Identify trailer capacity from wheels?

[dad911]

This is only 7000# max due to 5 bolt wheels?

Trailer capacity seems higher, based on other feature like pintle hitch, heavy channel construction and heavy steel ramps.

Is it reasonable to swap in new axle assemblies?

[cabmandone]

New axle assemblies aren't terrible. You can find a brake axle for around $4-$500 each. I think the trick might come in mounting the new axle as the ones you have pictured are essentially house trailer axles. Most of them I have seen have a fixed bracket on one side with a pivot in the center between the two axles. I never understood how they rate that type of axle.
Technically you would identify the capacity of the trailer by having it weighed and then reducing the load rating by the weight of the trailer. If you have two 7000 lb axles and the trailer weighs 4000, you can gross 10K on the trailer.

Some manufacturers cheat and use tires rated at 3750 each rating the trailer at 15,000 lb gvwr.

On Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/000-Electric-Brake-Trailer-Axle/dp/B06XV5CF2C/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1514655415&sr=8-11&keywords=7000+lb+trailer+axle

On Ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-7k-Electric-Brake-Drum-7000-lb-Trailer-Axle-RV-Dump-Cargo-Flatbed/302027527171?hash=item46523e5403:g:KwcAAOSwr~dZknW R&vxp=mtr

[dad911]

Thanks cab. My 'heavy' machine (mini excavator) is 7500#, most open trailers are 2500-2600#, so 10k is pushing it.

Edit: Nevermind. http://blog.easternmarine.com/trailers-with-mobile-home-axles/

[cabmandone]

Is that a trailer you're looking at buying or is it one you already have?

[dad911]

Buying. Local auction. Inspection next week.

Likely not worth it. $1000+ for wheels, tires, and axles. Plus new deck boards.

[cabmandone]

Depends on how often you're pulling with it. I pulled Bobcats all over the place on a trailer with axles like that. That trailer would probably handle your mini pretty easily but if you bought it I'd figure on doing the brakes, magnets and maybe new wheel bearings. I have owned two trailers with axles like that.
I'd check C.L. You should be able to find a 12K or 14K equipment trailer for around $2,000. I sold a nice PJ 20' bumper pull for 2K last year. The new 14K 20' tilt deck I have only cost me $5300 with taxes. A ramp type trailer is probably in the 4-$4500 range new so a used one should run you about half, any more than half and you might as well buy new.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by dad911

Likely not worth it. $1000+ for wheels, tires, and axles. Plus new deck boards.

There's no rule saying you can't add reinforcing straps or braces or fillets or whatnot to your own property.
(I think)

[dad911]

Originally Posted by john70t

There's no rule saying you can't add reinforcing straps or braces or fillets or whatnot to your own property.
(I think)

Well, it's my 'company' property, for my business. Rules for motorhomes/travel/personal trailers are easier. You used to be able to pull a 2 car stacker trailer with a toterhome, no CDL.

DOT has too many rules to follow. And I would suspect if I'm in an accident, and trailer isn't rated for the weight, fines go up exponentially.

I'm probably already pushing the regs. I've been told I should register trailer for 9900 lbs. And if police want to bust balls, can make me go to weigh station or wait(a long time) for portable scales.

DOT Mandates May Apply When Using Trailers - Articles - Safety & Accident - Articles - Work Truck

[Seahawk]

I have some use for your mini-excavator, so make sure whatever you get can make it to Maryland

A wood deck and 7500lbs, depending on the deck loading from the tires/treads, will be sporty.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

Well, it's my 'company' property

Best move is to forget that one if you're using it in your business.
If you're running D.O.T numbers, I'd get a 14K so you can put the mini and a few things on and still be under the GVWR of the trailer. The thing you have to be careful of is if you're pulling a trailer with a dually. Much over 14K puts you in CDL requirement range.

BTW, you can register the trailer at 2000 and it wouldn't matter if you're running a dually. If the dually is rated at 9000 gvwr and your trailer is at 2000 gvwr, your Gross Combined Weight Rating would be 11000 which by the article you linked says anything over 10K GCWR requires DOT numbers.

[dad911]

Cab - haven't seen used tilt trailers around here . Is it worth it? I hate (detached) ramps, which is triggering the upgrade. Too old and sore to lift them anymore.

Can you load 911 on tilt trailer?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

Cab - haven't seen used tilt trailers around here . Is it worth it? I hate (detached) ramps, which is triggering the upgrade. Too old and sore to lift them anymore.

Can you load 911 on tilt trailer?

I have had my 911 up on my trailer.. And yes the tilt decks are ABSOLUTELY worth it. I have pulled mini's, skid steers and cars, even pulled my brother's Chevy 1 Ton when the clutch went out (did I mention I drive a Ford? )
Here's the thing though, take a look at my edit above regarding GCWR.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have some use for your mini-excavator, so make sure whatever you get can make it to Maryland

A wood deck and 7500lbs, depending on the deck loading from the tires/treads, will be sporty.

