axel ratings question
NRB
Reg. Jan 2007
Posted 2007-02-05 12:16 PM (#55086)
Subject: axel ratings question


Member


Posts: 7

Location: virginia

Hello I am looking to move up from my BP to a GN.  I'm thinking to do a 16' on the floor model 2h straight load w/ 4' tack room.  Adding 2' in the horse area in front of the horses head.  Standard Axel on this trailer in a 14' on the floor version is 2 3500lb dexter torions axels.  Trailer empty wt is 4100.  Adding the 2 extra feet will add an aditional 470 lbs to go to 4574 empty wt.  I'd like to stick w/ the 2 3500 axels and NOT move up to the 5200 axels b/c I primaraly haul only one horse, my own, who is a bit of a bad shipper.  He weaves.  I was thinking that the 3500 axels would give him a smoother ride and the 5200 would be a stiffer ride.  He tends to weave more when we go over bumps. 

I currently haul same horse in a 2h BP empty wt 3100lbs w/ the 2 3500 Dexter Torsion axels. 

Will I be ok w/ the smaller axels in the 2 foot longer GN trailer?  Or should I go up and risk the stiffer ride??

FWIW I pull w/ 03 F250 Diesel, supercab, 8' bed 4x4 truck.  Plenty of truck for these trailers.

Thanks, NRB

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huntseat
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2007-02-05 12:59 PM (#55089 - in reply to #55086)
Subject: RE: axle ratings question


Expert


Posts: 1989
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Location: South Central OK

Something to consider, in a GN trailer about 20% of the trailer weight is transferred to the tow vehicle, thus making it lighter than you think.

20% is an average guess, some are more and some are less...

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NRB
Reg. Jan 2007
Posted 2007-02-05 3:31 PM (#55100 - in reply to #55086)
Subject: RE: axel ratings question


Member


Posts: 7

Location: virginia

Thanks, yes I'd heard that figure before.

Assuming I haul my horse and my friends 2400 for horses+4575 for the trailer +500 for gear (water,hay, 4 saddles b/c we event, misc tack, and gear) that's 7475 20% transfered to the truck right so less 1495 so that's 5980 on the axels of the trailer. So even if I haul a big bruiser 1500 lb of a horse instead of my friends horse and throw 500 lbs more gear on less the 20% I'm still at 6620. 

I guess it comes down to the tires as well.  I mean I expect the tires would fail before the axels.  Look I'm all for overkill, BUT I worry that axels rated for 10,200 lbs and 16 inch tires will make my horse feel every crack in the pavement.

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