Hi. I have a question to ask of you people. I am getting ready to order a 2horse GN with a 6'SW. It is aluminum and will weigh under 4000 lbs. We will be adding a weekend pkg to it ourselves. No bath. I have a choice between 6000# axels and 10 ply tires or 5200# axels and 8 ply tires.

A couple of people told me that the heavier axels and tires caused their trailer to "bounce" more and had to reduce the air to 45#. So they recommend the lighter. Some others said go with the heavier. I can see both points. Also I will be pulling with a 1/2 ton for awhile. I would appreciate any input on this. Thanks in advance.

Also the trailer is a Stidham. Any comments on that is also welcomed. Thanks again.

Are the 5200# axles 15" tire & wheels or 16" tire & wheels? The 5200# axles are going to be adequate, but I would want the 16" tires & wheels. If the trailer weighs 4000, then you add say 2000 in the package, 2 horses at 1200 each, and 500 of tack, and an additional 1,000 for miscellaneous junk, you only total 9900. Your axles will be rated at 10,400 combined and your truck will carry about 20% of the total loaded weight. It is hard for me to imagine a loaded two horse weighing that much, but if it was, I wouldn't be pulling it with the half ton. I am just saying be careful about how you load it. Just my opinion.

That's good logic and rough numbers, I think the 5200# axles would be plenty under a 2 horse with 6' shortwall. But just hold on because someone will soon be on here to tell you to get the heavier ones, with T-1 boiler plate undercarrige and maybe even dual tires on each axle. Good choice in trailers I got to look over a Stidham just the other day and was impressed.

It's hard to say which of those opinions is correct a lot of it is just personal preference. Myself I would go with the 5200 lb axles because the trailer with have a lot of bounce with the 6000 lb axles and be uncomfortable for both you and your horses. You won't be cutting the trailer short at 5200lb axles, but at 6000lb you will be going overboard. Some like to over do it myself I like to have the right size axle to do the job and still get a comfortable ride.

The body is the same 5500 - 7000. The 5200 is available in 6 and 8 bolt patterns. 8 bolt does give you a 6,000 rating on the wheels but the axles are still 5200.

http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1080235/f/Torflex_Information_4-04.pdf