Why? I have a wood deck now....

Much more of this global warming freeze, and I'll be draggin my ho' to the keys.

Pit stop on the way? Sure.

Not a great pic, but I was pulling out 8-10" frost last week. I'm done digging for the season, not sure how I'll backfill this. These aren't rocks. I was pulling out clumps of frozen dirt.

[dad911]

What do you think of these? I bought my dump trailer from them, great service. (manual tilt vs power?)

2017 Sure-Trac 7x20' 9900# POWER Tilt Wood Deck Car Hauler | Best Choice Trailers | Dump, enclosed and equipment flatbed trailers in Pittsburgh PA | Your Pittsburgh PA Trailer Dealer

2017 Sure-Trac 7x18 Tilt Bed Equipment Trailer 9900# GVW | Best Choice Trailers | Dump, enclosed and equipment flatbed trailers in Pittsburgh PA | Your Pittsburgh PA Trailer Dealer

[cabmandone]

Another benefit of the tilt deck is you'll get slightly better gas mileage if you're pulling it empty. If you don't make any longer runs you won't notice a difference. But loading and unloading equipment is just too easy! No worrying about having the ramps at the right distance apart, just let the deck tilt and drive on or drive off. Mine has a valve that if I want I can lock the deck in the tilted position. My trailer has a 16' tilt with a 4' fixed deck at the front. If I had it to do over, I'd have bought a full tilt or one with less fixed deck. I haul two go karts around on it sometimes and it's a bit of a pain getting it to tilt down whithout backing the first kart on. If you want to go REALLY fancy you can get a power tilt with a remote, but those things get a bit spendy.

[dad911]

Thanks Cab. I only 10-20ish moves a year, most local, of a mini excavator and a Kubota Tractor.

[Arizona_928]

I have a gooseneck with two of those 7,000lbs 8 lug axles....
I would upgrade to them. wheels are only $50ish on ePay, tires are 225's and are cheap as well.

[cabmandone]

Sure Trac is a good brand. I went with a Load Trail because they're a bit heavier build. Mine goes 3990 lbs which is just under the requirement for having to title the trailer here.
The other thing I like about the Load Trail is that the fenders tilt with the deck. I think the Sure Trac the tilt part of the deck is a bit more narrow. I spent about 3 weeks researching different trailers before settling in on the Load Trail. Someone told me the owner of the company was an owner in PJ but they had a falling out. The build quality looks very similar to PJ.

This is the exact trailer I have
https://loadtrail.com/index.php/trailers/tilt-decks/details/?model=TD14&&desc=Tilt+Deck+Gravity+14%2C000+Lb+w%2F6%22+Channe l+Frame&&title=Tilt%20Decks

[cabmandone]

Back to my point on Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). Even if you're pulling with an F150, your GCWR is over 10,000 which per the article you linked puts you above the weight for DOT requirements. It was my understanding that as long as you're not taking part in "interstate commerce" That the 10K requirement didn't apply meaning if you're not being paid for hauling or hauling for personal you don't need DOT numbers.

I guess what I'm getting at is if you're looking at a 9900 GWR trailer to keep under DOT... it doesn't appear by that article that it's going to work. I think I'd have a "friend" make a phone call to find out for sure. Or you can do what I do and hope you actually get one chance to plead ignorance when you do get pulled over.

[John Rogers]

Trailers are a huge headache and ending up causing your budget to get way out of whack! The first trailer I bought was a flat bed with boards and wheels like those from a trailer supplier in El Cajon CA and he explained the numbers on the welded on tag meant. The towing vehicle has to be considered as mentioned above as I actually started with a VW Eurovan towing the trailer and my 914. Spare tires (2) and tools went in the back of the van. Okay on the flats but anything over a 1% grade was a killer so I talked to the trailer guy and he said a Ford F150 would be okay but get the six cylinder as it has more torque. Used that for 3 or 4 years until a snow storm going to Willow Springs filled the race car with fluffy white stuff.

At the same time my buddy Ted went from a big block El Camino to a Dodge with a Hemi.......okay for a flat trailer and 356 but he bought a 28 foot enclosed trailer at the big Barret Jackson party and with the 356 he was okay until he hit the mountains coming out of the desert. He hated getting passed by Mexican VW Bugs he said! Went and traded for a Dodge 3500 with the diesel. I had bought a 2000 Ford 3500 Power stroke Dually and finally ended with a 34 foot toy hauler. The diesels had no issues. The toy hauler was on it's limit with the 914 inside and full water tanks so tire pressure monitors helped a lot, at least would spot slow leaks.

Soooo what is all this rambling about, it is a cascading issue that involves way more than just the wheels and tires.