Using my trailer, or abusing it?

[Soundguy]

BUT the website and im sure the trialer itself says 7000GVWR. This means you tractor will be fine on it, if not it would say something like 5000#GVWR.

distrobution has alot to do with it.

a good equipment trailer or car hauler can have it's (approx ) 5200# paylaod setting in 4 small spots.

a landscape trailer might take it's 6000# paylaod spread out on a flat surface like a pallate or a trap ont he deck flat with mounded dirt or wood chips or gravel.. using ALOT more surface area.

just saying.

I've seen 7k landscape trailers that looked like spring boards bouncing down the roadway.. tractors falling thru the deck.. loading ramps bent into a U shape..e tc... and they are rated the same as the guy next to them with a skid steer on his 4" channel job that don't bend at all.. and weighs 400# more.

(2) 3500# axles does not a 7k trailer make

 

[s219]

distrobution has alot to do with it.

a good equipment trailer or car hauler can have it's (approx ) 5200# paylaod setting in 4 small spots.

a landscape trailer might take it's 6000# paylaod spread out on a flat surface like a pallate or a trap ont he deck flat with mounded dirt or wood chips or gravel.. using ALOT more surface area.

just saying.

I've seen 7k landscape trailers that looked like spring boards bouncing down the roadway.. tractors falling thru the deck.. loading ramps bent into a U shape..e tc... and they are rated the same as the guy next to them with a skid steer on his 4" channel job that don't bend at all.. and weighs 400# more.

(2) 3500# axles does not a 7k trailer make

It depends on the manufacturer I think. I compared landscape and equipment trailers quite closely in the 7000# range. They both had 2x8 P.T. decking over crossmembers on 24" spacing. That's going to deal with 4 tractor tires the same way. The major difference was the side beams/rails, which was a single C-channel on the equipment hauler but smaller angle iron space frame on the landscaper. And of course the equipment hauler has very strong ramps, versus the questionable gates on landscape trailers.

It wasn't until getting into the heavier 10000-12000# weight range that the equipment haulers really got more stout, and in that range there are no landscape trailers. I don't think you can make a "landscape" trailer in more than a 7000# range for the reasons you cited. Heck, some brands of landscape trailers seem marginal at 7000#.

My 7000# 7x16 landscaper weighs a little over 1600#, so it has a 5400# cargo capacity.

 

[Soundguy]

arond here you see the landscape trailers with expanded metal flooring.. almost no runners..a nd people will loose lay planks or pluywood down and laod tractors and bow the crud out of them. some have side rails or side ramps even.. all cut off of course.

sad to see some of the things towed around here.. wheels splayed out at 50-55' angles.. different sized tires all around. deck bowed down tin the middle.. with only 2" clearance to the road.. and bowed front to rear.. no lamps... no wires.. you can see them dragging.. thus you know, no brakes.

there will be a 3' tall mound of dirt or pallate of sod ( 3000+ # ) at the front of the trailer.. and the laoder bucket resting on it.. tow tehicle will be a chevy s10 with a ball ont he BUMPER, bumper bent down.. truck bottomed on overlaod springs.. front end will have enough room between fwnder well and top of tire to remve the batter thru it..and service back of headlamps and radiator.. fishtails up to a stop and 'gallops' away from them.


scarry stuff.

 

[s219]

Heck, the landscaper who comes to mow for my neighbors has a real junk heap of a homemade trailer, with what looks to be mobile home axles and tires, and wires hanging all over the place. The whole thing is scary. Hard to believe he doesn't get a ticket.

 

[joshuabardwell]

BUT the website and im sure the trialer itself says 7000GVWR. This means you tractor will be fine on it, if not it would say something like 5000#GVWR.

I hear you, and I hope you're right, because that would be awesome. But think it through. Can I put 7000 lbs on the trailer in such a way that I break a deck board? Can I put 7000 lbs on the trailer in such a way that I bend a crossmember? I bet I can. Not unless each deck board and each cross member is individually rated for the full GVWR of the trailer, which I doubt they are. So just because you are under the GVWR doesn't mean that you are necessarily okay. I think there realistically may be other assumptions that are being made, that have to be taken into account.

But, honestly, it is all conjecture until the manufacturer gets back to me, and I think that will be the final word. Would the DOT cite me for putting the tractor on the trailer? Certainly not. Would the trailer sag and wear out prematurely if it was used in a way it was not designed for, even if the GVWR was obeyed? Possibly.