cary on 7k trailer... real capacity?

[dave2500]

Hello,
I know technically a trailer with 2 3500lb axles can only hold about 6k payload...
But im sure that this has a large safety margin built in for hitting holes and loads not loaded right...

Every year i have to go about 100 miles to get coal. i try to get as much as possible,
I normally put 3 tons in the trailer and one in my truck..
It has new "E" rated tires on the trailer *15 inch

Is it safe to put 4 tons in this trailer or would the risk of bending something be too high... weight is distributed almost perfectly

on a side not... if I doesnt hit big holes, obviously not all the time, but how much can a 3500lb axle really take?

I have brakes on both axles
Thank you everyone,
Dave

 

[bcp]

Welcome to TBN.

Please post your location, at least in general, for better answers.

Bruce

 

[Fallon]

It's a bad idea to overload the axles intentionally on the truck & trailer. You are going to be overloading things separately, not to mention towing any load behind that much weight in the bed. It's a bad idea, dangerous & illegal.

 

[bcp]

But he might be on a 10mph dirt road in eastern Morocco, for all we know.

Bruce

 

[3Ts]

I know technically a trailer with 2 3500lb axles can only hold about 6k payload...

Probably not that much. How much does your trailer weigh? It's probably around 2k empty. Thus 7k - 2k = 5k payload

But im sure that this has a large safety margin built in for hitting holes and loads not loaded right...

Probably, but it's never a good idea to count on safety margins. They are there for a reason. For example, impact loads (i.e. your pot hole reference) can impose loads that are many times "normal"

 

[Jstpssng]

But he might be on a 10mph dirt road in eastern Morocco, for all we know.

Bruce

100 miles at 10 mph?

I've seen trailer tongues bent because they were overloaded. What is it for a pickup? A ton in the bed is a pretty good load.

Somewhere on this site is the story of a member who went for a wild ride after suddenly snapping the front straps holding his tractor down causing it to roll backward, losing his tongue weight. He later determined that while he was within the weight rating for the trailer, it had flexed on a bump causing his straps to break.

 

[fried1765]

Hello,
I know technically a trailer with 2 3500lb axles can only hold about 6k payload...
But im sure that this has a large safety margin built in for hitting holes and loads not loaded right...

Every year i have to go about 100 miles to get coal. i try to get as much as possible,
I normally put 3 tons in the trailer and one in my truck..
It has new "E" rated tires on the trailer *15 inch

Is it safe to put 4 tons in this trailer or would the risk of bending something be too high... weight is distributed almost perfectly

on a side not... if I doesnt hit big holes, obviously not all the time, but how much can a 3500lb axle really take?

I have brakes on both axles
Thank you everyone,
Dave

A trailer with two 3500lb. axles will weigh about 2000 lbs. EMPTY!
That leaves 5000 lbs. available for cargo.
4 tons of coal = 8000 lbs, on a trailer rated for 5000 lbs. of cargo.
That is an80% overload!

 

[fried1765]

Hello,
I know technically a trailer with 2 3500lb axles can only hold about 6k payload...
But im sure that this has a large safety margin built in for hitting holes and loads not loaded right...

Every year i have to go about 100 miles to get coal. i try to get as much as possible,
I normally put 3 tons in the trailer and one in my truck..
It has new "E" rated tires on the trailer *15 inch

Is it safe to put 4 tons in this trailer or would the risk of bending something be too high... weight is distributed almost perfectly

on a side not... if I doesnt hit big holes, obviously not all the time, but how much can a 3500lb axle really take?

I have brakes on both axles
Thank you everyone,
Dave

A trailer with two 3500lb. axles will weigh 2000+ lbs. EMPTY!
That leaves less than 5000 lbs. available for cargo.
4 tons of coal = 8000 lbs, on a trailer rated for 5000 lbs. of cargo, towing 100 miles?
That is an 60%+ overload!
And ..... how much bumper hitch tongue weight on a truck already loaded with 2000 lbs. in the bed?
You REALLY think that would be safe?

 

[4570Man]

If you factor in a 1000 pound hitch weight and a 2000 pound trailer weight you’re probably fine with 3 tons on the trailer. There’s no way I’d put 4 tons in a 7000 pound trailer.

 

[LD1]

Probably not that much. How much does your trailer weigh? It's probably around 2k empty. Thus 7k - 2k = 5k payload


Probably, but it's never a good idea to count on safety margins. They are there for a reason. For example, impact loads (i.e. your pot hole reference) can impose loads that are many times "normal"

A trailer with two 3500lb. axles will weigh about 2000 lbs. EMPTY!
That leaves 5000 lbs. available for cargo.
4 tons of coal = 8000 lbs, on a trailer rated for 5000 lbs. of cargo.
That is an80% overload!

A trailer with two 3500lb. axles will weigh 2000+ lbs. EMPTY!
That leaves less than 5000 lbs. available for cargo.
4 tons of coal = 8000 lbs, on a trailer rated for 5000 lbs. of cargo, towing 100 miles?
That is an 60%+ overload!
And ..... how much bumper hitch tongue weight on a truck already loaded with 2000 lbs. in the bed?
You REALLY think that would be safe?

You forgot tongue weight.

7000# trailer - 2000# weight + tongue weight is the actual (legal) carry capacity.

Put 1000# on the tongue and you are fine with your 3 Tino load. But not sure if you are doing that with an additional ton in the bed.


If you have a modern one ton ....put 1000# on the hitch....ton in bed......6k on trailer......yep. that would be fine but that's about the limit.