2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Towing over GCWR

[sangell]

I have a chance to get a 2 year old 30' goose neck trailer cheap. I would be using this to haul two Jeeps. My GCWR is 20,000 lbs, with this trailer, my truck, both Jeeps, and gear my weight will be about 21,000 lbs maybe a little more. I am in the midwest and make the run to Moab UT (over the Rockies) twice a year. I know the truck will do it (slow over the mountains) but my concern is being over weight for insurance reasons. My only other option is to go with a aluminium trailer for 4 times the cost of this used one. I will put 4000 to 5000 miles a year on with this trailer. Each Jeep weights about 4300 lbs with gear, the trailer is about 5000 lbs so I was told and then the truck. What do you all think? Thank you in advance, this place is wonderful. It makes owning my truck even that much better.



Scott

 

[Stroke This 24V]

The weight

that is stated for the trailer sounds too low as I have a 25' gooseneck with dovetail that weights in at a hefty 6250lbs.



Is the trailer a dual tandem?



What is the capacity of the trailer?

 

[Snow man]

with a 2500 4x4,6 speed,qcab,you have the heaviest 2500,you literally have about 1/2 ton or less of payload,legally. The pin weight of that trailer will put you at or over your safe weight(not legal weight),safe rear axle limit to me is 6084-6500 max. a 30 ft with 2 jeeps,you'd have to weigh it but I bet theres at least 3500 tongue weight. your truck will be at 10500-11000GVW,thats quite a bit over. That 30 fter is way heavier than you think too,you'll see. I know your truck will pull it. The pin weight is just too much,your going to have rear tire trouble with the truck,unless you can get those jeeps far back on the trailer,to lighten the tongue,then you may have sway /stabilty/traction problems.

 

[sangell]

The trailer is a low deck tandem axle 14K GW trailer. The current owner pulls it with a 99 F250 PSD. The trailer is about as lite as you can get for a steel 30' goose neck. I was just out in Moab two weeks ago and I parked next to a 01 4x4 quad cab short bed auto 3. 54s and 285 tires that was pulling a 30' 14k trailer with two early Broncos on it. It was stock other than guages and he said it did 70 on the flats but the mountains were 2nd gear 35 mph. That trailer weighed 4900 lbs empty as per the tag on it.

Thanks for your help



Scott



Here is a link to a picture of the trailer hooked up to a F350 PSD.

This was the trailers 1st owner, I would be it's 3rd owner.



http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=sangell&album_id=105415&image_id=0&courtesy=1

 

[drees1]

Well, I think it boils down to the pin load on the hitch. If you do not exceed the truck's rear tire capacity, probably 3080 lbs each, then you are ok. Most goosenecks are going to load the hitch at 15% or more if you have a distributed load in the bed. The jeeps look like a pretty good distributed load. You also have to make sure you do not exceed the trailer tires capacity. They look the same as the trucks, 235-85-16, which is 3080 each. I have a 14k 20+5 gooseneck and even 1500 lbs over on the axle will create too much tire heat, (can't keep your hand on them) in the summer sun. Run them at 90psi (10 psi over) and monitor them constantly. Slow down if they are too hot. I have even run at night to let them run cooler. Since my trailer axles are actually 7000 each, I am going to try "G" rated tires next to get up to my full axle rating.



Doug Rees

 

[sangell]

Doug,

The tires on the trailer are either F or G rated, what ever 3885 lbs per tire is. Do you know how much your trailer weighs?

Thanks



Scott

 

[JJW_ND]

You should be fine!

As long as you watch tires and brakes, you should be fine. We have four gooseneck 16' trailers with 800 gallon tanks on them. Trailers weight 12 - 13K. We use all 2500 Dodges to pull them. Lots of miles all over western ND and upper midwest. Lots of miles at 75 mph and faster. Run good rubber and keep it aired to the max. Our only problem is we eat tires at a rate of 18 - 20K. This is with 4K rotations. Wonder why with weight and speed!



After 500K miles on four original trailers and lots of tire and lack of brake problems, we replace all four trailers with new. Went with 8K axles (big brakes) and 225/75R17. 5H tires. Tires do not flex, heatup and wear like steel. Lots of reserve carrying capacity and brakes with this setup.



jjw

ND

 

[NVR FNSH]

I was thinking the ~4300lbs for each Jeep is low. Have you actually weighed them? My CJ-7 tips the scale at a hair over 4K lbs with a full 20 gal tank, factory hardtop/steel doors & me in the driver seat. I was suprised that it was almost a 50/50 weight split front to rear.



