Empty trailer weight

[LD1]

As some of you know, I have been looking for a 24' gooseneck equipment trailer for some time now. NOT a deck over.

I have a 20+5 dual tandem deck-over. And it's overkill for my MX and my mini ex that weighs about 8k.

The empty trailer weight is 6500 pounds or so...and 8 tires on the ground. It's a tank back there just empty. I can drag dad's 22' bumper pull 12k like it's not even there. So a lighter trailer is one of many reasons to get a new trailer.

However something is a miss here....

Here is a load-trail....24' full width trailer. Sticker says empty weight is north of 6000 pounds. Don't seem right and load trail has no info on their site.

Then I come across this 32' iron bull. Same full width deck and looks equally as good/heavy build quality.

Since the MFG's websites seem entirely lacking on giving a spec that seems rather important....I know options change things, but can anyone shed some real world idea on what these weigh. It seems quite odd that the 24' trailer weighs almost 3000# more than the 32'?

 

[skipmarcy]

My 24' Load Trail weighs 4210 lbs. Has 8" channel frame w/10" frame gooseneck. 16" OC crossmembers plus a couple extras for bolting deck boards. Mine doesn't have the toolbox and the jacks are inboard with a little expanded metal tray for chains, binders etc.. That toolbox probably adds a couple hundred lbs., could be heavier weight channel, different ramps etc. Spare tire, winch plate etc. all add weight.

Just stripped the deck off of mine to replace it and the trailer is COMPLETELY painted/powdered everywhere - no bare metal anywhere. Load Trail uses a built wiring harness too and is secured better than any trailer I've ever looked at. Mine is a 2014 model and if they still make them like mine is, I would definitely buy again.

Another factor I wonder - if they weigh these trailers with new, soaking wet treated lumber it MIGHT lose a bunch of lbs. when it dries out ? I know I'm letting the boards I bought dry out some before installing them - those 16' 2x8s are mighty heavy right now !!!

 

[LD1]

My 24' Load Trail weighs 4210 lbs. Has 8" channel frame w/10" frame gooseneck. 16" OC crossmembers plus a couple extras for bolting deck boards. Mine doesn't have the toolbox and the jacks are inboard with a little expanded metal tray for chains, binders etc.. That toolbox probably adds a couple hundred lbs., could be heavier weight channel, different ramps etc. Spare tire, winch plate etc. all add weight.

Just stripped the deck off of mine to replace it and the trailer is COMPLETELY painted/powdered everywhere - no bare metal anywhere. Load Trail uses a built wiring harness too and is secured better than any trailer I've ever looked at. Mine is a 2014 model and if they still make them like mine is, I would definitely buy again.

Another factor I wonder - if they weigh these trailers with new, soaking wet treated lumber it MIGHT lose a bunch of lbs. when it dries out ? I know I'm letting the boards I bought dry out some before installing them - those 16' 2x8s are mighty heavy right now !!!

I'd be surprised if they actually weigh the trailers for stickering purposes. Rather it's a calculated #

But looking at the two trailers I posted pics of.....how can A 32' (with 10" channel frame) be 3500# and the 24' trailer be 6300? A toolbox, different ramps, and wet deck boards don't nearly double it's weight. Especially when there is 8' less trailer to begin with

 

[skipmarcy]

I'm not up & up on it but when I was looking to buy and researching back in 2014 I found that the channel is rated at lbs. per foot - i.e. 16 lbs/ft, 19 lbs/ft etc. That would make a huge difference right there and might be the difference you're seeing. Then again it could be all a big mistake in advertising ...

 

[nyone]

Well this may not specifically be of much help for that type of trailer I can tell you that a standard cam2 6'x12' 12k dump trailer empty is about 2'400lbs on the scale. I dont think that 3,500lb number is correct.

 

[RandyT]

Trailer manufacturers like to play around with the numbers. Like 14K rated trailers with 6K axles. So that 3.5K could be axle weight but the trailer weighs 4.5K so it starts with 1K tongue weight.

