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| I am looking at a Sundowner sunlite 777 2 horse straight load gooseneck with no dressing room. I haul 2 draft horses that weigh about 1800# each (3600# total). This trailer comes standard with 2-3500# axles--giving it a capacity rating of 7000#. The empty trailer weighs 3560#. The trailer loaded with my 2 draft horses would have a combined weight of 7160# plus maybe 200# of tack etc for a total 7360#. Realizing that around 20% of this weight should be on the gooseneck hitch, will I be over the rated 7000# axle rating. Will this be safe or will I have to get a heavier axle? |
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 Extreme Veteran
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Location: Lone Oak, Tx | If it were me I'd go with the heavier axles. I rather have to much than not enough.
Just my .02ยข
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Expert
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| Originally written by dave372 on 2006-02-23 2:00 PM
I am looking at a Sundowner sunlite 777 2 horse straight load gooseneck with no dressing room. I haul 2 draft horses that weigh about 1800# each (3600# total). This trailer comes standard with 2-3500# axles--giving it a capacity rating of 7000#. The empty trailer weighs 3560#. The trailer loaded with my 2 draft horses would have a combined weight of 7160# plus maybe 200# of tack etc for a total 7360#. Realizing that around 20% of this weight should be on the gooseneck hitch, will I be over the rated 7000# axle rating. Will this be safe or will I have to get a heavier axle?
Even with some serious rounding up, say to 8,000 the axles would only be carrying about 3200 each. There IS a safety factor built into all of these ratings. As long as you don't ride with the nose TOO high, thereby throwing too much load onto the trailer's rear axle, you might be good to go with the 3500 axles. What is the next step up in axle/spring/tire size and how much $$$s ?
Remember that a lightly loaded trailer on hefty springs can dance around a LOT and provide a very harsh ride to a single horse.
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Location: Northern Utah | An axle rating is derived from the weakest link. There are several components that are rated and make up the axle's rating. Tires, Wheels & lugs, springs and the axles themselves. Often the tires are the lightest part of the rating. I suspect a 3500lb axle will have 15" tires rated at 1800 - 2000 lbs per tire. You MIGHT be able to beef up your rating by replacing the tires with a heavier rated tire. Of course putting a "E" Range tire rated at 3300lbs each on a Axle with 5 lugs doesn't make the axle a 7000lb axle. You would just snap the lugs off if you loaded the trailer up that heavy. From the description you gave in your post. Enough of the weight should be on the pin and carried by the truck that your axles will be with in specs. Next question - Will your draft horses fit? |
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Expert
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Location: North Carolina | Dave372 : Welcome to the forum ... I would not be concerned about the axle. The torflex axles are designed to carry the entire load on a single axle. (that's why torsion axles aren't recommended on tri-axle trailers) Do take seriously what REG said about having the trailer level though. The part, I would be concerned with is the TIRE. check its rating against your expected load. Multiple blow-outs are a bummer while traveling. |
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New User
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| to answer "reg's" question about the next step up and the cost --it is 5200# axles at about $1200 extra (includes upgrade in tires also).--Thanks |
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Member
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Location: Ohio | I've heard that 15% or 20% of the weight is transferred to the truck from a goose neck trailer. I would still be concerned that your axles are not heavy enough capacity though. We learned the hard way that it is always better to load as much heavy gear into the front of the trailer rather than the rear. More weight in the rear overloads the second axle. |
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| Originally written by dave372 on 2006-02-23 4:29 PM
to answer "reg's" question about the next step up and the cost --it is 5200# axles at about $1200 extra (includes upgrade in tires also).--Thanks
IF (only an "if") you went that route and succummmmmed to the temptation to stack a mountain of "stuff" in the trailer, (just in case you wouldn't need it, but COULD carry it).
Axles, springs and tires could take 10,400 - if your proposed load is 8,000 and 6,400 of it is on the axles then they (axles and springs) would only be about 61% loaded.
You MIGHT find such an arrangement "skippy" and harsh - you might even have to think about taking pressure out of the tires (-:
Two other things to consider when reading what I write;
a) I'm cheap
b) I don't believe in inflating tires to their max pressure, only to the pressure for the load they're carrying.
c) It isn't my money, so spending an extra $1200 of your's is easy.
d) I can't count - (-:
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Location: Northwest Indiana | Also if you do upgrade and have 2 5200lb axles then your gross trailer weight is at 10400. You might have issuess with your local BMV about rated trailer weight depending on where you live. Here where I live I can and not having a CDL I can only pull a 9999lb rated trailer. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Zionsville, Indiana | I wouldn't be concerned about the axles/suspension as long as I was always going to be operating that rig on a perfectly flat smooth surface. It's the beating that the suspension takes on our awful roads, even many interstate highways, that causes the problems. We see most bent spindles (the business end of the axle that holds the hub/wheel) on the right hand side. This is because of the holes and bumps that the right side of the trailer encounters on the edge of the road and around corners. Axles rarely bend in the middle, or even lose their camber. It is the spindle that gives. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Columbia, TN | I would want something with 8 lugs and 16" at least E range tires. You go into a curve with two 1800 lb horses and they shift to the side you are putting a big load on those tires and E goes to 90 lbs G 110 lb. 15 " isn't enough. |
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| Originally written by iCE CRM on 2006-02-23 6:07 PM
I would want something with 8 lugs and 16" at least E range tires.
