Towing vs Hauling - Page 2

i leave mine open.

rather than compartments persay you can add stake pockets on the top of the sides.

Then make removable dividers that fit where you need them or can be used to extend up side boards. just remember to add eyebolts or rings to keep the sides togeather and help secure things.

taller side boards lean out and can break if you dont. I use chain attached via locking carrabiner to the eye bolts and then a load binder every 2-8 feet but space them how you want. ratchet straps work too and are more versitile.

i gave them spaced on 2' that way i can pin appliances with them without using straps.

also may sound over kill but run at least one chain ( i use 2 in a x) locked with a load binder. locking carabiner again in handle through chain so cant pop open over the rear of trailer to pin the rear board. if you lock brakes with just that rear board on you may send your load flying out the back.

after spending a half a day hand loading and stacking 20-40 appliances you dont want to have to do it again in the middle of road. not counting money saved from tickets and damage by a minute of time.

To get an estimated axle ratio jack up one side of the rear end, put a chalk mark on the drive shaft and a mark on the tire, rotate the tire 1 revolution and count how many times the drive shaft turns.
1 rotation of tire, 2 3/4 rotation of drive shaft = 2.75 gear ratio (2.79)
1 tire, 3 1/4 drive shaft = 3.25 (3.11)
1 tire, 3 1/2 drive shaft = 3.50 (3.56)
All numbers are approximate.

If I were you I would add sides to the trailer and put all the heavy large stuff on it, with all the smaller items in the truck bed. I have cages on my trucks and I heap them up and strap them down. I guess I must be spoiled with two yards within 30 miles and suburbs in between so I make money going to and from the yards.

My next investment is airbags. I'm taking a leaf out of the rear and adding 3000lb airbags. I'm also adding another crossmember.

Originally Posted by armygreywolf

My next investment is airbags. I'm taking a leaf out of the rear and adding 3000lb airbags. I'm also adding another crossmember.

I've had airbags in my last two trucks. They are nice to level you out. Just keep in mind they don't increase your vehicle's legal hauling or towing capacity. Usually have mine at about 50 psi.

Originally Posted by pjost

Not trying to be a smart a$$ Matador, but nobody here knows your truck or your trailer. You Know your truck and trailer.
Myself, I would not load the truck bed with anything and load the trailer up to 5000lbs. Gross. You load the bed up + the tounge weight and your suspension may not like it. Looks like your saggin pretty good on the pic. Rear pu tires are squatting some too. How are the brakes on your truck and trailer?
The one thing you don't want is to be over 5000 on that trailer, get pulled over by the WY HP, and have them crawling all up inside your colon.

Truck is squatting in that pic for placement reasons. First off, the bed is loaded out. And on top of that, the heavy stuff is mostly in front of the axles on the trailer. Bumper hitch didn't help any. Everything was yanking down on the bed rather than being balanced out on the frame. Need to keep the leverage of the trailer balanced on the axles and not leaning down on your hitch and you should be able to pull that load without any problem.

Originally Posted by matador

That was my first time towing with the truck. I should have put the TVs in the back. I had to remove everything from the school that day, though. They had it outside, and rain was coming. I loaded terribly and just tried to get done before the storm came.

Still, though, the truck was perfectly happy at 55 MPH (My normal towing speed).

oh yeah no worries man, I was just answering pjost on the sagging and all that. the way it is loaded always has a lot to do with that. And if it worked for you, no big deal. But if the load gets bigger, strategy of weight placement comes into play. Not that I do a lot of trailer hauling myself, but back in the day making runs with my dad, we did. He taught me a lot about that sort of stuff, and once in a while still, it comes in handy.

Originally Posted by pjost

I've had airbags in my last two trucks. They are nice to level you out. Just keep in mind they don't increase your vehicle's legal hauling or towing capacity. Usually have mine at about 50 psi.

Airbags are nice BUT if you use too much air pressure you will bust your frame in between you airbag and the leaf spring eyelet. Seen many bale bed pickups this away. And 50 psi sounds a bit high but if that works for you go for it.

Originally Posted by taterjuice

Airbags are nice BUT if you use too much air pressure you will bust your frame in between you airbag and the leaf spring eyelet. Seen many bale bed pickups this away. And 50 psi sounds a bit high but if that works for you go for it.

I'll keep that in mind tater. Thanks for the heads up.

P.S. I should have mentioned I'm running 50psi on a 1 ton pickup. (Dully with a flat bed)
Yes, on my old half ton 50 was running pretty stiff. Usually ran that half ton @ 30psi or so.

Originally Posted by pjost

I've had airbags in my last two trucks. They are nice to level you out. Just keep in mind they don't increase your vehicle's legal hauling or towing capacity. Usually have mine at about 50 psi.

Correct, the tag on my truck has the GVWR at 8600 lbs. With me in it I am 6250lbs. I have D range 37x12.5r17 bfg mud terrain km2 tires, I've got a good handle on things, this monster isn't your run of the mill 1/2 ton.