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How much can I really load in my new trailer?

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    TheRecycler started this thread.
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    How much can I really load in my new trailer?

    Hey guys, quick question. Sold my little 4 x 8 trailer and picked a 5 x 10. Does sound like much but after building it up, I fit 1600 lbs in shred in it. It's listed as max weight of 2700, but how far can I really push the limits? I want to get close to a gross ton as possible in it. Give me some feedback.

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    I would go by your axle rating. I would also be careful of your plate rating. Im assuming it doesn't have brakes? Its not so much ; how much can you pull? its how much can you stop? Make sure youre not taxing the towing unit too much.

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    it sounds like common sense but check your tire pressure regularly, they can look fine with no load and only have 5lbs to 10lbs of air, especially since this is a single axle its even more important. im speaking from experience most of my tires are load range e(10 ply) and on my dual axle trailers they hold their form really well even with no pressue if the trailer is empty, just today I had to come home and fix a tire and go back to load a car, I wasted two hours
    expect the worst and hope for the best
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    I always go by the tires on those small trailers, I had 2400lbs on an ol viking tent trailer frame I made into a sled trailer, if the tires start to buldge, that's enough, it had a huge 4 or 5 " axel on it,

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    I'd go by tire rating as load goes. If it has 15" tires on it 2000ish doesn't sound crazy to me but your also talking to a guy here who had put 7000# in a 3/4 ton pickup bed trailer. I've gotten away with 5000# on half ton pickup bed trailer before as well which is extremely overloading it, especially with 15" tires.
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    TheRecycler started this thread.
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    Thanks for the heads up fellas.

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    Whether or not it carries more weight has been pretty well covered. From a floor space perspective you've certainly got a lot more room, going from 32sf to 50. That's almost 50% more space

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    The weight of the trailer needs to be deducted form the towing capacity of the trailer.
    Your vehicle hitch is rated for a certain weight toung weight and towing capicity.
    Your vehicle is also rated to a maximum towing capicity.

    Uhaul is a good place to find out the rating of your vehicle hitch and trailer.

    David

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    Well, from extra space, I have grossed over $800 in two days. I'm not complaining. It's capacity is just about 2,750 lbs and the trailer is just under a 1000lbs after the build up. I will not go past 1800 lbs just to be safe.

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    You say that now.....lol just wait

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    I'm the worst at trying to overload a trailer. What size tires you have? What are you pulling it with? How you drive all this makes a difference on your load? I have cut a car in half and put on a 5x10. It weighted 3000#. Would I do it again heck no too much sway had to drive 45mph. It was the only trailer I had so had to make due. Make sure you always run good tires. Check your axle rating use that to determine your load.
    Good luck

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    TheRecycler started this thread.
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    I totally understand. I primarily go for quality metal (non ferrous) instead of the quantity. So I should be good.

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    I'd tend to disagree on using axle rating over tires. If an axle is rated for 3000# but your only running 13" tires rated for 1360, you'd be overloading it by 380 # not counting weight of trailer.

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    Re-cycler is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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    Quote Originally Posted by TheRecycler View Post
    Hey guys, quick question. Sold my little 4 x 8 trailer and picked a 5 x 10. Does sound like much but after building it up, I fit 1600 lbs in shred in it. It's listed as max weight of 2700, but how far can I really push the limits? I want to get close to a gross ton as possible in it. Give me some feedback.
    The only time it matters is if you are putting yourself and others in danger by overloading it , in all other cases you load it til you can't get anything else on and the rims are on the pavement if needs be and crawl to the yard.

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    I was wondering that same idea. My tires say one thing but my owners manual said another.

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    Re-cycler is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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    This is what's on my trailer right now and is finally down to the last ply before the tube goes, in my little world if a tire holds air for longer than an hour it's good enough.
    this tire is the one I have sweated about for the last 6 years and 400 odd loads.
    I know it's crazy but I wouldn't go far from home and the yard is only 6 miles from here so I could drag it home on 2 or 3 wheels with no danger.
    I adjust my speed according to the feel of the load and the road.
    I usually have at least two spares but I've burned up all the used 14.5s around here.
    note....the other side of this tire is worse but I'm gonna get one more Caravan hauled in on Monday

  21. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Re-cycler View Post
    This is what's on my trailer right now and is finally down to the last ply before the tube goes, in my little world if a tire holds air for longer than an hour it's good enough.
    this tire is the one I have sweated about for the last 6 years and 400 odd loads.
    I know it's crazy but I wouldn't go far from home and the yard is only 6 miles from here so I could drag it home on 2 or 3 wheels with no danger.
    I adjust my speed according to the feel of the load and the road.
    I usually have at least two spares but I've burned up all the used 14.5s around here.
    note....the other side of this tire is worse but I'm gonna get one more Caravan hauled in on Monday
    Those are mobile home tires, I'd look at transporters, or people that sell them and set them up. Sometimes they pull the axles/tires.
    If you happen to blow a tire, crawl under the trailer and jack the axle up and chain it up, you might be able to limp it home on one tire.
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    My old trailer had those same rims. It's not easy to find a spare. I popped a flat carrying one of my heaviest loads ( 6300 payload + 2700 empty) and it was no fun. In fact it was stupid.Remember:squeezing out a little extra might not be worth getting a flat or busting an axle over.

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    Just sold a 16ft steel equipment trailer with open rims, got a brand new set of rims and D rated trailer tries for 200, plus an hour drive, they were of a big boat trailer, I even scraped the bent axels for the guy,...trailer was 2.5 ton empty way to heavy for me, rated for 7 ton tho
    Last edited by cummins; 05-10-2013 at 11:39 PM.

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    I hate it for anyone that own a trailer that uses 14.5 tires ! They are expensive, have very little tread even new, and thanks to lack of Steel belts don't last no time at all. Kinda nice for me, being a tire tech, never have to patch one more twice cause they wear out so fast.


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