8,000# x 18' Car Hauler

[Hematite]

I guess my lack of trailer knowledge is obvious.

I may want to trailer one of my tractors up to 100 miles on rare occasion - 50 miles of it on the highway.

The weight is around 5,000# to 5,500# with no attachments. I will have to make 2 trips - 1 for all the attachments, and 1 for the tractor.

I will be using my 2008 F150 4x4 which appears to be maxed out with this load.

I am of the opinion it would be better to get a 7,000# trailer than a 10,000# trailer as it will weigh less on my F150. The numbers seem pretty close overall.

Any other suggestions?

Yooper Dave

I went through exactly the same process of trying to find a light yet capable trailer. I went with a Load Light economy carhauler by Load Trail. It's 20 feet long, eight welded d rings, and swing down ramps. I was surprised to see that the actual weight is 1976 # for a 10,400 GVWR trailer. I questioned the store where I bought it and they said that Load Trail actually weighs each trailer so that is the actual weight.

It was ordered as a 9990 GVWR unit but their website info must be out of date since it came in as a 10,400. They were the only one I could find that WAS offering a 9990 in that price range. Also, it came through with silver mod wheels and a 5 inch channel tongue and frame, while the website shows white spoke wheels and a 4 inch tongue. It appears to be a very stout but light trailer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The guy I know who got pulled over was asked to prove his tow rating. He had the owners manual and original window sticker which showed the axle and spring package. The owners manual told the rest of the story. I am guessing they can get the info real quick. If not they will ask you to follow them to a DOT approved weight station until you can provide the necessary info. A boat dealer I know got busted in Georgia and was held up for 36 hours until a suitable truck was obtained. He was towing with a 2500 Dmax and they had to get a 3500 Dodge Dually due to being overweight while bring back a boat from Naples FL to Indiana.

I have a Towing Guide Manual that I bought from a major marine publications that goes back to 1998 and list all the axle codes and spring codes for all vehicles plus max tow rating for each. Its simple to use, like looking up a oil filter at Auto Zone. For example: You go Dodge, 2003, 1500, 4x4, regular cab, long bed, auto tranny, 3.73 gears=XXXX# max trailer weight.

I have seen guys along the Highway 67, which I live less than 1.5 miles from and I 69 which I live less than 2.5 miles from, pulled over and being forced to offload stuff onto roll back wreckers. Just last week I saw a guy hauling a load of Jet Skis on a GN and they were off loading 6 of the 30 or so that were stacked on it still in the crates to a wrecker.

Chris

 

[Hematite]

Diamondpilot:

If my truck is rated at 9300# towing and I'm pulling a 10400# GVWR trailer, is that a problem even if the load and trailer actually weigh 7600#, total?
The DOT people seem to have many different interpretations of the law from what I've heard.
It appears to be very difficult to do things right when towing.

 

[mwb]

I'm looking for a 7000 18'' tilt hyd bed .
What ya think somethin like that would run from where you got yours.?

Here is some info on Canadian made trailers with prices J.D.J. Trailers

They are well made; mfr link JDJ Trailer Manufactuers Inc.

cheers,
Mike

 

[Diamondpilot]

Diamondpilot:

If my truck is rated at 9300# towing and I'm pulling a 10400# GVWR trailer, is that a problem even if the load and trailer actually weigh 7600#, total?
The DOT people seem to have many different interpretations of the law from what I've heard.
It appears to be very difficult to do things right when towing.

In my state yes. I know its stupid but that is the way the DOT interprets the law. In reality you will probably never have a problem. I tow 3-4 times a week about 250 miles a week from April through late October and have been doing so for many years and have never been pulled over once. Keep your equipment in tip top shape, secure your load properly, and obey the speed limit and you may have the same good luck I have had.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

Don't they do alot of tandem (2 trailer) pulling in Indiana coming from the manufacturers?

Laws vary from state to state but in my area its illegal to haul a trailer, even empty, with a GVWR higher than the trucks towing capacity.

I am not qauestioning you Diamond, but I just have a hard time believing that could hold up in court.

