I guess this is more of a comment or suggestion for the dealers on the list, but it sure would be helpful if actual trailer weights, including axle and pin weights, were available on trailers for sale.   Would sure make trailer shopping easier if scale receipts were available for trailers on dealer lots.  Wouldn't be a bad idea for private sellers too, take your trailer over a set of scales and be able to provide prospective buyers with weight information.   Takes one unknown out of trailer shopping. 

My two cents, FWIW.....

I know - drives me nuts.  I usually take thier estimate and depending on the size of the living quarters add 500-1000 lbs...

Besides taking a trailer to a commercial scale, the only weight information provided to a dealer is the manufacturer's statement of weight on the original Certificate of Origin.  However, over the years we have found that the C of O can list the same weight for a three horse with a 4' short wall as it does for a three horse with an 8' short wall and mangers.  Obviously not all trailer manufacturers weigh each unit as it leaves.  Several sources have stated that the weight on the C of O is an "engineer's bill of materials". We encourage our customers who buy a new trailer to use a permanent marker and write the weight somewhere inside the trailer, since once the C of O is surrendered for a title, that information is long gone.  Even if the weight shown on a C of O is not precise, it is bound to be close enough for most purposes.

We sometimes have difficulty convincing a customer that the weight of a used trailer is not on the VIN tag.  We recently lost the sale of a very nice used three horse slant tag trailer because I could not make the buyer believe that the 12,000# listed on the VIN tag was the axle capacity and not the empty weight of the trailer.

A scale receipt is a great idea, but for most dealers not achievable unless there is an elevator or truck stop close by.  Many dealers can pretty accurately guesstimate the weight of simple models based on their own experience, but the LQ trailers can really fool you.  Some conversion companies weigh and post the weight of the finished product, usually inside a cabinet door.

Yes I find many ads do NOT list the trailer empty weight and it is iomportant.  I know there are many dulled wheel trucks out there pulling over their weight cap.  Think about this an 02 F350 D dully pulling a 4h with living quarters (10K empty weight) and packed to the hilt and water tank filled.  Over weight (different rear ends pull different wieghts but not that much difference) and everybody says "oh you have a dully it can pull it"  just shows how much people do NOT know!

Please correct me if I'm wrong =)

Mon

Surprized nobody has responded?

So I have another question.  Here is a copy from Trailerlife they have published all manuf. towing cap.

Please read and comment:  (My question are we all pulling overweights? example 6 hhth with dress empty weight 10K pulled by any manuf. one ton)

http://www.trailerlife.com/images/digitaleditions/pdfs/DigitalTLTowGuide0801.pdf

The following is how to calculate the realistic

towing capacity of the vehicle that interests

you.

For example: Consider a fictional one-ton

longbed, diesel, extended cab, 2WD, singlerear-

wheel pickup set up for towing. We’ll arbitrarily

assign it a GVWR of 9,900 pounds, a front

gawr of 5,000 pounds, a rear GAWR of 6,824

pounds, a GCWR of 23,000 pounds and a quoted

maximum tow rating of 17,000 pounds.

As is often the case in single-rear-wheel

trucks, the rear axle’s GAWR on this truck is derived

from each tire’s maximum load of 3,412

pounds. Pickups such as this normally start at

more than 6,000 pounds, and with a diesel, automatic

and nice trim, figure that with a full tank

of fuel and hitch, this unit weighs 7,000

pounds. If we add two “standard-size” people

(154 pounds each), a few tools and some

cargo, it weighs 7,500 pounds. That is split to

4,000 pounds on the front axle, and 3,500

pounds on the rear axle.

The first thing you should have noticed is

that the maximum tow rating cannot apply with

the truck fully loaded because GCWR (23,000)

minus GVWR (9,900) leaves 13,100 pounds —

about two tons less than quoted towing ability.

After adding options and people to the example

truck, and subtracting that value (7,500)

from GCWR (23,000), the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15,500 pounds,

about 1,500 pounds less than the truck’s quoted

maximum towing rating.

