Towing weight help

[TravisG]

I have a 02 quad cab long bed H. O. motor(6 speed of course) 3. 55 gears, and a 20' bumper pull cargo trailer that I just bought. The trailer is has 2 3500 lb. axles so it is a 7000 lb total weight trailer right? Next question I want to know what all this exactly means. I took it to a scale and these are the numbers that I got.



Steer axle 4200 lbs



Drive Axle 3360 lbs.



Trailer axle 4000 lbs.



Gross Weight 11560 lbs.



I just want to know what I can safely put in the trailer. Is this all the info I need or is this something else. Thanks. T.

 

[HBarlow]

I have a 02 quad cab long bed H. O. motor(6 speed of course) 3. 55 gears, and a 20' bumper pull cargo trailer that I just bought. The trailer is has 2 3500 lb. axles so it is a 7000 lb total weight trailer right? Next question I want to know what all this exactly means. I took it to a scale and these are the numbers that I got.



Steer axle 4200 lbs



Drive Axle 3360 lbs.



Trailer axle 4000 lbs.



Gross Weight 11560 lbs.



I just want to know what I can safely put in the trailer. Is this all the info I need or is this something else. Thanks. T.

You didn't say but I'm assuming your truck and trailer were empty when you weighed. . . right?



You used the word, "safely" so I will avoid getting into whether you are simply hauling something for yourself such as four wheel ATVs, a backhoe for commercial work, or hauling for-hire.



The simplest answer is both of your trailer axles cannot exceed 7,000# or 3,500# per axle. Based on the 4,000# figure you provided, you can carry a load of 3,000#.



You cannot load any axle, truck or trailer, beyond the carrying capacity of the tires on that axle. Another way of saying the same thing is you cannot exceed any GAWR (gross axle weight rating). When you load the trailer heavy the tongue weight increases the truck's rear axle weight.



Your Dodge probably has a GVWR of 9900# and you should not exceed that either.



Then, there is the GCWR (gross combined weight rating) prescribed by Dodge. Yours is probably 20,000#. Dodge specified that number as the maximum weight of your truck and trailer based on driveline components, cooling, braking, suspension, hitch, and other factors.

 

[TravisG]

Yes I was empty, just truck trailer and 3/4 tank of fuel. Hauling for my self with plenty of insurance. Thanks for the reply. I was just a little confused about the 4000# number. I was a little shocked at the weight of the trailer I guess, not that I wanted to put a concrete truck inside it or anything. So if I keep the load under 3k I should be way under the total weight right? BTW I thing the gvw for my truck is 8800# not 9900#

 

[GAmes]

Don't forget that 10% of the trailer's weight rating is on the hitch which means it's GVWR is probably around 7500 to 8000. There should be a tag on the side that states it's GVWR, unless it fell off like the one on my gooseneck flatbed did:-laf

 

[jelag]

If you trailer has 2 3500 lb axles..... those axles are rated to handle 3500 lbs each plus the weight of the axles... so in theory if the trailer manufacturer has rated his trailer at 7,000 lbs as well...

You can put a total of about 7,000 lbs on the trailer axles, and up the max weight on each of the truck axles... (weight of trailer and load, excluding weight of axles)

In other words you might have 8,000 in the trailer, with 1000 of that on the tongue, 7000 on the axles, and within the max weight rating on your truck axles... (see door sticker) and not have a problem... . again with the understanding that the trailer is designed for this weight by the manufacturer. .

Most of the axle manufactures provide very good engineering information for using their products which spells out most of what I've written and than some... .

The key here, in my own feelings is that you don't exceed your ability to drive this load, you don't exceed the weight capacity of the trailer, and the hitch on your truck... .

 

[HBarlow]

Yes I was empty, just truck trailer and 3/4 tank of fuel. Hauling for my self with plenty of insurance. Thanks for the reply. I was just a little confused about the 4000# number. I was a little shocked at the weight of the trailer I guess, not that I wanted to put a concrete truck inside it or anything. So if I keep the load under 3k I should be way under the total weight right? BTW I thing the gvw for my truck is 8800# not 9900#

I was surprised by your trailer's empty weight also. Is it a homebuilt trailer? I have a 20' Big Tex P7000 which means 20' box plus tongue or about 24' overall length. It is a pipe trailer meaning it has a pipe top rail for added strength and 7000# GVWR. It only weighs about 2200# IIRC.



Part of the load you put on the trailer will be transferred to the tongue and will load the rear axle of your truck so you should be able to load it a little heavier than 3000#.



You might want to visit your public scale one more time when you have the truck and trailer loaded as it will be used just to check truck and trailer axle weights loaded.

 

[TravisG]

I was surprised by your trailer's empty weight also. Is it a homebuilt trailer? I have a 20' Big Tex P7000 which means 20' box plus tongue or about 24' overall length. It is a pipe trailer meaning it has a pipe top rail for added strength and 7000# GVWR. It only weighs about 2200# IIRC.



Part of the load you put on the trailer will be transferred to the tongue and will load the rear axle of your truck so you should be able to load it a little heavier than 3000#.



You might want to visit your public scale one more time when you have the truck and trailer loaded as it will be used just to check truck and trailer axle weights loaded.

I am glad to hear that it was not just me that thought this was odd. The trailer is a kzcargo by tn trailers ( Search Results for " tntrailer.com " I think). It does have a fold down spring loaded door and some home made shelves made out of 2x4's and plywood but that is coming out shortly

 

[MA2LA]

I've been in the same boat for awhile. I have a 24ft carmate that is about 3500 empty witch doesn't leave much for hauling cars. I have hauled well over the gvw of the trailer and yes it has taken its toll on the trailer . 3 blown tires although the first one went after owning the trailer for 5 years of abuse. And after storing and moving 10k of hardwood flooring around the farm I did bend an axle. I am shopping for new axles to up grade the trailer.

 

[HBarlow]

New axle assemblies from brake drum to brake drum are not real expensive if you buy them from a company like SouthWest Wheel or Redneck Trailer Supply.



You can see the prices on SWW's website. Redneck may have a website also.



It doesn't cost a fortune to upgrade to 5,200# axles if the trailer is in good shape and you plan to keep and use it.



For anyone reading this thread and considering buying a similar cargo trailer it is best to buy one with 5,200# torsion axles. The upgraded torsion axles ride smoother, transmit less motion to the tow vehicle, and carry more weight.