Heavy Trailer: how would you make a 10/14K dual purpose trailer?

[yanmars]

Towing was never as much an issue for me as with stopping. Just a consideration.

 

[Jim Timber]

Towing was never as much an issue for me as with stopping. Just a consideration.

My Tahoe will pull a 10Klb trailer, but it won't stop it. Thus why I'm getting a 3/4T truck.

 

[joefromga]

Are the brakes bigger on a 3/4 ton than a Tahoe?

 

[Jim Timber]

Are the brakes bigger on a 3/4 ton than a Tahoe?

12.5" front discs vs 12" on the Tahoe. Rears are drums on the K2500 vs discs on the Tahoe.

I'm not positive on what the GVWR is on the Tahoe, it's got the heavy towing package and is rated for 7500# towed. The K2500 is rated for 10K towed with 3500# payload; 8600 GVWR. When I tried pulling the tractor on a 5Klb car hauler with surge brakes, it didn't stop well at all. That could've been because the surge brake system was bound from too much tongue weight. I didn't go more than 1/8th mile after discovering my tractor was well over the 10% I thought it would be above the trailers limit, and that was just to see how it'd do since I was already there.

I pulled a 16' skidsteer trailer with a E450 17' uhaul to get it home. That combo towed wonderfully.

 

[ultrarunner]

Like the way you have the bucket placed to optimize space... good thinking.

 

[Jim Timber]

They didn't have any of their longer trailers with surge brakes available. Would've rather had a 20' then too.

It balanced out nice though. That was a real smooth ride home. Only thing that would've made it better is cruise control in the stupid rental truck. :thumbdown:

 

[fried1765]

This one's @2640# for a 7T.

HSL16 - 7 Ton Capacity Equipment Trailer

I'll have to see what they're charging for that as it's very attractive.

I question the specs given for that Hudson(?) equipment trailer
How can they get 16,640 GVW with two 7000 lb. axles? (2640lb. tongue weight? I think not!)
I bought a nearly identical 20' equipment trailer (but 14,000 GVW) with 7K axles 9 months ago.
My frame is 6" channel (stacked two high fwd of wheels).
I have a 2"x 8" P.T. 17'+3' wood deck, with 16" x-members. and 2 spring assist tilt up ramps.
My MFG certificate of origin shows 2640 lb. empty weight.
My EMPTY trailer, on a certified scale, ACTUALLY weighs 3240 lb.
I do not think it is possible to build a 16,640 GVW trailer with a 2640 lb. empty weight (maybe leave the wheels & tires off?)
I paid $4400, with no tax, for my trailer from a local dealer. Trailer was built by Quality Steel & Aluminum, in Elkhart, In.
Try to steer clear of "Hi-Run" Chinese trailer tires. My tires are Ok so far, but the "HI-Run" tires have a poor reputation.
If you e-mail Geterdumped I am sure they can tell you where their nearest dealer is.

Warming up in Brainerd yet? I lived in the Twin Cities from 1967 through 1990. Daughter still lives there.

 

[Jim Timber]

My buddy up there said 52F yesterday. I haven't been up North since last weekend. I live in suburbia until I can get the new house built.

I'm leaning towards a PJ or Johnson trailer right now. Looking at MN laws about home builts, I get to pay the state 6.5% but I can't write off my labor without risking an audit.

There's a couple tri-axle's down in Illinois that are cheap ($1200) and possibly built on trailer house frames I'm trying to get a trucker buddy to check on when he's in the area, but those look a lot heavier than I need and keeping it lean is a priority due to my little tow vehicle.

 

[KiwiBro]

Bulk trucks here use a large aluminium chassis profile. Have some of it in my shed if you want a picture and dimensions.

 

[Jim Timber]

I'm curious what you're talking about. So, yeah, post some pics!

 

[fried1765]

My buddy up there said 52F yesterday. I haven't been up North since last weekend. I live in suburbia until I can get the new house built.

I'm leaning towards a PJ or Johnson trailer right now. Looking at MN laws about home builts, I get to pay the state 6.5% but I can't write off my labor without risking an audit.

There's a couple tri-axle's down in Illinois that are cheap ($1200) and possibly built on trailer house frames I'm trying to get a trucker buddy to check on when he's in the area, but those look a lot heavier than I need and keeping it lean is a priority due to my little tow vehicle.

I do not tow often, but have a 7400 lb. load on a 3240 lb. trailer for a gross of approximately 10,640 lb. (trailer GVW is 14,000)
I tow with a 1997 K2500 Suburban 4x4 with 454 V-8. (8650 GVW)
I use an equalizer weight distribution hitch, and am about to add an Airlift LoadLifter 5000 air spring kit.
I don't tow over very much hilly terrain, so the vehicle is quite capable for the pull.
My concern is about braking! I do highway driving, I drive very defensively, and set my electric brakes to begin very early in the braking process.
It is not optimal, but I tow on usually dry roads, and a total of only 600 miles per year.
I would love to have a dually!

 

[Jim Timber]

This is my serious towing rig.

The 2500HD will be my daily driver.

 

[jenkinsph]

Jim,
What kind of package do you have for towing on the C65?

Most of my towing is done with an F550 4x4 service truck with a Class 5 hitch.

 

[Jim Timber]

I don't have anything on it just yet. I need to shorten the chassis and get the dump box I have lined up put on it, then I'll figure something out for the rear end for a hitch mount.

It's hydraulic brakes - drum front and rear.

 

[ultrarunner]

Jim,
What kind of package do you have for towing on the C65?

Most of my towing is done with an F550 4x4 service truck with a Class 5 hitch.

That is quite a service truck... almost like something a Fire Department would have.

 

[Jim Timber]

My c65 used to be a tanker truck for a FD. My hopefully soon to be 2500HD is also a former fire truck - but it's just a reg cab long box.

 

[jenkinsph]

That is quite a service truck... almost like something a Fire Department would have.

Works out pretty well, built the service body in 2002 for an F350. In 2005 when buying the 110tlb I went ahead and upgraded to the F550 with 33,000lb. towing capacity.

 

[Rustyiron]

Works out pretty well, built the service body in 2002 for an F350.

That looks like quite a rolling tool box! (and build) Gotta weigh 7-8 ton with those drawers full of tools.
I think we deserve a few close up pics.

 

[jenkinsph]

That looks like quite a rolling tool box! (and build) Gotta weigh 7-8 ton with those drawers full of tools.
I think we deserve a few close up pics.

If you think that truck is loaded then look at my main plumbing truck.

 

[Rustyiron]

Ok, 8-9 ton:laughing:
Are those drawer cabinets intended for (outside) truck use? I've stuck "tool box" drawer cabinets in a utility body compartment before and they could not stand up over time to the added (road shock) load.
You must have a small fortune in all of them! Well thought out work truck:thumbsup: