7,000# vs 10,000# trailer

[Blk88GT]

I don't believe you have to match them, but I'm no expert. There are adjustments on them, in the form of chain tension. You can remove the arms if you're unloaded, or run with little preload if you don't like the ride.

You wouldn't be illegal pulling a 10k RATED trailer with a vehicle rated for 9k.

You would be illegal if you were pulling a load that weighed 10k with a vehicle rated for 9k.

Clear as mud?

[KeithInSpace]

Your understanding of the weight distributing thing is the same as mine.

Discussion earlier in this thread related to GVWR which inlcudes your towing capacity. Even if you don't have a load, the CAPABILITY to carry more than your rated towing capacity is as illegal as actually being overloaded. At least that's what I was led to believe.

Regarding the weight rating, it probably would not matter in the least unless, God forbid, I were in an accident with injuries and the trailer attached. There even being a grey area here opens me up to a great deal of liability. Once my wife gets on the path, it would take a black-and-white passage to change her mind.

In all frankness, the 10,000# trailer has VERY heavy chain hooks for the safety chains that I'm not sure would even fit in my hitch. Everything about it is SOOO much heavier...a good thing for many reasons, but it is definitely a whole different class of trailer. I can find 100 good reasons to get the heavier trailer, but there are some other things that are definitely weighing the decision down to the lesser trailer.

Appreciate the ongoing dialogue.

[firedog]

Even if you don't have a load, the CAPABILITY to carry more than your rated towing capacity is as illegal as actually being overloaded

While I don't agree with you here, what I think is really kind a moot point. It's what the officer that pulls you over thinks. Whether it's legal or not is moot, if the guy writing the ticket thinks it wrong, period.

However, one thing you can do is; get the more robust trailer and register it a a lighter weight. Either the seller can do this at the time of purchase, or you can when you title and register it. The registered weight will be the legal max for the trailer not what is built to. There is always some overbuild by the maufacturer. I say get the 10k and register it a 9k. You have that warm fuzzy feeling with your "more robust" 9k trailer.

[KeithInSpace]

A 10 minute check over Virginia regulations don't offer any 'black and white' explaination of the relationship between towing capacity and trailer carrying capacity and the legality of that relationship. It would seem that I'm OK as long as I don't LOAD it to over 10,000#, but that is by extension of other regulations. Still firmly in the grey area.

Regarding registration, the Certificate of Origin is needed to get a trailer title in Virginia. This certificate will have the trailer's rating shown on it. Unfortunately, I don't have the flexibility of simply "downgrading" the trailer rating to suit compatibility with my current vehicle.

Still sleeping on it. Talk is cheap. Buying the trailer is expensive. All of this discussion is great.

[2520tlh]

Thats weird. In IN, you can plate the trailer anything under what the max weight is listed on the title. I remember that they specifically asked me what i wanted it plated for. Same goes for trucks here.

Im no expert on this topic, just throwing in what i remember.

T.

[drtydeed]

Originally Posted by Blk88GT

I don't believe you have to match them, but I'm no expert. There are adjustments on them, in the form of chain tension. You can remove the arms if you're unloaded, or run with little preload if you don't like the ride.

You wouldn't be illegal pulling a 10k RATED trailer with a vehicle rated for 9k.

You would be illegal if you were pulling a load that weighed 10k with a vehicle rated for 9k.

Clear as mud?

I disagree. You're on the hook for whatever the trailer is rated for...not what it is actually carrying. That's why adding 10K trailer behind 16K GVWR puts you in CDL. Doesn't matter if there is anything on it. Will you get pulled over? Not likely? But could you? Absolutely.

[drtydeed]

Originally Posted by 2520tlh

Thats weird. In IN, you can plate the trailer anything under what the max weight is listed on the title. I remember that they specifically asked me what i wanted it plated for. Same goes for trucks here.

Im no expert on this topic, just throwing in what i remember.

T.

X2. Same in PA. You can register it for less, but not more than manufacturer spec.

[bx23barry]

Leaving the law out of it (it is state by state until you start "interstate" hauling but if the state hyway is fed funded, who knows...), The idea that ya need a 10,000lb trailer to haul a max of @4000lbs (if ya loaded all your attachments and your atv on it at the same time) is pretty silly. Especially with your "light" tow vehicle. The "wear and tear" on your tow rig the extra weight of the bigger trailer will create is reason enough not to get it, leave alone fuel mileage. There is nothing unsafe about hauling less than the rated weight on a trailer (4000lbs on a 7000lb trailer is nowhere near overloaded) and a lighter trailer will stop better than a heavier one. Heck there are tons of 4000Lb boats running 70mph on little tired, single axles without brakes and I don't hear much yelling about that. A 7000lb dual axle trailer with brakes on both axles is plenty safe and smart for what Keith is planning.

[KeithInSpace]

Well, I stopped by a different dealership...the local Leonard place. They have a 7' x 20' 10,000# wood deck dovetail with folding ramps that has been sitting in their yard for 14 months now (manufactured 11/2006, delivered to dealership 02/2007). It has never been on the road or titled. The Regional Manager will sell it to me for $2,500 out the door (inclusive of taxes and title). Seems like a heck of a deal, so I said yes. It has a couple of minor rust spots on the top of one of the fenders, but nothing that is a big deal. They'll sandblast right out.

The thing I really like about this trailer is it looks "lighter" than the 10,000# trailer I was looking at before. That is, the frame steel is thicker, but not as tall, so the deck is physically closer to the ground. In stature, it looks much like the 7,000# trailer I was looking at before. I'm not sure what that means, but since I'm not ever planning on loading it to capacity, I'm not too worried about it...this trailer is CHEAPER than a 7' x 18' 7,000# trailer at the my regular dealership. And it LOOKS much better...heavier fenders, cleaner lines, nicer touches. I like the way the steel goes under the frame better on this trailer, also. On the first one, it was shorter and under the front, on this one the tongue steel goes very deep into the middle of the trailer, which I like.

20' is a little longer than I was looking for, but it is certainly more flexible. What are you going to do. They list the weight at 1,550# on the title...he thinks it is closer to 1,800#. That is the same weight as the 7,000# trailer from my first dealership...the 10,000# there weighed about 2,000#, confirming my suspicions about the frame steel.

I'm holding off on the weight distribution hitch for now. I may add it, but want to get the trailer on the truck, load it up, and see what it looks like. The rear of my truck has proven to be very stout (I've had well over 2,000# of material in there and it was just starting to show real saggage), so I'm just going to kick it around for a week or two.

Thanks again for everyone's input. Planning on picking it up tomorrow (Friday) if all goes to plan.

[MrJimi]

Bigger is better and you can get your hitch and controller at
Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels
a supporting member here and they do give a TBN discount

and we hope you will take lots of pictures of it and paint is easy to touch up
I'm happy for you