How do you tell the weight of a trailer?

[roperteacher]

Hello! I just bought a new Living quarters horse trailer. I am trying to find where it says the weight. I looked on the tag and it says GVWR ( I think) and it said 12,000. Now is that what the trailer weighs?? How much it can carry?? I have a 2004. 5 2500 And it pulls it like a dream, but HOW MUCH CAN THIS TRUCK tow???? THanks! Oo. Oh, and it is fairly heavy, and with 3 horses I was getting 16MPG Freeway...

 

[Babyfat]

Titles Usually Say The Weight Of Trailer, The 12,000 Is The Mfg Limit Of Trailer And Load Weight Combinded Or Legal Limit, At Least Thats What I Go By (MOST OF THE TIME )

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating - that's the maximum amount of weight it can weigh including the trailer itself and whatever you put in it. The only way to know how much it weighs is to take it to the scales and weigh it - trailer manufacturers are notorious for giving false empty weights if they give them at all. Go to almost any truck stop and you can weigh your rig and know where you stand.

 

[roperteacher]

Thanks! I think your right on 12,000lbs... The average horse weighs 1100 lbs... and it is a 3H so I am guessing the trailer weighs about 7,000 lbs. . My trucks owners manual says it is rated for 13,500... so we're good to go!

 

[Babyfat]

Yeh, What Steve Said

 

[DPKetchum]

The TRAILER manufacture is suppose to KNOW dry and WET weight of that trailer. I've been shopping living qtr. horse tailers and I WILL NOT discuss any thing further with any salesperson until tthey have THAT FACT. The GOOD ones have that fact real handy on each and every one they have listed.

 

[MacHaggis]

The guys over on the towinf board have whupped this to daeath many times over in ways that would make the Inquisitors seem merciful.



I've always wondered, though . . . the plate on my GN says GVW is 14k. I have 14k worth of axles. If I load the trailer to 15k scale weight with 1800 on the ball, leaving 13,200 on the trailer axles and putting the Ram at 9800, have I exceeded any limits?

 

[2Gen3Gen]

take it to the local feed store and run it across the scale. Un hitch it and move your truck off. then there is no guessing. I have a Trucker scale one mile from my home on the highway that is working 24/7 . . I weigh everything I have there and its free.

 

[kshimizu]

If you purchased the trailer new, your dealer should have been able to tell you the weight of your trailer. What brand/model is it? How long of a shortwall do you have? If it's a Sundowner, Kiefer Built, or Circle J I can figure out what it should weigh. Let me know and I'll try to get you a weight.