However, you have yet to check all the numbers

and verify that a 15,500-pound trailer will

work. If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20

percent of its weight on the pin, that adds

3,100 pounds to the back of the truck. This

would make the truck overweight — its 7,500-

pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3,100

pounds on the pin equals 10,600 pounds —

700 pounds more than the truck’s GVWR, and

just 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of

6,824 pounds.

Please experts comment

thanks!

Amy

Having owned and pulled with a Dodge one ton dually, Volvo single axle (semi) and now an older medium duty Freightliner crewcab (not fancy, its just a tool for me) that weight adds up real fast. I find the Freightliner is a compromise (pulling and stopping) of everything for me. My choices aren't for everyone and people will decide for themselves their own tolerances (regardless of what anyone says).

If you put enough gears on a lawn mower it will pull too. For me the its the stopping capabilty. Just this last week I was behind someone with a single wheel crewcab pickup and huge 5'er (RV) and there were a series of stop lights and he rolled through (couldn't stop) two of them. Fortunately, people saw it and stopped (cross traffic). I'm sure the driver was having a "white knuckle" experience......but to each is their own ('til someone gets injured).

I try to error on the side of caution due to the fact that I don't think I could live with myself if I injured someone or put my own family at risk.

These are my just my thoughts on "weight."

Monao

that article is pretty accurate.  Too make matters worse. Most of us have Crew Cab, 4x4 pickup, not the 2 wheel drive standard cab. These options make the truck even heavier and reduce capacity for any trailer.

My point exactly either it is a horse trailer or one of those huge 5th wheel travel trailer I get the impression we are overwieght with our 1 tons not matter if it is a Ford, Chevy, Dodge...

I'm concerned about stopping too. However with a load of horses and to stop suddendly up can drop a horse on the floor easily.  I encourage anyone who has ever hauled horses ride in the back and get the feeling what a horse goes through in all different aspects.

Now the question if you are in an accident and it is your fault, you are even at greater fault if you are over weight and now possible neglectance.  Maybe you hit somesome because you could not stop (maybe becasuse you are overwieght?)

Many examples out there, 3 h slant with living quarters,  3 horse slant with living quarters and slides, 4 hth with large dress, maybe an aluminuin and steel trailer 4 horse, 4 h steel, 6 horse slant with huge dress, 6 horse with big hay pod, 6 horse with living quarters the list goes on ... anf rememebr all the STUFF we put in these trailers and trucks.

What is the answer??  Why do the trailers manuf./dealers let us drive off the lot illegal?  Maybe I'm wrong in not sure I hear GVRW, curb weight, pin weight,cargo weight,tongue weight, GCWR,...bla bla bla

At the end of the day what can the truck legally pull (gooseneck and bumper)??

Note to beat a dead horse per say, but honestly I'm cunfused what these trucks can and can NOT pull.

Somebody please tell all of us

Thanks!!

The upper limit is the manufacturer's "Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating"  This is the total weight of the LOADED truck and trailer.  Then you have to keep your axle weights within the individual ratings.  Do ALL of this and the manufacturer of the truck will stand by you.  Exceed them at your own risk and purse.

I have a ext cab dually 8.1L gas engine pulling a 3 H slant Sundowner Valuelite (steel frame, Alum skin) 4 foot short wall, a/c, sleeping area only.  Loaded for a week long trip minus water, for three people, three 15.2h to 16h horses, one Dobermann, 12 bales of hay, food, camping gear, firewood, full fuel, etc

We crossed the scales at 17,800 pounds total. GCVWR=22,000 pounds

Steer tires = 4140 pounds FAWR=4670

Drive tires = 5700 RAWR=8550

Trailer tires=7960 (I later upgraded trailer tires to Load range E from D since we blew two Carlise)

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(jiogxy2mmdiq2tjso4ega055))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-257-627

257.627 Speed limitations.Sec. 627.(1) A person operating a vehicle on a highway shall operate that vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and of any other condition then existing. A person shall not operate a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than that which will permit a stop within the assured, clear distance ahead.

Edited by Bleve 2009-12-30 11:37 PM