Trailer capacity

[Shaneard]

This is painful.

Only if your under the axle, stay on the tongue and you will be fine :dance1:

 

[RickB]

This is painful.

Not any more.

 

[AWSubie]

It’s probably best just to say that each of us needs to thoroughly understand our tow vehicle capacity, our trailer capacity and the influence of load distribution. Getting back to the OP’s original question, the trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating minus the trailer empty weight is the trailer’s load capacity. Tongue weight is not part of the equation.

 

[Jaylegger]

Not any more.

, I do what I can.

 

[snymat68]

 

[Renze]

As far as tongue weight,,
What happens to tongue weight going up a hill?
What happens to tongue weight going down a hill?
What happens to tongue weight when you travel on a rough road?
What happens to tongue weight during acceleration?
What happens to tongue weight during braking??

If you are operating the truck/trailer that close to a weight rating when measured in a static condition,,
YOU ARE OVERLOADING THE EQUIPMENT!!

That is just my opinion,,,:thumbsup:

Thats why manufacturers use a safety margin: to account for vehicle dynamics. In my time at a trailer builder we allways took a safety factor of two.

And when submitting a brake calculation for a trailer type approval, indeed the assumed center of gravity of the load, and the distance between kingpin and axles are taken into account when calculating the required brake force. With a high center of gravity and a short trailer wheelbase you often had to mount the air brake bellow a hole lower on the S-cam lever.

For the same reason, cars have disk brakes on the front axle for 50 years, though lesser capacity drum brakes were still used in the rear axle untill maybe 15 years ago...

 

[sawtooth]

I understand what you're saying BUT the weight is shared between the axle(s) on the trailer and the axle(s) on the tow vehicle distributed through the frame/tongue of the trailer to the hitch/frame/axle of the tow vehicle. Just because the vehicle gets the brunt of the tongue weight doesn't mean it's still not part of the trailer weight.

This is not correct. As RickB mentions the tongue weight is not shared between the trailer and tow vehicle. Picture it this way there is a inexpensive scale used to measure tongue weight. Place the tongue onto those scales and what ever is shown on it is carried by the tow vehicle. Plain and simple and straightforward. You can buy these scales off of eBay for under $200 I believe.

 

[sawtooth]

DOT is going to go by axle weight. So in that case, the tongue weight would be on the Tow vehicle and not the trailer. You could have all weight up front on a goose neck and be nowhere close to the trailer axle capacity but the rear axle of the truck could be overweight.

Exactly

 

[fried1765]

This is not correct. As RickB mentions the tongue weight is not shared between the trailer and tow vehicle. Picture it this way there is a inexpensive scale used to measure tongue weight. Place the tongue onto those scales and what ever is shown on it is carried by the tow vehicle. Plain and simple and straightforward. You can buy these scales off of eBay for under $200 I believe.

You can do it for free!
You can use a simple bathroom scale to measure any tongue weight.
Don't believe me?
Check the E-trailer website to learn how,.... with no cost.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I'll trust my trailers manufacturer over the tractor geeks on here :drink:
The tongue weight is not trailer payload, it is truck payload. I can load 6,000 lbs on a 7,000 GVW trailer that is 2,000 lbs empty weight by using the 1000 lb tongue weight.... per the manufacturer.

2 ft. dove tail with spring assisted gate, wrap around channel tongue, radial tires, rubber mounted sealed beam lighting in enclosed light boxes, conventional wiring with gel filled connectors.

GVWR 7000 lb. Capacity 6000 lb. with 1000 lb. Hitch load

Ramp Capacity 4500 lb.
•Treated wood deck
•Standard 2 ft. dove tail
•82″ between fenders
•3500 lb. braking axles with 4 wheel brakes
•Double eye spring suspension
•205/75 R15 load range C 6 ply rating Castle Rock Radial tires
•3x3x3/16″ angle frame
•3x3x3/16″ top rail
•3″ channel cross members
•4″ channel wrap-around tongue
•4 ft. full landscape gate (spring-assist standard)
•2 5/16″ A-frame coupler
•Top wind jack
•Tear drop fenders with backs
•Steps in front and behind fenders
•Stake pockets, self charging break away kits, safety chains, skip DOT reflective tape, and all rubber mounted sealed beam lighting, conventional wiring with gel filled connectors
•Primed, 2 coats of automotive grade acrylic enamel, pin striped


General Duty | 7 GVWR | Tandem Axle Trailers