I recently weighed my Truck and 3Horse LQ Gooseneck trailer, both fully loaded as we normally do.  All axles and other weights were within the mfg. specs EXCEPT the truck GVWR (9200).  I was over the truck GVWR by 600lbs. (Although under the individual truck axles ratings).

I figure I can move at least 300lbs of stuff I usually carry in the truck bed into the trailer.  My question is, will where I place this weight make any difference on how much load comes off the truck GVWR?  I can place it in the first stall (in front of the axles), or on the roof rack, (behind the trailer axles).

Am I correct in thinking if I put the load behind the trailer axles it should re-balance the trailers and reduce the load on the truck by even more then the 300lbs I have moved?

It is to far to the scales to go back and forth trying to figure this out, if someone else already has the answer.

Thanks BW

The farther back you move it the better.  Anything in front of the trailer axles will contribute something to the pin weight and correspondingly to your trucks GVW.  Due to the fulcrum effect of how much length is in front of your axles, I doubt you will be able to offset the extra 300lbs still left on the truck.

yes..  We had the truck and trailer totally loaded as we normally do.  The trailer pulls great and we have put thousands of miles on it.  But we were considering a new trailer and thought it would be interesting to see how much weight we were currently pulling with our 2009 2500HD Duramax. 

We were shocked to find we were over at all, considering how well the truck and trailer have handled going all the placed we have been....

I was just hoping that there may be a calculation or someone with alot of experience that could help us determine if and how much moving some of the truck weight back to the trailer might change the pin weight without going back to the scale.

Using your trailer's axles as a fulcrum, adding weight to one end or the other will change the pin weight. The amount of weight that will transfer is calculated by an arm and moment. The arm is the distance from the pivot point, the moment is the amount of weight being considered.

The very short distance available behind the axles in which the weight will be placed, will result in very little effective gain to reduce the pin weight.

Any weight added between the axles and pin, will directly add weight to both. The exact amount will vary by how close to each, the weight is placed.

You will not realise any significant reduction in pin weight, by placing a weight behind a GN's axles. The distance available is short enough to lessen any effective gain, compared to the weight of the GN part of the trailer ahead of the axles. On a bumper pull trailer, the effect can be much more noticeable.

I think it is ok but will check for sure.

Very frustrating.  All the other weights are well within the mfg. max limits.  Front truck axle max (4860), rear (6084), gross combination (22000), max trailer tow weight for truck (14500), so why is the vehicle GVWR (9200) lower then the max weights for the combined truck axles (10944)??

We always though we were just fine, and now I find we are not.  Which means many of my friend are likely overweigh on their truck GVWR too as it seems most (truck trailer salesman), and the rest of us just look at the max trailer weight allowed in the mfg. book and figure we are good to go.  My loaded trailer weight is (11320).

Considering the (1744) difference between the GVWR and the combined truck axle ratings, is this anything I really need to be concerned about??

Thanks for your suggestion, will check it out...

Small LQ 6' SW, (weekender), steel/alumium construct.  20' box, 28'overall, 7X7'6".  Empty weight 8480#.  Like I said, no problem pulling but don't want to exceed mfg. ratings if rebalance could solve the problem.

No hay rack, would consider adding one if moving hay etc. we normally haul in the truck way to the back of the trailer would pull excess weight off truck.

I know the feeling. Knowing what my rig weights, all I do is look around and say.... over weight, over weight, over weight.

Edited by hornet 2013-03-18 5:19 PM

No generator.. normally carry 2 bales of hay, wood and large tool chest in truck.  We figure about 300#

CAT scale weights.  With trailer - Steer axle 4300, Drive axle 5520, Trailer axle 9060, Combo 18880

Truck only - Steer 4200, Drive 3260, Total 7460