 

[davo727]

Where do you get that info?

It seems like our trailer cops like to focus on one thing for a year.
Chris

If you have a 7k and your happy with it fine but if someone is asking if a 10k is better, im gonna say your darn right its a million times better!

Just goin on personal experience, and im not the trailer police but with the weight of a 18 ft 7k car trailer like he asked about plus the 5500 lb tractor it is over 7K already.

So how much more does the 10k trailer cost? Probably not a huge issue if hes looking at buying new anyway. Empty weight of trailer is 500 lbs more , not a big deal.

Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree, but just warning him to do some research first. My 18' 7K trailer weighs 1,250# empty so it can carry 5,750#. I realize this is the exception to be that light.

Chris

 

[yooperdave]

Lots of great information - thanks to everybody. I am still learning much.

My F150 has a 3.73 limited slip axle. I was ready to get the 10,000# trailer.

However, I also have the 7,200# GVWR towing package.

I assume I am now limited to a 7,000# trailer if I am to be legal while driving on the interstate.

The good news is that the trailer will hardly get used, will be driven less than 100 miles each way, and the tractor load is conservative.

I have an old 16' tandem axle utility trailer, and I do not know the load rating - I am thinking in the 5,000# range.

I just want to be safe hauling something heavier on occasion.

Regards,

Yooper Dave

 

[Diamondpilot]

Lots of great information - thanks to everybody. I am still learning much.

My F150 has a 3.73 limited slip axle. I was ready to get the 10,000# trailer.

However, I also have the 7,200# GVWR towing package.

I assume I am now limited to a 7,000# trailer if I am to be legal while driving on the interstate.

The good news is that the trailer will hardly get used, will be driven less than 100 miles each way, and the tractor load is conservative.

I have an old 16' tandem axle utility trailer, and I do not know the load rating - I am thinking in the 5,000# range.

I just want to be safe hauling something heavier on occasion.

Regards,

Yooper Dave

The 3.73's are good news. Now for the 7,200# GVWR, that is the max that can be on your trucks axles. So lets say you weigh the truck with you in it, all the stuff that lives in it like a tow strap, jumper cables, ect plus 3/4 tank of gas (just the way I weigh them since I am usually between full and 2/3 tank), plus you the driver and it weights 5,700#. You now take the 7200-5700 and that leaves you 1,500# for tongue weight or stuff in the bed. Remember, that is the max weight on the trucks axles so if you add more passengers or a bunch of tools that takes away from hitch tongue weight. Now remember to observe any limits placed on your hitch itself.

I believe your max GCWR, which equals the max weight the truck and trailer are if ran across the scales, is 15,000#. So in my example if your truck weighs 5,700# that would leave you with 9,300# for towing (15000-5700). This is as long as you do not exceed the 1,500# limit I talked about in the first paragraph.

By the way the truck I traded in in May, a 2007 F-150 Super Crew 4x4 FX4 with the 5.4, had just the numbers I used in my example.

GVWR=gross vehicle wheel rating (max weigh on the trucks axles)
GCWR=gross combined wheel rating (max weight of truck and trailer)

Chris

 

[Duffster]

I assume I am now limited to a 7,000# trailer if I am to be legal while driving on the interstate.

You are not limited to 7k in WI

Diamond was the first that I have ever heard that the trailer GVW can't exceed tow rating. The majority will use actual weight.

 

[davo727]

Right! Get the 10k trailer and if you are driving around at 7500 or 8000 lbs wonderful. You have a nicer stronger trailer with better brakes, better tires and extra margin of safety.

 

[Hematite]

Right! Get the 10k trailer and if you are driving around at 7500 or 8000 lbs wonderful. You have a nicer stronger trailer with better brakes, better tires and extra margin of safety.

+1.

 

[FlaDon]

I agree, but just warning him to do some research first. My 18' 7K trailer weighs 1,250# empty so it can carry 5,750#. I realize this is the exception to be that light.

