If you could only own one trailer...

Builder · Mar 20, 2008

I have the ultimate trailer, but now it's too small.

mjncad · Mar 21, 2008

Nice trailer RedBug. What is your tow vehicle?

Redbug · Mar 21, 2008

Hi Mjncad...I have a 2006 GMC 2500HD and use a class 5 receiver.

RobJ · Mar 21, 2008

Redbug said:
Here's mine...14k, 20', slide in 6' ramps, hydraulic dump, D rings in bed, heavy loads I use WD hitch, I welded removable sides and tailgate on it...very happy with my ultimate trailer, (do have a smaller one, though).

Got to be one of the best dump trailers I've seen. mainly because unless you use the dump ALL the time, it looks, feels, works, like a regular bumper pull.

Expensive??

mjncad · Mar 22, 2008

Redbug said:
Hi Mjncad...I have a 2006 GMC 2500HD and use a class 5 receiver.

Sounds similar enough in capacity to my 1999 F-250 with Class V hitch. Where did you get the trailer?

Builder · Mar 22, 2008

Redbug, have you weighed your truck? If so, what does it weigh with you, fuel and typical load of tools in the bed??

With my utility body on my 3500 and a GVWR of 9,900, I only have 1,800 lbs of tongue weigh available to me on the rear axle because my truck weighs 8,100lbs with utility body & tools.

Using 15% tongue weight of the total trailer GVWR as a guide, I can only have a trailer weight of 12,000lbs (15% x 12,000lbs = 1,800 lbs) and still be legal for pin weight. (8,100 + 1,800 = 9,900).

Diamondpilot · Mar 22, 2008

Builder said:
a GVWR of 9,900, I only have 1,800 lbs of tongue weigh available to me (8,100 + 1,800 = 9,900).

That was one of the problems I had also when I had a 2005 SRW 3500 Duramax 4x4. I also did not like that the only gear ratio was 3.73 even though that is what I would have gotten. My 2006 SRW F-350 Power Stroke 4x4 has a GVWR of 11,400# and the truck weights 7,600# with me and my normal stuff plus 3/4 tank of fuel for 3,800# available. (7,600# + 3,800 = 11,400).

Builder your truck is exactly like my neighbors 2007 minus the bed, he has the standard bed. By the way I love your bed If I was ever in need of one I would get that Redding you have. Anyway, his truck weighs right at 7,000# but I just put in a BN flip over GN hitch and the 5th wheel companion that had to add another 200# to the truck. Anyway he is right at 2,700# of available cargo/ect.

Chris

Redbug · Mar 22, 2008

RobJ, Mjncad...Yes, I looked around quite a bit looking for what I wanted. Mostly all you see are dump trailers with the high sides, OK for loading a bobcat to transport. But too short for a regular tractor. I was willing to spend a few dollars more to get what I wanted. I paid $7500 for it. For me, it has been cheaper than having a dump truck, (taxes...yada yada yada), for occasional use, and more versatile.

Here's a link to the thread I posted when I first got it, and added the sides to it, etc.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/90358-my-new-equipment-trailer.html

Builder...no, I have not weighed my truck...I have the long bed regular cab. When I load something heavy in the trailer, (like my tractor with attachments), I always use my WD hitch. With this particular trailer, I try to keep the heaviest stuff further back. If I am carrying something lighter, (like a load of firewood), I don't need the WD hitch at all. You may want to get a WD hitch. Here's another link I posted about setting up a WD hitch, (pics, etc)...
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/104707-about-weight-distribution-hitches-pics.html

Builder · Mar 22, 2008

Diamondpilot said:
That was one of the problems I had also when I had a 2005 SRW 3500 Duramax 4x4. I also did not like that the only gear ratio was 3.73 even though that is what I would have gotten. My 2006 SRW F-350 Power Stroke 4x4 has a GVWR of 11,400# and the truck weights 7,600# with me and my normal stuff plus 3/4 tank of fuel for 3,800# available. (7,600# + 3,800 = 11,400).

Builder your truck is exactly like my neighbors 2007 minus he bed, he has the standard bed. By the way I love your bed If I was ever in need of one I would get that Redding you have. Anyway, his truck weighs right at 7,000# but I just put in a BN flip over GN hitch and the 5th wheel companion that had to add another 200# to the truck. Anyway he is right at 2,700# of available cargo/ect.

Chris

That looks great on paper (as usual for Ford), but if the rear axle is rated at X, you can only put so much pin weight on it. Fords get a lot more GVWR out of their trucks by having a 6,000lb front axle. I only have a 4,800lb front axle, but my rear axle is close to an F-350 (6,500lbs), an F-350 is 7,280 lbs max, (some are less). So a Ford has at most whopping 780 lb more capacity over the rear axle. Now we also know Fords weigh 7-800lbs more. So that is probably reduced by another 2-300lbs. So really it's not as much as you think- maybe 500lbs +/-. Read Ford's fine print on trailering someday and you'll see how much they "assume" in their favor-like "10% pin weights", "load dist hitches", "4x2 only", etc. .

The point is moot anyway since both trucks will run out of trailer capacity on your rear axle long before you ever reach your truck's towing capacity.

Ford's been playing these games forever. I could never get my Fords to be able to legally tow the weights they claimed my truck could tow because the rear axle would be overloaded. Same with my GMC. I can only tow a 12K trailer (legally). Why? because I only have 1,800-2,000lbs of capacity left over my rear axle because my utility body steals weight from my trailer tow PIN capacity.

Anyone knows you really need a DRW 11K rear axle to support the tongue weight of any seriously heavy trailer and be safe/legal. Go ahead and hook one of your 15K boats up and drive over a scale. Now drive the front axle off the front of the scale and I'll bet you you're in excess of your rear axle capacity.

No big deal to you, but where I live, the cops care and they ticket like it's going out of style.

I have a heavy trailer I use for bigger stuff behind my dumptruck, so it's not of great importance to me.

Diamondpilot · Mar 22, 2008

I don't care for DRW trucks much personally for a daily driver. Too many issues. I know what you are saying about the axle ratings but I do know that with the same trailer my GM 3500 squatted about 6 inches, the Ford F-350 about 2 inches. My F250 handled the weight of the trailer about as well as the GM 3500.

Chris