Unsafe towing... Heavy tractor on broken "7k" landscape trailer

[aczlan]

I don't know what that tractor weighs, but my guess is that it isn't overloading a 7k trailer by that much. The problem is the trailer doesn't look in such great shape.

A good 7k trailer would be fine, but this trailer is built lighter than our 3k Kauffman.
The tractor is 2700#, at least 1000# in loaded tires (probably more as all 4 are loaded), 700# for the cab, 1000# for the loader, 500# for the bushhog and you are looking at about 6000# on a 7000# trailer.

The welds broken on the fender and front rail don't appear to be the worst of it. It looks like the back 1/3 of the trailer is either sagging or broken.

The uprights to the top rail are very light rectangular stock and 3 of the last 4 were broken out on the right rear side. That is why the tail end was dragging. I marked the broken welds with red boxes below (the tailgate also had the welds for 2 of its 3 hinges broken off):

Also the obvious problem with the saftey chains and lack of tie downs.

He was asking how I would tie it down and I had a hard time not saying that I would go and get 4 more straps and a non-broken trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[Scooby074]

A proper 7K trailer in GOOD condition should be OK with that load, but close to its limit.

But, these are the idiots we share the road with! They should be pulled over by the mobile enforcement guys but NEVER are. I can honestly say ive never seen a homeowner trailer pulled over. I have seen cars towed for MV inspection/safety issues but even that is few and far between. We have provincial inspections here, but there are a ton of crappy vehicles on the road. They only get picked up when there is a "Blitz" in a specific area.

I assume there are no inspections in NY state?

Is that safety chain just looped around the hitch? Not welded to the trailer? Single Chain? Open quick Link?.... wow. Id be surprised if this guy never kills someone in the future. If the trailer disconnects it'll slingshot due to the single chain... not to mention likely break that chain in the process.

 

[aczlan]

I assume there are no inspections in NY state?

There are yearly inspections here which are supposed to catch trailers like this.
Any trailer registered to carry over 3500# is supposed to have working brakes and a working breakaway system.
But, if you stop at the good ole boys shop and the guy doing the inspection looks at it from the office, then hands you a sticker and says that you are good to go, the whole inspection thing is useless.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Is that safety chain just looped around the hitch? Not welded to the trailer? Single Chain? Open quick Link?.... wow. Id be surprised if this guy never kills someone in the future. If the trailer disconnects it'll slingshot due to the single chain... not to mention likely break that chain in the process.

The chain was looped through the V of the tongue and bolted in a loop, then a single chain went forward to the tow vehicle and hooked on with an open quick link.
Really safe :shocked::thumbdown:

Aaron Z

 

[dodge man]

Geez, it looks like the guy aired up the tires. What else do you want? I didn't see those broken welds and that explains the sag. I've got good money its been overloaded a lot worse, and thats why all the broken welds.

 

[Soundguy]

A proper 7K trailer in GOOD condition should be OK with that load, but close to its limit.

close? as in over but close.

prev poster just added up at least 6k in load,.. IF the trailer truly is 7k rated, and I don't just mean it has 2 3.5 k axles, as you can de rate them depending on how the undercarriage is pinned ( seen 6k traielrs with 2 3.5k axles )... if it really is 7k.. it's ghot to be overloaded. My 7k trailer is 1740# with 2 ramps and has no top rail.

that top rail is likely adding some rigidity.. or would if welded on.

even with light angle construction.. IMHO.. making in non-ideal.. it still has to be quite a bit over 1k.. thus making it overloaded, AND from the looks.. it started out light duty anuway.. so we have an overloaded light duty trailer, that is rickety and in disrepair..

wow..

only saving grace is that if it is a suburban or yukon pulling it.. IF it is the long one and not the denali style shorter version.. it has a bit of mass to prevent tail wagging, and should be able to stop it. If it is the denali short body.. i wouldn't tow that load on the hiway...

soundguy

 

[grsthegreat]

I had a JD870 that didn't look any larger than that tractor (but no cab) and my 7K trailer hauled it without issue. Mind you i had 3/8" steel chains with binders, alot heavier trailer overall. All clean welds and no sagging. Also a 1 ton truck to haul it with. If this trailer shown truly has no brakes, id like to see that rig towing it stop that trailer in an emergency.

I'm probably going to have to sell mine and get a nice gooseneck rig sooner or later, cause i KNOW this trailer wont handle my new tractor. Sad thing is i just recently completed the tongue box up front and rear swing loading jacks. I also just added the spare tire and electric front jack. Man, i hate it when i finally get around to completing a project only to have to sell it.

 

[aczlan]

only saving grace is that if it is a suburban or yukon pulling it.. IF it is the long one and not the denali style shorter version.. it has a bit of mass to prevent tail wagging, and should be able to stop it. If it is the denali short body.. i wouldn't tow that load on the hiway...

It was a suburban. I would be fine with that load on an intact trailer, working brakes, decent safety chains and 4-6 straps (or even better, chains).

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

If this trailer shown truly has no brakes, id like to see that rig towing it stop that trailer in an emergency.

If it had brakes, they were wireless because the brake wires were tied around the front of the trailer from when he rewired the trailer for LED lights with a boat trailer LED light kit.

Aaron Z

 

[Scooby074]

There are yearly inspections here which are supposed to catch trailers like this.
Any trailer registered to carry over 3500# is supposed to have working brakes and a working breakaway system.
But, if you stop at the good ole boys shop and the guy doing the inspection looks at it from the office, then hands you a sticker and says that you are good to go, the whole inspection thing is useless.

Aaron Z

We've had the problem with "office" inspections here too. The government stepped in and made the penalties serious enough that passing an illegal vehicle started to not be worth it.

Usually when they have these Blitz's i think they are trying to see if there's a commonality in who did the inspections as probably half the vehicles have a sticker.

I was a off road mechanic and got friends who are licensed auto mechanics who know i keep my vehicles in shape, and now with the new regs, they wont just give me an inspection sticker without looking like they used to.

SG: as i said a GOOD trailer with trailer brakes. Not a Gatormade or something built to the minimums. Would he be 500-1000# over? Maybe. Would he be safer in a overbuilt trailer being 500# over as compared to this piece of junk he's using? Absolutely.