Posted 2012-01-30 10:20 AM (#140411) Subject: axle weight
Member
Posts: 5
Location: wa
Hi
I'm wondering how concerned I should be with axle weight. I have always had 7000lb axles on my trailers and none of those were bigger than a 4 horse alum gooseneck with 34" shortwall. Now I'm looking at a alum. gooseneck 4 horse with 8' LQ but it only has 5200lb axles. How worried should I be about this? Thanks!
Posted 2012-01-30 11:36 AM (#140412 - in reply to #140411) Subject: RE: axle weight
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
we had one several years ago with 5200# axels and we had troubles all the time and when I went to trade that was the first thing the dealer looked at and he did not even make an offer to trade, our trailer we have now has 8000# axels.
Posted 2012-01-30 2:28 PM (#140418 - in reply to #140411) Subject: RE: axle weight
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Now I'm looking at a alum. gooseneck 4 horse with 8' LQ but it only has 5200lb axles. How worried should I be about this?
You should be very worried and avoid purchasing this trailer. The axles are inadequate and could endanger your travels. Stick with what you know best, and use the 7K or 8K axles, appropriate wheels and American tires.
Posted 2012-01-30 6:41 PM (#140427 - in reply to #140411) Subject: RE: axle weight
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
the trailer we had was about the same as you are looking at, don't trade for it unless you want to change bearings and the like on a regular basis, find one with at least 7000#axles or bigger the trailer we have now has 8000# and 17.5 tires, cost more but it is almost trouble free and it weighs around 20,000# loaded.
Posted 2012-01-31 9:24 AM (#140438 - in reply to #140411) Subject: RE: axle weight
Elite Veteran
Posts: 801 Location: Tenn/Ala.
For what it is worth- there's a world of difference between a 6'9"/7' wide unit and a 8'W with mangers. There are 8' sw that are new 7'W that empty weight at just under 6,800#. If it loads to 12,000# total (4ea 1,000# horses, and 1,250 of stuff), 75% of that is 9,000#. Mathmatically, the 5200's would work in that scenario. I believe more details might be helpful before we comdemn the setup.
Mangers and hayrack can dramatically affect loading & must be considered. Width itself is also weight intensive.
Posted 2012-01-31 9:49 AM (#140439 - in reply to #140411) Subject: RE: axle weight
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
while 5200's might work for some others have had nothing but problems, most small axles also have smaller wheels and tires I know of a name brand trailer out there that is about what is being talked about and it came from the factory with 15" tires and he blows them out on a regular basis it is also a 6 hole wheel so he can not change to 16"x 8 lug tims. I think to many are pushing the limits and you should have some margin for era, same goes for to small a truck on some of the bigger trailers.
axle weight
