GVWR With vs. Without Tongue Weight

[Builder]

I like my 10K equipment trailer right at or near 1,000 lbs tongue weight. I'll strive to do the same with my new dump trailer. That way I avoid having to use my weight distributing hitch, although technically, anything over 7,500 lbs is supposed to require it. Seems I am the only one that ever even read that... and it looks and rides just fine... but I suppose The Man could nail me on that little gem as well.

Paranoia. It never ends.

Dougster

You had me until the end!!! I'd doubt the cops carry a brochure about your truck where in the glossary, it states that you need weight distributing over 7500lbs. I am also aware of this, but I don't think the cops care about weight distributing until you go over 10K.

The WD hitch at 7500lbs is BS.

I will leave you with this based on 20+ years experience with CDLs, trailering & driving:

1. Cops rarely bother checking 2500HD's with reasonably sized trailers.

2. Cops prefer bigger trucks. It's a jucier target and there's lots more "problems" to find-log books, fuel stickers, reflective tape, brake/tire/suspension problems, licencing problems and of course, overweight problems. Heck, you can be fined in PA for having a ripped drivers seat in a commercial truck.

3. Stop worying so much. You really are paranoid. You must drive your old lady NUTS!!!! LOL

j/k. relax and make sure you buy enough trailer +10%, but don't exceed your tongue weight.

 

[Dougster]

I will leave you with this based on 20+ years experience with CDLs, trailering & driving:
1. Cops rarely bother checking 2500HD's with reasonably sized trailers.
2. Cops prefer bigger trucks. It's a jucier target and there's lots more "problems" to find-log books, fuel stickers, reflective tape, brake/tire/suspension problems, licencing problems and of course, overweight problems. Heck, you can be fined in PA for having a ripped drivers seat in a commercial truck.
3. Stop worying so much. You really are paranoid. You must drive your old lady NUTS!!!! LOL
j/k. relax and make sure you buy enough trailer +10%, but don't exceed your tongue weight.

My paranoia in regard to The Man is well-justified. If you want the rest of that long story, you'll just have to PM me.

Believe it or not, smaller commercial trucks towing landscape trailers, equipment trailers and dump trailers actually ARE a routine target of The Man in my state. This does not happen on the limited access highways... but on major secondary roads when and where you least expect it. I never noticed it before I bought my own truck and trailer.

My girlfriend thinks I am the cat's meow! Or at least I think she does!

Doctor's appointment next week for new HBP meds.

Dougster

 

[Ductape]

Dougster...... just tell us what it was you did !

Not that i don't sympathize.... i drove commercially for 25 years or so.... and i feel your pain. But perhaps you may over-analyze just a little?




Scott

P.S. Go online and read some articles about the latest developments up here. You may want to rethink moving up here !! I feel my taxes going up already !!!!

 

[Dougster]

Dougster...... just tell us what it was you did! Not that i don't sympathize.... i drove commercially for 25 years or so.... and i feel your pain. But perhaps you may over-analyze just a little?

It is a sad fact. I don't have any use for cops and I go overboard on just about everything to stay out of their sights. I'm sure you have read lately about our "less-than-fully-law-abiding" cops down here. Let's just say that I have unfortunately come to know more of them than would seem to be my share.

Go online and read some articles about the latest developments up here. You may want to rethink moving up here!! I feel my taxes going up already!!!!

No matter how bad things get up North, you always have the luxury of knowing that they are 100 times worse down here. I was just up in your beautiful state last weekend. It was marvelous! The feeling of freedom, clean air, low taxes and open spaces was wonderful. After doing some trailer and land shopping, we had dinner in Portsmouth right on the water and headed home to Taxachusetts... but only after stopping at one of your state-run booze shops for some fine old brandy that I could never afford down here. I am sipping some as we speak!

Dougster

 

[Ductape]

It is a sad fact. I don't have any use for cops and I go overboard on just about everything to stay out of their sights.


I know what you are saying. You only need be harassed and/or ticketed for something you haven't done once to make you feel this way ! (plus.... just watch one episode of "cops" on tv !)


After doing some trailer and land shopping, we had dinner in Portsmouth right on the water and headed home to Taxachusetts... but only after stopping at one of your state-run booze shops for some fine old brandy that I could never afford down here. I am sipping some as we speak!

OK.... i'm with you on this one ! How can anyone not love a state that puts discount liquor stores RIGHT ON the interstate ??!!!


May i ask what area you were looking at land in? I'm always browsing, but can't ever find anything i consider affordable in my own state. Hence my reason for looking at land in Maine. But.... i guess if i compared NH land to land in Ma..... i might feel it was affordable !

 

[john_bud]

I know of no company that rates its trailer GVWRs lower than the sum of its stated axle ratings... even though physically the trailer might be built on higher rated axles (example: certain Downeaster trailers).

That goes back to the point of my original question. Am I buying myself some legal margin or insurance here? Sounds like you think I am.

Dougster

Dougster,

Again you have started a fun (cough --paranoid-- cough) thread!

I quoted you as my trailer was sold as a 10,000# trailer, but has 2 axles that are rated at 6,000 each.