Chris

Concidering our 16' 7K landscape trailer weighed 1980 pounds from the factory, that is light.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Concidering our 16' 7K landscape trailer weighed 1980 pounds from the factory, that is light.

Thats a heavy landscape. I just rebuilt one for a mowing company and put on new boards, made a spare tire mount, fixed about 20 broken welds, and built a fold down mesh gate. After I was done I had it weighed for him and it was a touch under 1,500#.

Chris

 

[mlauk]

Big Tex has a ligt duty 16' trailer that weighs 1430 pounds, it has 2-3500 axles, but I guess because the frame is so light, they only rate it at 4000 GVWR.

 

[kevinj]

Laws vary from state to state but in my area its illegal to haul a trailer, even empty, with a GVWR higher than the trucks towing capacity.

So how does a trucking company move a multi axle trailer with a single screw tractor?? It is done all the time around here, around here the axle weight is the factor not the tow vehicle.

 

[wvpolekat]

The guy I know who got pulled over was asked to prove his tow rating. He had the owners manual and original window sticker which showed the axle and spring package. The owners manual told the rest of the story. I am guessing they can get the info real quick. If not they will ask you to follow them to a DOT approved weight station until you can provide the necessary info. A boat dealer I know got busted in Georgia and was held up for 36 hours until a suitable truck was obtained. He was towing with a 2500 Dmax and they had to get a 3500 Dodge Dually due to being overweight while bring back a boat from Naples FL to Indiana.

I have a Towing Guide Manual that I bought from a major marine publications that goes back to 1998 and list all the axle codes and spring codes for all vehicles plus max tow rating for each. Its simple to use, like looking up a oil filter at Auto Zone. For example: You go Dodge, 2003, 1500, 4x4, regular cab, long bed, auto tranny, 3.73 gears=XXXX# max trailer weight.

I have seen guys along the Highway 67, which I live less than 1.5 miles from and I 69 which I live less than 2.5 miles from, pulled over and being forced to offload stuff onto roll back wreckers. Just last week I saw a guy hauling a load of Jet Skis on a GN and they were off loading 6 of the 30 or so that were stacked on it still in the crates to a wrecker.

Chris

This is all wrong (Not saying it isn't true) and illegal. In our justice system, burden of proof is ALWAYS on the accuser. Meaning, it is up to THEM to prove that you are over your ratings, NOT for you to prove you are not. The only thing they would be able to hold you on is if your weight was over your registration weight. Then, only after weighing you to prove it.

What they are doing in the case you describe is like pulling you over and telling you to prove that you were not speeding or get a ticket. That's just not how it works. They have the burden to prove their accusation. If they cannot, then you walk away.

It is also my understanding that the DOT could care less what your truck is rated to pull, the are arbitrary numbers with little basis in facts. They are completely unregulated. What they DO care about is if you are paying enough tax for your weight. That's what pays the bills. The exception would be something obviously unsafe, and in that case the ticket would be for the unsafe operation, not being overweight.

This is all based on Joe Schmoe and his private pickup and I have no idea how it works once you get into commercial vehicles or hauling for hire. I am sure Kalifornia is different as well.

I would be curious to hear a first hand account of someone getting a ticket for pulling a 10k rated trailer behind an S-10 or Ranger because they COULD exceed the weight rating, not because they ARE.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree with you guys that it makes no sense and would probably not hold up if challenged but its the way they operate around here. The pick on the little guys all the time like lawn care business and let the hot shotters and truckers roll right on through. That is up until the last couple of weeks I have seen more truckers pulled over than ever before.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

Keep in mind, when it comes to traffic laws, you are more often then not guilty until proven innocent. If you get a speeding ticket, the odds are that you will have to somehow prove that you were not speeding, good luck on that route. What Diamond Pilot is saying is that is the way they sometimes enforce the trailer laws where he lives, they do it that way because they can. If someone wants to fight it, they can, but most judges don't want to mess with that stuff so they will back up the police 99% of the time. If you have the time and money to hire a lawyer, you might stand a better chance of fighting a ticket, but most people don't have the time and money to mess with it.