Towing Weak Link

[Newsa]

Because my CTD 2500 SRW 4x4 G56 has a bed payload of just over 2500 #, I would only legally be able to tow a gooseneck that weighs 11,000 - 13,000 #. Yet, I could legally tow a 16,000+ lb bumper pull with this truck. That seems some what backwards. I now see the reason for a dually. But the wifey vetoed the idea of a dually because she doesn't like the look. I work at a school that owns a gooseneck for hauling livestock . It (gooseneck) has a max GVWR of 15,000 #. So as long as we load it with one less head of cattle, should be able to pull it?
Only pulling it about 40 miles to the fairgrounds.
Seems like they could have made the rear axle a bit stronger?

 

[Trowel2013]

Couple of things:
First, it's not the strength of the rear axle. It's mainly (and I say mainly because there is other factors as well, ie. tires and spring pack) the GVWR of the 2500 which is 10,000 lbs. You say your payload is 2500# so your truck empty weighs 7500#. 2500 + 7500= 10,000. You can actually put more weight in the bed of these trucks than you might think, however you need to use common sense. I can't remember the exact number the axle is rated for, but I believe it's in the 6500# ball park. You need to be mindful of your tire ratings. My guess is they are most likely the weakest link.

Second, regarding the trailer weight vs tongue weight. 15-20% is a good rule of thumb, but not always. Depends on trailer design, ie. location of axles in regard to length of the trailer. Trailers with axles far to the rear of the trailer will naturally put more weight on the tongue and therefore the truck. How the trailer is loaded will also determine amount of tongue weight. Going by the cattle hauling trailers I have seen, they tend to put a lot of the weight onto the truck. However, I'd be a fool to say all of them do and since I don't know anything about the trailer you are thinking of hauling, I can't answer your question there. I would guess that if the trailers axles are far to the rear, like most cattle trailers I've seen, a few head of cattle in the front of that thing will max out your truck. It would even be a healthy weight for a DRW.

 

[Newsa]

Couple of things:
First, it's not the strength of the rear axle. It's mainly (and I say mainly because there is other factors as well, ie. tires and spring pack) the GVWR of the 2500 which is 10,000 lbs. You say your payload is 2500# so your truck empty weighs 7500#. 2500 + 7500= 10,000. You can actually put more weight in the bed of these trucks than you might think, however you need to use common sense. I can't remember the exact number the axle is rated for, but I believe it's in the 6500# ball park. You need to be mindful of your tire ratings. My guess is they are most likely the weakest link.

Second, regarding the trailer weight vs tongue weight. 15-20% is a good rule of thumb, but not always. Depends on trailer design, ie. location of axles in regard to length of the trailer. Trailers with axles far to the rear of the trailer will naturally put more weight on the tongue and therefore the truck. How the trailer is loaded will also determine amount of tongue weight. Going by the cattle hauling trailers I have seen, they tend to put a lot of the weight onto the truck. However, I'd be a fool to say all of them do and since I don't know anything about the trailer you are thinking of hauling, I can't answer your question there. I would guess that if the trailers axles are far to the rear, like most cattle trailers I've seen, a few head of cattle in the front of that thing will max out your truck. It would even be a healthy weight for a DRW.

Thanks for the reply. I seriously considered upgrading to F or even G rated tires & rims. But I heard some discussion that the heavier rotating mass on the axles might be hard on the bearings and too much for the axle. So I saved my money and stayed safe with stock tires/rims.

The trailer is about 40 years old and no longer in production. I found the attached image which looks like the exact sane trailer except ours is aluminum colored. It is a gooseneck brand. Looking at this trailer, its hard to believe it's 7500 lbs unloaded. But that's what's stamped on it's rating plate

 

[grabinov]

So just looking at it (and thinking about it), the great thing about the gooseneck is that the lever arm that the truck uses to "lift" the front of the trailer is LONG. The first cow (the one in front) can only get forward about half (or a little more) of the distance between the front axle and the hitch ball, meaning only half (or a little more) of his (her?) weight is being carried by the truck. As the weight moves back toward the front axle of the trailer, a greater and greater percentage of it is carried by the trailer and not the truck. I'd say in addition to the tongue weight of the trailer, you're carrying 60% of the weight of the first animal, 50% of the next, 40% of the next. An animal standing over the front axle puts no weight on the truck and, wait for it...

An animal standing behind the front axle is actually taking weight OFF the truck! Cool...

Sorry for stating the obvious. The math is interesting...

 

[Newsa]

Yeah, these steers are not used to traveling like some horses that travel every month. They are delivered in the fall at about 500 lbs and leave us at 1500- 2000 lbs. In the spring. So they only travel twice in their life. We don't crowd them so they don't injure themselves. Some horses are quite at home in their trailers . But these steers are not. So we will take our time and load the trailer light.

 

[Sticks]

Here is a chart for the 2014 trucks (not sure what year yours is Newsa)

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CD0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ramtrucks.com%2Fassets%2Ftowing_guide%2Fpdf%2F2014_RAM.2500.Towing.Specs.pdf&ei=i4LDVMTuI4r4yATL54DYDA&usg=AFQjCNHbAnoh6_KnSyaLAs7qTOfFR5f0fw&sig2=tMCgv4msaP2AOy9ptysATA&bvm=bv.84349003,d.aWw

Depending on the package you have will dictate the payload.