5th Wheel location

can't you van guys just set the 5th to a notch that keeps the steers at 12k???? and just leave it. leaving you just the tandems to play with the weight?

pulling a flat. every truck i've driven. the steers have always been the same weight. loaded or empty or bobtail.
only thing that makes a difference, has been the fuel.

i wouldn't go over 12. oregon won't allow oever 12.3. i defenitly wouldn't want to take a chance on another state.

 

That's E=snowwy;3717974]can't you van guys just set the 5th to a notch that keeps the steers at 12k???? and just leave it. leaving you just the tandems to play with the weight?

pulling a flat. every truck i've driven. the steers have always been the same weight. loaded or empty or bobtail.
only thing that makes a difference, has been the fuel.

i wouldn't go over 12. oregon won't allow oever 12.3. i defenitly wouldn't want to take a chance on another state.[/QUOTE]

Thats where mine is at... full fuel and nearly as much as I can scale. Set the 5th wheel to put 12k on the steers. See a few hundred over at times, but that is where most of my fuel weight is at. Otherwise, its just a matter of setting the tandems.

 

That being the case... No,, running 500 lbs over on the steers should not have any detrimental effects to your suspension, provided its within tire load rating.
But I think you're being penny wise and dollar foolish in your "goal".

Since the goal is max fuel economy, the "pros" for doing so are negligible, as compared to "cons", imo.
Even tho the suspension can safely handle the 500# over, and for what is said (see my Cat reference) to end up minimal/negligible fuel savings,
you'd be placing needless increased load on your steer tires. I'm considering increased tire heat, tire wear, & increased chance of tire failure.
Also, I'd think that you wouldn't see as much fuel savings as you'd expect from a minimal 4" tighter gap (difference of being under 12k).
Maybe you don't care about DOT & the "legalities" of being over by 500 lbs, but why you choose to add any chance of risk is beyond me.

According to CAT, tests were done to show that for every 10 inches of trailer gap, the fuel mileage changes 1%.
At that rate, your 4" difference between being under 12,000 lbs and legal, versus 12,500 lbs with the 4" less gap, will result in a fuel savings of
approx 0.4 gallons for every 1000 miles.

IMO, I wouldn't put that extra 500 lbs on my front steers, just for the sake of saving about $1.75 for every 1000 miles.

CAT - Improving Your Bottom Line Through Fuel Economy (pay special attention to #4 in list)

 

Thats where mine is at... full fuel and nearly as much as I can scale. Set the 5th wheel to put 12k on the steers. See a few hundred over at times, but that is where most of my fuel weight is at. Otherwise, its just a matter of setting the tandems.[/QUOTE]

I set mine the same as IPs 4th hole
On the fifth wheel slider, I've had #### near my full gross in the box, and most of the time am able to carry full tanks of fuel

 

The Lads at the Winterhaven scale on I-8 in CA just love to focus on steering axle weight

 

Yet another good reason for Californicateya to break off, slide off to the west, and sink into the sea.

 

You hardly ever haul more than one load that is exactly the same weight and loaded exactly the same way as the last. High low drivers aren't always as knowledgeable as they think they are. More often than not something has to be adjusted.

 

Slide your fifth wheel so that you can properly scale your load. Then practice good driving habits to attain your desired MPG, as close as possible. While MPG is important, not overloading your steers is more important. Safety trumps economy.