I tow a 36ft 5th wheel and my GCW was 21,300 the one time I weighed it. My 2500 tows it fine but I do drop speed on grades - I'm running a VA CPC only. I've towed Hwy 1 in Oregon, Towne Pass into/out of Death Valley (9% grade), Hwy 36 in NorCal and some logging roads that I really shouldn't have.



Brian

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have a 24 foot Dual Tandem Goosneck BigTex trailer. It is rated to 22,500 lbs. The dealer said that is a loaded weight. The axles are 12,000 lb oil bath Dexters. Today I hauled a Case 580 4x4 backhoe with no problems. It probably weighs 17-18,000 lbs. Last week I hauled three dumps of hay at 65 mph for 50 miles, The hay was just under 20,000 lbs. With trailer that is 26,600 lbs.

Ad the truck at 7600 lbs and I guess you get the picture. Don't get me wrong that is alot of weight. I take it real easy up hill and down too. I use common sence. Not level 5x5. I just wish I had a digital camera... ... ... ... ...

 

[DarrellB]

Not a problem

That load should not be a problem for a 2500. I regularly pull well over the rating of my 2500 and haven't had any troubles.



I will give you a few words of addvise though.



Make sure those brakes work on the trailer and get you a good brake controler. The Cummins 5. 9 is rated to haul 50,000lbs but that's in a truck with much larger brakes than a 2500 Dodge. You will pull the trailer with no problem but stopping it will take the trailer brakes and some room. You might want to think about getting a Exaust brake as well to help with those long down grades in the mountains. Remember that you have a good load behind you and give the cars in front plenty of distance in case you have to make a sudden stop.



Those are some awesome looking Jeeps by the way.



Be careful and happy hauling.



Darrell

 

[sangell]

Brian,

the Jeeps are a TJ with soft top and doors, and the an XJ (unibody). They are both also trail rigs so weight has been added in things like tools, spare parts but weight has alos been removed where it could be. The 4300 lbs was the Tj with no tools or parts but with a hard top and steel doors. The XJ "feels"

lighter when towing.



Greg,

I wish you had a digital camera too, that would be cool to see.



JJW-ND,

Did your fisrt trailers have E load range tires?



Darrel,

The Jeeps in the picture are not mine, they belong to the previous owner of the trailer. A TJ with 6" of lift, long arms, full cage, Ford 9" rear, and an Atlas II t-case on 36" Swampers. The other is a XJ with 7" of lift, long arms in the front, still leaves in the rear, Ford 9" front and rear, full cage on 36" Swampers.



Scott

 

[JJW_ND]

Yes! The standard 235/85R16E. If we ran standard tires like Goodyear HTs or off brands we experience blow outs. We quickly made a habit of running goodyear unisteels or Michilin XPS or Toyo Commercials. Most of the tire problems occurred in trips to and from MT and almost always in MT. Must have been their speed limit back then..... "Reasonable and Prudient!"



jjw

ND

 

[JGK]

Don't forget legal issues. If you get into a wreck and you're overweight, you could be held liable.



FWIW.



JK

 

[sangell]

Being 1000 to 1500 lbs over does not bother me as far as the truck pulling the load it is the legal issue that concerns me. I have chosen not to buy the 30' instead I bought myself a new 20' tag today. I guess my buddy will have to get his own tow rig.

Thanks for every ones help and ideas.



Scott

 

[drees1]

Sangell,



Responding to your question on my trailer weight. It is 5300# empty with the fold up ramps on it. It is 20' on the deck plus a tail that is 5' and will go up to make 25' of deck. It is 102" wide and the deck is over the wheels, not a drop deck. It has only 1 tongue jack. I think you know what it looks like, and there are a lot of brand names that are basically the same. Mine is a Moritz brand made in Mansfield, OH.



F or G tires would be great. I can't wait to put those on my trailer and get rid of the E tires. I don't think you will have any trouble doing what you are talking about. The exhaust brake mentioned is a good idea, it really helps cut speed down.



Also, while were talking, I bought a package deal with my trailer and got a hitch and brake controller. I regret not getting a top line proportional controller like the Prodigy or Jordan. When a large part of your total weight is stopped by a controller that just ramps up based on time, it tends to make for less control and poor modulation. I am going to upgrade when I get the chance.



Doug Rees