Derating a trailer

[Btown]

A few years ago a friend of mine was pulled over on Rt2 in MA with his work truck. He was driving an F350 dually (company truck with lettering) with tool body. He was towing a 14K lbs bumper pull trailer with a track skid steer. The officer made him go through the truck, show proof of a pre-trip, checked the function of the trailer brakes and emergency brakes, and checked his Class A CDL. The officer was targeting (vocally) small contractors and landscapers who thought they could get away without a CDL in a dually truck and trailer.

See in MA, you need to comply with the federal rule of the Single or combined GVWR of 26K but also, MA regulates trailers over 10K as requiring a CDL. Son in NH I can tow a 14K trailer with my pickup, but once I cross the state line, I'm in violation (no CDL).

He was operating a commercial vehicle for commercial purposes. If he was driving a dually with a normal bed towing the exact same load. The police officer would not have done this inspection. In MA you can tow a trailer over 10K with a combined GVW over 26K and you will be within the law. In MA they recognize the C in CDL stands for Commercial.

 

[buickanddeere]

Given the completion to build trailers as cheap as possible . Just because a trailer is 途ated for 10,000lbs does not mean is should be loaded to 10,000lbs .

 

[LD1]

Given the completion to build trailers as cheap as possible . Just because a trailer is 途ated for 10,000lbs does not mean is should be loaded to 10,000lbs .

Right, because if a trailer were loaded within its ratings and failed.....the liability would be on the MFG, and it wouldnt take too many of them liability claims to either make them go out of business, or change their ways.

Its funny, alot of threads on TBN about overloading a trailer, maybe just one time for something abnormal a short distance and no main highways, or whatever. And many people always say....should be fine, they are usually overbuilt...safety factor, etc etc.

Now you are saying they are cheaply built and shouldnt even be loaded to what they are rated for.:laughing: Give me a break

 

[paulfun9]

Given the completion to build trailers as cheap as possible . Just because a trailer is 途ated for 10,000lbs does not mean is should be loaded to 10,000lbs .

I see very few cheaply built trailers that cant properly handle their full weight rating. The few that I do see are custom built by a no name builder who somehow gets them licensed when in fact they are probably worse than the overbuilt home brew trailers that we used to see lots of before all the government regulation got so tight on home built units.
When last shopping for a trailer we honestly didn't find anything that we would have to think twice about loading to its full weight on a regular basis from any of the major builders that are sold local to us. In fact most were overbuilt and I wouldn't hesitate to have them rated higher if it was possible.

 

[lennyzx11]

On a somewhat related note,

My 2016 H&H MX Speedloader 20 ft tilt trailer has 2 new axles with brakes and tire's. The axles are rated for 5 k each.

But the original sticker is for the 3500 lb axles it was originally equipped with.

What is the LEGAL rating of this trailer?

 

[LD1]

On a somewhat related note,

My 2016 H&H MX Speedloader 20 ft tilt trailer has 2 new axles with brakes and tire's. The axles are rated for 5 k each.

But the original sticker is for the 3500 lb axles it was originally equipped with.

What is the LEGAL rating of this trailer?

3500# x 2

 

[LD1]

On a somewhat related note,

My 2016 H&H MX Speedloader 20 ft tilt trailer has 2 new axles with brakes and tire's. The axles are rated for 5 k each.

But the original sticker is for the 3500 lb axles it was originally equipped with.

What is the LEGAL rating of this trailer?

3500#.

 

[TMGT]

On a somewhat related note,

My 2016 H&H MX Speedloader 20 ft tilt trailer has 2 new axles with brakes and tire's. The axles are rated for 5 k each.

But the original sticker is for the 3500 lb axles it was originally equipped with.

What is the LEGAL rating of this trailer?

Whatever the original rating is, so probably 7-8k.

 

[ultrarunner]

Lots of derated trailers and trucks in California... derated from the Manufacturer.

Super Duty F 250 and 350 under 10k pounds and 12k trailers just under 10k.

It has to do with license requirements mostly.

Now a boat or RV trailer are not held to the same.

 

[lennyzx11]

3500#.

I don't understand. It was rated for 7k with two 3500 lb axles. And now with two 5 k axles, it's only half of original?