On your thread --

Here's what "The Man" will do. If you have for some reason pissed them off, or if they are bored or need to raise revenue -->they stop you for a full check. Lic and reg please. Then the fun starts, they check the binders and chain, load rating of the tires, lights, reflective stickers, etc. They may even pull out 8 small scales and weigh each tire all at once. They can then check the load on each axle of the truck and trailer. The capacity of the tires also has to match.

This is for you to think about. You can be within the total load rating of the trailer and truck but still be ticketed for overload. Huh? Yeah, if any one axle is over loaded due to position of the equipment/load.

I do have one question. I think I know the answer, but... here goes.

If you DON'T use a weight distributing hitch about 10% or so of the trailer weight is on the back bumper. Right? That means that a 10,000# trailer weight has an effective weight of 9000#. Still right? So, if you DO use a WD hitch and it provides a net UP force on the ball, does it effectively move some of the truck weight onto the trailer? So, does the use of a WD hitch DECREASE the trailer capacity by the rating of the spring bars? Meaning that the same 10,000# trailer with WD hitch would be overloaded. Right??


Also, in reading the thread, there was a line about not losing or distroying the sticker on the trailer. Uh, just supposing that a person were to pressure wash his trailer and the sticker and the paint it was sitting on blew off. I mean, just supposing - what then?

jb

 

[Rara Avis]

Dougster,

I do have one question. I think I know the answer, but... here goes.

If you DON'T use a weight distributing hitch about 10% or so of the trailer weight is on the back bumper. Right? That means that a 10,000# trailer weight has an effective weight of 9000#. Still right? So, if you DO use a WD hitch and it provides a net UP force on the ball, does it effectively move some of the truck weight onto the trailer? So, does the use of a WD hitch DECREASE the trailer capacity by the rating of the spring bars? Meaning that the same 10,000# trailer with WD hitch would be overloaded. Right??


Also, in reading the thread, there was a line about not losing or distroying the sticker on the trailer. Uh, just supposing that a person were to pressure wash his trailer and the sticker and the paint it was sitting on blew off. I mean, just supposing - what then?

jb

Read this to see how the weight is transferred to the TOW VEHICLE'S AXLES...

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Towing: Weight Distribution (WD) Hitch --- How it Works

 

[Dougster]

I know what you are saying. You only need be harassed and/or ticketed for something you haven't done once to make you feel this way!

Trust me, I wish it were as simple as mere traffic tickets.

May i ask what area you were looking at land in? I'm always browsing, but can't ever find anything i consider affordable in my own state. Hence my reason for looking at land in Maine. But.... i guess if i compared NH land to land in Ma..... i might feel it was affordable!

Getting a bit far off-topic. I'll send you a PM later this morning!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, Again you have started a fun (cough --paranoid-- cough) thread! I quoted you as my trailer was sold as a 10,000# trailer, but has 2 axles that are rated at 6,000 each.

Much better than I am looking at... i.e., a trailer being sold as a ~12,000# trailer with 2 axles that are each rated at ~5,000# each! I thought my eyes were going bad for a while until I figured out what they were up to!

Still, while I have seen several trailers actually built with heavier axles than would otherwise be indicated by the trailer's GVWR... I don't believe I have ever actually seen a trailer stickered to reflect that difference... i.e., Sum of stickered GAWRs greater than stickered GVWR. I'd be very interested to know the manufacturer of your trailer if that is the case.

On your thread -- Here's what "The Man" will do. If you have for some reason pissed them off, or if they are bored or need to raise revenue -->they stop you for a full check. Lic and reg please. Then the fun starts, they check the binders and chain, load rating of the tires, lights, reflective stickers, etc. They may even pull out 8 small scales and weigh each tire all at once. They can then check the load on each axle of the truck and trailer. The capacity of the tires also has to match. This is for you to think about. You can be within the total load rating of the trailer and truck but still be ticketed for overload. Huh? Yeah, if any one axle is over loaded due to position of the equipment/load. I do have one question. I think I know the answer, but... here goes. If you DON'T use a weight distributing hitch about 10% or so of the trailer weight is on the back bumper. Right? That means that a 10,000# trailer weight has an effective weight of 9000#. Still right? So, if you DO use a WD hitch and it provides a net UP force on the ball, does it effectively move some of the truck weight onto the trailer? So, does the use of a WD hitch DECREASE the trailer capacity by the rating of the spring bars? Meaning that the same 10,000# trailer with WD hitch would be overloaded. Right?? Also, in reading the thread, there was a line about not losing or distroying the sticker on the trailer. Uh, just supposing that a person were to pressure wash his trailer and the sticker and the paint it was sitting on blew off. I mean, just supposing - what then?
jb

So many things to worry about... so many ambiguous laws and ways for The Man to nail you... so few clear answers! Now you know why I am so paranoid!

Dougster

 

[Builder]

I'm looking at an "Appalachian" 12 ton trailer (24,000 GVWR). Looks like it has (2) 10,000 lb axles.
Cam is not the only ones who do it.