 

[LD1]

I agree. I think 3500# is low for a 32' trailer especially the full 102" wide one.

I have been looking for a 24-26' trailer. Most of the MFG's that publish full specs are between 3500-4000# for that length. Depending on options.

A 3 pound per foot difference in channel iron would amount to maybe 150 pound difference. Tool box, extra jack, tie downs, etc maybe a few hundred more.

But aside from thinking 3500 is too low for a 32'.....I equally think 6300# has to be a misprint for a 24' trailer.

Even optioned to the max....it shouldn't make a 2500-3000 pound difference.

And how in the world do you build a 24' trailer out of 8" channel iron that weighs as much as my deck-over with 12" I-beams, a foot longer, and a pair of dual tandem 12k axles?

 

[Midniteoyl]

Have you actually weighed your trailer?

 

[LD1]

Have you actually weighed your trailer?

Yes

 

[LD1]

Have you actually weighed your trailer?

Are you saying you don't think 6300 pounds for the pictured load trail is NOT unreasonable when most other MFG's are in the 3500-4000 pound range for similar?

 

[Midniteoyl]

Are you saying you don't think 6300 pounds for the pictured load trail is NOT unreasonable when most other MFG's are in the 3500-4000 pound range for similar?

No, just wondering if you weighed it and compared it to the sticker. I'm in the same state of disbelief as you.

 

[LD1]

No, just wondering if you weighed it and compared it to the sticker. I'm in the same state of disbelief as you.

For clarification I have weighed MY dual tandem 25' 24k gooseneck

I have not weighed the load trail. Those are dealer pics from it sitting on a lot.

At first I thought maybe just the wrong pic for the trailer. But the it does say 14k

I'm wondering if perhaps that's a 14k deck-over.....built like mine just smaller axles. But still ibeam frame

 

[nisaacs]

The gvw tag also says 16"x8" wheels, that can't be, so maybe a typo on the empty weight. My 83"x24' Load Max, weighs 4500. The 102" wide trailers, do use two frames however.

 

[Gee Ray]

http://www.norstarcompany.com/Documents/ETG.pdf2020 Load Trail GC14 GC0224072​

$9,995.002020 Load Trail GC14 GC0224072​

24 X 102" TANDEM AXLE GOOSE NECK CAR HAULER STYLE TRAILER WITH REMOVABLE DIAMOND PLATE FENDERS, LED LIGHTS, FRONT TOOL BOX, 2" RUB RAIL, MAX RAMPS POWDER COATED FRAME, 10 PLY TIRES, CALL FOR MORE DETAILS.

• ConditionNew
• Stock24482
• ColorBLACK
• Weight 5100lbs.
• Width102
• Axle Capacity7000
• Axle Quantity2
• Hitch TypeGooseneck
• AxleTandem
• GVWR14000 lbs

http://www.norstarcompany.com/Documents/ETG.pdf

The 32 foot Iron bull = 5020 pounds
The 24 foot Load Trail =5100 pounds


The 30 foot Load Trails that I looked at a few months back was heavier then my 30 foot Big Tex.

I would guess that the people posting are not posting the correct info. I have found that many people in the trailer business worked at Walmart last week. When you find a good person keep their name for your needs.

Also a few questions, what if you remove 4 of the tires? Can you look at the weight rating of the tires that are on the trailer? If you run 14 ply tires the 4 tires should cover the 8000 mini ex + 6500 empty trailer. The goose neck will still catch the wind but how many miles are you putting on the trailer? Is it cost effective to change trailers?

 

[nikerret]

http://www.norstarcompany.com/Documents/ETG.pdf

The 32 foot Iron bull = 5020 pounds
The 24 foot Load Trail =5100 pounds

The way I read the poster you included is the 32’ Iron Bull is 5,020 pounds, with 83” wide deck. The optional 102” wide deck would weigh more.

When looked at, in that light, the Load Trail tag listing the weight at 6,230 pounds seems realistic.

