HELP! New trailer or bigger axels

[aczlan]

I'm in the middle of a trailer dilemma and not sure what to do. Hopefully you guys can help. First, a little background on the situation. I currently own a 7x16 aluminum trailer that is about a year old. It has dual 3000 lb axels (and electric brakes) and is rated at 7,000 gvwr. There is a sticker on the side that advises the trailer load should not exceed 3,700 lbs. The dealer also told me this.

Something doesn't add up here.
The sticker says that the GVWR is 5000# not 7000#.
Per that sticker, you have two 3500# axles under the trailer of which the frame is rated at 5000#
I would ask your dealer about the tractor weight with attachments to confirm the 6000# weight.

You will probably need more trailer to carry that tractor safely. I might have the dealer deliver it (ours does it for "free" for the inital delivery) and sell that one, then get a bigger one that is rated for 7000# GVWR.

Aaron Z

 

[El Wood]

Here is a closer look at those stickers...

 

[aczlan]

Here is a closer look at those stickers...
View attachment 271133View attachment 271134

The 2nd sticker means that they put light weight tires on your trailer and can be ignored/removed if you were to upgrade to better tires.
If you were to upgrade the tires to D or E rated ones, you could carry more weight (5000# minus the empty trailer weight plus the tongue weight carried by your truck).
As an example, if you upgraded the tires to one rated for at least 1500#/tire, loaded for 500# of tongue weight and the trailer weighs 800# empty, you could then carry 4700# of cargo.

Aaron Z

 

[El Wood]

The 2nd sticker means that they put light weight tires on your trailer and can be ignored/removed if you were to upgrade to better tires.
If you were to upgrade the tires to D or E rated ones, you could carry more weight (5000# minus the empty trailer weight plus the tongue weight carried by your truck).
As an example, if you upgraded the tires to one rated for at least 1500#/tire, loaded for 500# of tongue weight and the trailer weighs 800# empty, you could then carry 4700# of cargo.

Aaron Z

Thanks Aaron. I'm going to call around and look at some better tires.

 

[davkir]

I would still want a heavier trailer, but I think your tires are rated for about 1700 lbs. each. (It should be molded on the sidewall.)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks Aaron. I'm going to call around and look at some better tires.

No need to do that. I have not messed with 14" wheels in awhile but from what I remember the C (6ply) 205's are rated at around 1,800# each. This would give you 3,600# of tire on a 3,500# axle if inflated to 50psi. You cannot get better tires in a 14" wheel so that means you will have to go to a 15" wheel and a 225 tire. There is no way that is going to fit under you fenders. Long story short, they put plenty of tire on that trailer. The limiting factor is not the tires or axles, its the Frame!!!! You need a new trailer.

I have been in the trailer business as a side job for nearly 20 years. Granted, 75% of my work is boat trailers but the rules still apply. GVWR is always the limiting factor.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

No need to do that. I have not messed with 14" wheels in awhile but from what I remember the C (6ply) 205's are rated at around 1,800# each. This would give you 3,600# of tire on a 3,500# axle if inflated to 50psi. You cannot get better tires in a 14" wheel so that means you will have to go to a 15" wheel and a 225 tire. There is no way that is going to fit under you fenders. Long story short, they put plenty of tire on that trailer. The limiting factor is not the tires or axles, its the Frame!!!! You need a new trailer.
I have been in the trailer business as a side job for nearly 20 years. Granted, 75% of my work is boat trailers but the rules still apply. GVWR is always the limiting factor.

Apparently I was way off of the trailer weight, that trailer (per Legend) has an unladen weight of 1265#. For comparison, a "traditional" 5k 6'5"x16' utility trailer from Big Tex has an unladen weight of 1500# and a payload of 3500#. Not much gain for what was probbaly a sizable price bump.

Aaron Z

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I had the same dilema. I had a homemade 16' trailer with 3,000# axels and light tires. When I bought my BX25 I quickly found out it was too light as well as my Chev Colorado was too light. I checked all the things you have. Almost bought the 6000# axels, tires, wheels, and brakes. It was $900. When I described the trailer the trailer dealer stated he would sell the axel over the counter but would not install because of liability. He would also sell me a new or used 12,000# trailer but would not deliver if I hooked up in his yard. He would deliver and drop where I wanted, for a fee, and I could do what I wanted from there. Again liability. I then got smart quick. I traded the truck for a 1 ton dually 4 X 4. Then after 6 months of looking and following up on Craig's list adds; found a used 12,000# dual axel, hydraulic lift bed, bobtail trailer for $2200 at my tractor dealer. I saw used stuff from $500-$4,000 that either were sold when I got there or were a piece of junk. Now I am set for my BX plus most of what I may need to rent larger. Also the lift bed is great for hauling bulk material to dump; lift the bed and rake out w/the FEL. I think you will find your F-150 is not rated for what you want to do. I needed at least a heavy duty 3/4 ton to leagally do what I wanted. Also most states require working brakes on trailers the size you need so you need an electric brake controller or and inertia brake trailer. Think long and hard before you waste time and money on a part solution. This tractor business is not an inexpensive hobby if you do it right.

Ron

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had the same dilema. I had a homemade 16' trailer with 3,000# axels and light tires. When I bought my BX25 I quickly found out it was too light as well as my Chev Colorado was too light. I checked all the things you have. Almost bought the 6000# axels, tires, wheels, and brakes. It was $900. When I described the trailer the trailer dealer stated he would sell the axel over the counter but would not install because of liability. He would also sell me a new or used 12,000# trailer but would not deliver if I hooked up in his yard. He would deliver and drop where I wanted, for a fee, and I could do what I wanted from there. Again liability. I then got smart quick. I traded the truck for a 1 ton dually 4 X 4. Then after 6 months of looking and following up on Craig's list adds; found a used 12,000# dual axel, hydraulic lift bed, bobtail trailer for $2200 at my tractor dealer. I saw used stuff from $500-$4,000 that either were sold when I got there or were a piece of junk. Now I am set for my BX plus most of what I may need to rent larger. Also the lift bed is great for hauling bulk material to dump; lift the bed and rake out w/the FEL. I think you will find your F-150 is not rated for what you want to do. I needed at least a heavy duty 3/4 ton to leagally do what I wanted. Also most states require working brakes on trailers the size you need so you need an electric brake controller or and inertia brake trailer. Think long and hard before you waste time and money on a part solution. This tractor business is not an inexpensive hobby if you do it right.

Ron

I agree with most of what you have to say but I have owned 6 F-150's since 1997 and they were all very capable 1/2 tons. Granted all had the 5.4L, 4x4, and 3.73 or 4.10 gears but all did a nice safe job towing loads in the 7,000# to 8,500# range. I have done heavier and it gets hairy but there is no need for a larger truck at this time for his little tractor as long as he has a properly equipped F-150 and the right trailer.

Chris

 

[s219]

Properly equipped, the F-150 should be OK. When I was shopping for them, the one I almost bought had a tow rating of 9300# which would have been way more than enough for my towing needs. Right now I am towing my tractor with an SUV that only has a 5000# towing limit, and even that has some margin (tractor is a Kubota B series with FEL and occasional rear implement). It can be a bit of a dance to get everything planned and spec'd out though. By the time I bought a trailer and new tow vehicle, it was a boatload of extra money just to move a $15K tractor....