Trailer weight question:
 

I have a flat car trailer w 2 3500 lb. axles, electric brakes on both axles and “D” load rated tires. By my calculations, the heaviest vehicle I can tow on it would be 7k minus the weight of the trailer, (not including axles). I’ve never weighed the trailer but always guessed around 2k lbs. The heaviest vehicle I’ve ever carried on it was around 4K and it felt fine, the load was well balanced.

I’ve always tried to err on the side of caution wrt towing, I have friends who seriously overload trailers but mostly in rural areas, hauling skid steers and the like on rural highways. The only reason I mention this is because I know that weight ratings are conservative usually. I have someone who wants me to haul a 5k lb. vehicle 300 miles for them and I’m very hesitant. Seems to be pushing it. Opinions based on actual towing experience? TIA. :cool:

My trailer:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615150247.jpg

Couple questions: does the tow vehicle have a trailer manual brake control? If not get one. If the 2500 rated truck a diesel? If so get a "Jake Brake" and a transmission lock up controller. What is the tongue weight when you two or % or the total trailer weight? Check with the truck maker to see what they say. Does the truck sag when you have a loaded trailer hooked up, if so you need Air Lifts.
John

I doubt your going to hurt the trailer at that weight. My concerns would be is the towing vehicle capable enough. A weight distributing hitch goes a long way. And the tires fresh enough and wheel bearings serviced. Strapped down very well.

The truck is a diesel and the total loaded trailer weight is well below its capacity. Of course it has a trailer brake controller, (I tow a lot w it), and I would never consider an exhaust brake on it. Completely unnecessary at my towing weights and very harmful to the engine of the truck.

I appreciate your offering help and I have a lot of respect for you but I disagree w some of your advice here. If a tow vehicle sags when hooked up to a trailer within its towing limits, “Air Lifts,” which I assume are some type of rear suspension lift, are never the answer. The trailer is loaded improperly or tongue weight exceeds capacity. A balanced trailer is the most important factor in safe towing, along w religiously following weight ratings for different types of towing, i.e. bumper pull vs. gooseneck, etc. Artificially bolstering the rear suspension while doing nothing to increase the capacity, (or correct the cause), would be a very dangerous band-aid.

A weight distributing hitch is a solution to towing heavy trailers more safely but I’ve never gotten one because I never tow at near my capacity. I’m mainly concerned w the weight on my trailer wrt the trailer itself, nothing else.

I have a similar trailer.
It is 1500 pounds empty, rated 7000 gross, so can carry up to 5500 pounds.

I have towed full-size 3/4 ton trucks with no problem.
Longest was a 3/4 ton 4x4 just over 400 miles.

I avoided mountain passes by going through the Columbia River gorge instead. Nothing to do with the trailer, just avoided long climbs to keep the tranny from overheating

Just something else to consider, is there any restrictions on tow weight from your insurance co? Up here the rules change between provinces probably the same down there between states. Is there any DOT truck weigh stations nearby those people know the local rules.

Tongue weight is better. I towed a 4500lb vehicle 30 miles, then turned it around to engine in front. It was out of control, prior. Ram Charger 4x4, 318. Towed fine after turning it around.

You will be fine , you have a long wheelbase tow vehicle and good torque she will barely feel the load. Keep your speed reasonable and all will be good . This assumes truck and trailer have been maintained .

Air up the trailer tires to max or maybe 5 lbs. under and rock on .

If you can transfer weight to the truck AND the trailer doesn't have a label stating GWVR of the trailer, I'd say you'll be fine. What I'm saying is, pull tongue heavy.

BTW, air bags are great! I have 5K bags on my 2012 F250. I like pulling tongue heavy because it reduces the likelihood of the trailer kicking out on a downhill grade. My truck pulls better when loaded tongue heavy.

I would recommend getting a load distributing hitch. It will put more of the tongue weight on the front wheels of the tow vehicle.

My experience with load distributing hitches: Dad had a '64 IH Travelall 1200 series and a 24' tandem axle Boles Areo trailer that we went camping in during the early/mid- '60's. Trailer had both hydraulic and electric brakes. IH/trailer weighed 12k lbs all up. Before the IH, he used our '59 Pontiac wagon with the same hitch setup.

Cmon, we’re talking about hauling well below the rated load of this truck. Get your load adjusted properly to maintain sufficient tongue weight and get after it.

Like cabmando said, extra tongue weight is to err on the side of caution. Air bags allow this without sacrificing the ride of the truck. I like to add tongue weight until I get some compression on the overload springs. ‘05 F250 powerstroke.


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I probably tow more than most people on this forum.

You will be just fine. Make sure it is strapped down properly and as mentioned above that you have around 10% tongue load on your hitch. Check and grease your trailer wheel bearings and ‘get after it’.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615196521.jpg

Trailer should be fine. For a 300 mile trip, I'd carry spare tires for the trailer (2 if possible, a road hazard will take out a whole side) and a way to jack the loaded trailer. Blocks of 2x8 cut as wedges work well, you 'ramp' the good tire up until the flat is off the ground.

My homebuilt car trailer is about 1800lbs empty and was built with used tandem 3500lb Dexter Torflex axles that I installed new brake shoes and fresh bearing grease when I built it. I pulled my 3500 lb (approx) race car along with around 600-800 pounds of tools and spares 40 miles to a local racetrack every Saturday night for 4 summers in a row (probably around 100 round trips of 80 miles eachl = 8000 miles total in 4 years). I was often in a hurry and ran over 70 mph on many occasions. First two years was a 2002 V8 Tundra... Last two years was a 2011 V8 Tundra. I never had ANY issues. Still use trailer on occasion to haul my tractor/mowers/cars etc.

My total weight was always over 6000 lbs. With that proven track record I would not hesitate to pull this trailer at it's max 7000 lb rating. Of course my tires were brand new at the start of my 4 yrs of racing and I ALWAYS checked pressure and kept it at the max load tire pressure. I did blow out 1 tire two years ago while pulling my broken down BMW 330 (trailer tires were about 5 years old by then with maybe 10k mileage on them). I had a spare so it was no big deal.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615214499.jpg

No guessing:
https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/safe-load-oem-gooseneck-ball/
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615227324.jpg

Thanks, John. That looks like a useful device but I was more concerned w total weight on the trailer axles as opposed to tongue weight. It’s pretty easy to balance the load on the trailer to avoid excessive tongue weight.

Is that your Saab?

Sweeeeet.

It was but I let it go. I was going to take it to MN and ice race it, (vintage), I’ve owned several going back 40+ years and I’ll get another. I absolutely love them but parts are getting tougher. :cool:

So cool......

Whom is this someone to you? Good friend? Casual acquaintance?
Your equipment will probably handle the job, but, if you feel uncomfortable doing it, then don't.


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