Trailer math

LD1 · Feb 15, 2016

I am just guessing.

He said his truck is 10k gvwr. Guessing it weighs 6500ish empty???

Every one keeps repeating that 2200# is no big deal on a 3/4 ton. But with 4 in the cab and maybe some tools, its easy to see how he is borderline on payload from a legal standpoint.

I see nothing wrong with loosing a little tongue weight given the total load of the trailer

Ron50 · Feb 15, 2016

My bad on the math. That's what peer review is for. Used to be pretty good at loading flatbeds and getting it right the first time.

bdog · Feb 15, 2016

Thanks for the help and the calculations. 17.5" forward should be easy to do. The fenders are beat up and need replaced anyway. I was kind of hoping it was more like 32" so that I could reuse two of the existing spring hangers but moving them is no big deal.

Regarding the empty weight of the truck it is 7,440 lbs. full of fuel with a 200b driver. It is a crew cab 4x4 with a ranch hand front end replacement bumper and a B&W gooseneck hitch. It has an aluminum tool box with maybe 200 lbs of tools.

LD1 · Feb 16, 2016

Full 32" would give only about half the tongue weight you are shooting for

bdog · Apr 21, 2016

Just wanted to post an update. I moved the axles 18" forward and it reduced my tongue weight 820lbs. Pulls like a dream and we are all legal now. The job took a couple days because I had to replace both fenders, I repacked the bearings, and had to redo the clearance lights as they were mounted on the fenders. All the wiring was in conduit and had to be cut and removed prior to cutting off the old hangers and welding on the new ones.

dieselcrawler · Apr 21, 2016

Thanks for letting us know... often projects like this get done and we never know the results.

Maybe you could post some comparison pictures, before and after, in the same post, good to see the contrast side by side.

hosspuller · Apr 22, 2016

bdog said:
Just wanted to post an update. I moved the axles 18" forward and it reduced my tongue weight 820lbs. Pulls like a dream and we are all legal now. The job took a couple days because I had to replace both fenders, I repacked the bearings, and had to redo the clearance lights as they were mounted on the fenders. All the wiring was in conduit and had to be cut and removed prior to cutting off the old hangers and welding on the new ones.

Just a thought ... Are you still legal if you DON'T take the UTV with you ? Without its weight behind the axles, your tongue weight will increase.

bdog · Apr 22, 2016

hosspuller said:
Just a thought ... Are you still legal if you DON'T take the UTV with you ? Without its weight behind the axles, your tongue weight will increase.

Don't know. I would never go without the UTV though. It is what we use to deploy the equipment I. The enclosed trailer.