Why ?
You go into a curve with two 1800 lb horses and they shift to the side you are putting a big load on those tires and E goes to 90 lbs G 110 lb. 15 " isn't enough.
If your horses shift to the side when you take curves you have other problems - the sort that could result in a rollover. Are you proposing taking off ramps FAST ?
You are describing an incidence of a short term load transfer, unless you just want to drive around the same rotary (traffic circle) for hours. Tire ratings are about the load they can carry for extended driving periods, short term higher loads are accounted for, as are shock loads. It isn't necessary to add another safety factor (or paranoia factor).
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | As to Kays point about the majority of spindle damage happening on the right side, I would bet alot(maybe most)of that damage is due to turning the trailer in to things i.e. curbs, trees, ect. You can't see the right side of the trailer in a turn as well as the left. Most of the bent fenders, damaged rear corners, lost hubcaps you see on trailers are on the right side. I have watched(with adult beverage in hand) alot of folks backing their trailers into campsites and barley missing things on the right while leaving enough room "to drive a truck through" on the left. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Columbia, TN | Well look at it this way then. 3600 lbs of horses this is equal to 3 to 4 regular horses and I don't think you will find many 4 horse trailers with the small axles and 15 inch tires at least I wouldn't be comfortable with that. |
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by iCE CRM on 2006-02-24 7:40 AM
Well look at it this way then. 3600 lbs of horses this is equal to 3 to 4 regular horses and I don't think you will find many 4 horse trailers with the small axles and 15 inch tires at least I wouldn't be comfortable with that. Now that's Hillbilly Logic and I can understand it. |
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| Originally written by iCE CRM on 2006-02-24 8:40 AM
Well look at it this way then. 3600 lbs of horses this is equal to 3 to 4 regular horses and I don't think you will find many 4 horse trailers with the small axles and 15 inch tires at least I wouldn't be comfortable with that.
This thread isn't about your comfort.
A question has been asked, it is (only slightly) technical and deserves answers based on more than "warm fuzzies" (or lack of).
The ST225/75R15 C rated trailer tire is good for 8600 lbs. at 50 psi (set of 4), WITH safety factors for shock and short term loads. With 20% of a trailer's weight on the coupler you could be pulling a trailer that grosses out at 10,750.
Move up to a D rating 10,160 at 60 psi, gross trailer weight with 20% on the coupler = 12,700.
E rating 11,320 at 80 psi, gross trailer wt 14,150.
But YOU don't like 15 inch wheels.
Gottit (-:
Reference: http://www.goodyear.com/truck/pdf/databook/loadInflation.pdf
scroll down to page 9, 2nd table is for ST special metric trailer tires in highway service.
(Just in case folk think this is coming out the top of my head.)
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Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Am I the only one that feels like Reg is just toying with the rest of us. I bet he would be a barrel of fun with a few cold ones in him. 
Edited by HWBar 2006-02-24 9:32 AM
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Location: Kansas City | Originally written by HWBar on 2006-02-24 9:31 AM
Am I the only one that feels like Reg is just toying with the rest of us. I bet he would be a barrel of fun with a few cold ones in him.
You are assuming he does not have a "few cold ones in him" as he posts.
Actually I think he makes great sense when he say things I agree with . . . |
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| Originally written by barry on 2006-02-24 10:46 AM
Originally written by HWBar on 2006-02-24 9:31 AM
Am I the only one that feels like Reg is just toying with the rest of us. I bet he would be a barrel of fun with a few cold ones in him.
You are assuming he does not have a "few cold ones in him" as he posts.
Actually I think he makes great sense when he say things I agree with . . .
Errrr, Ummm - - THANKS (I guess, not sure).
"Cold ones" in me ?
If that measn what I think it might - I don't indulge in that particular poison.
B'sides, stomach contents get to body temperature very quickly.
To the original post; I think a lot of trailers are "over tired" and many of us have got so used to the appearance of big fat wheels that we assume they are necessary. It is probably just following the Mahh_ketting nonsense that has raised trucks to useless heights and put Phat Phenders on them for looks while friday night croozing.
Some - is good,
More - is better,
Too much - is almost enough.
I don't subscribe to it (obviously).
More numbers:
My rig was weighed recently at 15,220. This was an "official" weigh station, not a gravel pit estimate.
I know the truck is 7,200, so the trailer WITH horses, hay, tack was barely 8,000 that day - with 20% of it on the truck.
Do the arithmetic, tell me I NEED 235/85R16 G rated tires on that 38 1/2 ft head to head trailer.
I know that I don't, but if I down size them to what I need I couldn't sell it without going back to those oversized "looks right" tires.
(-:
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Location: Northern IN. | What!?! Did I just "hear" Reg say his rig is for sale? How much? where is it? How long is it? details, details... Just kiddin' Reg, keep on truckin' buddy... |
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trailer axle rating limit with gooseneck
