in the Buyer's Guide, some photos not matching the unit floorplans, on the Escape the floorplan for the 19 appeared to be that of the 17 since they were identical. Better to use the website for a final analysis and then if a question, call or email. Scamp has a lot ot things going for them and it really helps if you love your trailer because the "bumps" seem less devastating so I know better than to get something I don't want just because everyone else is buying one. Scamp appears to be doing something right to have been in business for so long. I worked at New Horizons, big 5th wheel, when they first opened in the 90's in the office. Direct is just good.
Cathy