View attachment 703842

I believe the “3,500” is a misprint. The Load Trail is probably close(ish).

My Diamond C dump trailer says the empty weight is 4,500 pounds. It’s around 5,160 pounds, on the scales. I figure they don’t include the weight of the pump and battery, but that doesn’t cover all of the 660 pound discrepancy.

 

[LD1]

http://www.norstarcompany.com/Documents/ETG.pdf2020 Load Trail GC14 GC0224072​

$9,995.002020 Load Trail GC14 GC0224072​

24 X 102" TANDEM AXLE GOOSE NECK CAR HAULER STYLE TRAILER WITH REMOVABLE DIAMOND PLATE FENDERS, LED LIGHTS, FRONT TOOL BOX, 2" RUB RAIL, MAX RAMPS POWDER COATED FRAME, 10 PLY TIRES, CALL FOR MORE DETAILS.

• ConditionNew
• Stock24482
• ColorBLACK
• Weight 5100lbs.
• Width102
• Axle Capacity7000
• Axle Quantity2
• Hitch TypeGooseneck
• AxleTandem
• GVWR14000 lbs

http://www.norstarcompany.com/Documents/ETG.pdf

The 32 foot Iron bull = 5020 pounds
The 24 foot Load Trail =5100 pounds


The 30 foot Load Trails that I looked at a few months back was heavier then my 30 foot Big Tex.

I would guess that the people posting are not posting the correct info. I have found that many people in the trailer business worked at Walmart last week. When you find a good person keep their name for your needs.

Also a few questions, what if you remove 4 of the tires? Can you look at the weight rating of the tires that are on the trailer? If you run 14 ply tires the 4 tires should cover the 8000 mini ex + 6500 empty trailer. The goose neck will still catch the wind but how many miles are you putting on the trailer? Is it cost effective to change trailers?

Changing trailers isn't about being cost effective or efficient. I want the lower deck, not a deck over.

I agree that the 3500 is too light for a 102"x32'....but still don't believe a 24' load trail is anywhere close to 6300. Just give up too much load capacity.

There comes a point of overkill at the cost of payload.

I know some are gonna say how it's built heavier....will last longer...etc. sure....I could build a 10,000 pound trailer and put a pair of 7k axles under it and it would be a tank and last forever. But for a 4k payload what's the point?

When most of the other big names in the game are at 3500-4000 pounds for a 24' trailer.....I find it really hard to believe that any manufacture is going 2500 pounds over that for no reason

 

[newbury]

c'mon - look at the labels

<snip>
View attachment 703721

The top label is at an angle and not aligned with the lower label, indicating careless labeling. They probably just put the wrong label on it.
They did the same with my enclosed trailer - I paid for a 10K GVWR but they slapped a 7K GVWR on it. But I picked it up at the factory and it only took them ~20 minutes to get it properly labeled. If I hadn't picked it up at the factory it probably would have taken weeks.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm curious why the first trailer that the OP listed says that it has an automatic transmission. That normally would send flags up for me when talking about a trailer.

 

[LD1]

I'm curious why the first trailer that the OP listed says that it has an automatic transmission. That normally would send flags up for me when talking about a trailer.

I don't read too much into that. Sometimes on craigslist or FB marketplace, if you list under a certain category (like trying to sell a trailer under vehicle category)....certain fields cannot be left blank. So I won't hold that against them. And FB market place is the worst at trying to pick a category for anything farming related. They don't have a "farm/garden" category like craigslist

 

[sresites]

I just picked up mine couple weeks ago. It can be optioned with a gooseneck. Empty weight is 4540 lbs. I had serious reservations about this trailer when I first saw delivered pics. Pics badly distorted what I thought bad quality. I was wrong. It’s a great unit. 26’ 102” 16k, 10” channel frame. Full tilt, hydraulic Jack & tilt with wireless remote. GCWR in second pic 29,110 lbs. Handled beautifully.