OK, I'm a dummy when it comes to this kind of stuff...wondering if there is anyone that can help me with a question about axle size...I'm looking at a Trails West 4-hr BP trailer that came out of the factory with 5200 lb axles (I checked the VIN with the trailer company)(who would put 4 animals in a trailer with small axles like that?@#) but anyway it has R235 8-lug tires on it. I am wondering if it had an axle upgrade because it has R235 8-lug tires and I thought that automatically means 7k axles or heavy 6K axles. Unfortunately the compliance label is not legible so I can't go by that. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Posted 2009-04-15 1:41 PM (#103414 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by buttercup on 2009-04-15 1:27 PM
OK, I'm a dummy when it comes to this kind of stuff...wondering if there is anyone that can help me with a question about axle size...I'm looking at a Trails West 4-hr BP trailer that came out of the factory with 5200 lb axles (I checked the VIN with the trailer company)(who would put 4 animals in a trailer with small axles like that?@#) but anyway it has R235 8-lug tires on it. I am wondering if it had an axle upgrade because it has R235 8-lug tires and I thought that automatically means 7k axles or heavy 6K axles. Unfortunately the compliance label is not legible so I can't go by that. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
My S&H has 5200lbs axles with 6 lug wheels, but I also have 2 other horse trailers with 6000lbs axles, 1 with 6 lug wheel and 1 with 8 lug wheels.
I think you can buy 5200lbs and 6000lb both with 6 or 8 lug hubs.
Posted 2009-04-15 1:51 PM (#103417 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
I wouldn't worry about 5200# axles. Together they are 10,400#. Four 1200# horses are 4800# leaving 5400# for the trailer and anything else. It's not like you have got a 12' LQ on those axles.
Posted 2009-04-15 2:00 PM (#103418 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I agree. You figure around 600lbs on the hitch and 10,400 on the axles. That's an 11,000 load. I'd worry more about your bumper hitch and ball holding 11,000 lbs. I had a hard time finding a receiver, stinger and ball that were rated over 12,000 which I needed for my dump and equiment trailers that go up to 14,000 lbs.
My 4 horse Gooseneck with midtack and nice dressing room is only 6000lbs empty. With 4 horses It barely hits 11,000. The best thing you can do is take the trailer, load your horses andd go weigh it. Then you will know if you are over the rating.
Posted 2009-04-15 3:30 PM (#103432 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I have an Exiss with 5200# axles. I have a Sidekick with 7000# axles. Both use an eight studded wheel. We had a Cornpro with 5000# axles and it had six studded wheels.
I think a general statement could be made, that the more studs there are used, the heavier the axle rating. However, as the other threads have indicated, there are exceptions to this rule.
Posted 2009-04-15 4:02 PM (#103436 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Pacific northwest, BC
I just talked to a heavy duty mechanic and he indicated that it is not just the number of lugs but the size i.e. with 7k axles, the lug bolt size is 9/16" and with smaller axles, the lug bolt size is 1/2". I'm not sure what the exact weight of the trailer is but guesstamate about 4400 lb. Our 4 mules weigh about 5 (before they get on the spring grass!!) I wish I could take the trailer and load up the mules and weigh it but I haven't bought it yet and I have to travel a few hundred km to get it. Thanks so much for everyone's input and help, it never ceases to amaze me to be able to communicate with people into the same things from all over the map.
Posted 2009-04-15 4:23 PM (#103439 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
4400 lbs seems like a lot of weight for a 16' stock trailer. Can the current owners get it to a scale to get an actual weight? Since you have already communicated with the trailer company, maybe they can tell you the mfg. weight.
If it is a good deal, I wouldn't let the axle rating bother you too much. Good luck!
Posted 2009-04-18 11:14 PM (#103585 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
http://www.burkhaltertrailers.com/gooseneck.html Stock trailers that heavy are normally goosenecks that look like they were built on a dump trailer body... Look at the stock trailers in the above referenced site...and they are on the average of 4100 lbs
Posted 2009-04-19 11:46 AM (#103607 - in reply to #103411) Subject: RE: axle size with 8-lug tires
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Pacific northwest, BC
I talked to the fellow (private party) with the trailer (it's a 4-horse combo type not a stock) and he measured the lugs on the tires as well as the lug size on his other equipment trailers and one of his trailers with 7k axles has 1/2" lug size and another of his trailers with 7k axles has 9/16"?#@? He was able to read the compliance label with a magnifying glass and it is indeed 5200 lb axles. Weight of the trailer is approx 4400 lb and loaded at about 9400 and GVWR of the trailer loaded should be 10,000ish so as long as we don't tackle any really rough roads which puts undue stress on the axles, we should be good to go. We tend to like more axle than is needed but our last trailer was a 22' steel GN with 6k axles and it weighed a lot more than the BP we're thinking about buying now. We don't use dividers with our critters as they seem to travel better without so that also removes some weight. Just want to say thanks again to everyone for their input on this. We're driving down to Washington tomorrow to have a look at it so will post again after we see it.
axle size with 8-lug tires
Look at the stock trailers in the above referenced site...and they are on the average of 4100 lbs