allowable weight on a gooseneck?

[Ken45101]

I have a 14K GVW gooseneck trailer. Each axle is rated 7,000#. The trailer empty is 5000#. If I load 10,000# on it, (15,000 total weight) 1000-2000# will be on the hitch and the truck rear axle (say 1500# for discussion) leaving 13,500 on the trailer axles, less than their rating.

Am I correctly understanding the specs? Would I be legal this way?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[mikesee]

I kave a gooseneck trailer with 7k axles with a GVWR of 15,700. I this case the manfuacture assumed 1,700 pounds on the pin. If the plate on your trailer says 14,000 pounds then technically speaking 15k would be over loaded. From a safety perspective you do not want to exceede your tire ratings which I assume are 3520 each. You can do this by shifting the load forward to place more weight on the tounge assuming your tow vehicle can handle weight.

You will never really know the true weight untill you bring the unit to a CAT scale at a truck stop.

 

[LD1]

Depends on the jargon so to speak.

I have a trailer that has 11,200# axles, OEM stickered saying 12-ton on the side, and a GVWR of 29k

So.....

Axles are 22,400#
Stickering indicates 24,000#
And GVWR indicates 29,000#

Technically I think an axle rating is the rating it can CARRY, meaning it dont count its own weight. So taking the weight of the axles off, and the pin weight off, is how I assume they come up with the GVWR.

Subtract out the weight of the rest of the trailer deck is how they come up with the 12-ton capacity

 

[Ken45101]

Mikesee, yours makes sense to me, GVWR is the axel capacity plus the pin weight. But my trailer had the GVWR equal to the axle capacity. Are the axles overrated, or did the manufacturer do it wrong?

You will never really know the true weight until you bring the unit to a CAT scale at a truck stop.

True, but only true for that one trip since the next time you load, you might load it in a slightly different position.

If you have to stop at a weigh station, or the Motor Vehicle Enforcement people pull you over, will they look at the plate which says 14,000, look at the scales which might read 13,500 under the trailer wheels and say "okay", or will they unhitch the trailer and weigh the tongue weight and add that and say I am overweight?

 

[Junkyard Jim]

They will not unhook your trailer and weigh it seperately. They look at the vehicle (truck and trailer) as a unit. If you take the GVWR of your trailer and the GVWR of you Truck and add them together, you get the total GVWR for the rig.

Then you look at how much each axle is rated for and you can figure out how far forward on the trailer you need to load to not exceed an axle rating. Some scales will even check "end axle weight" which makes sure that one side isn't carrying more weight than is allowed.

Each state is a little different on what they allow for axle spacings, number of tires per axle and width of axle. Don't think too deep into it if you don't have to stop at commercial scales.

Load it up in the configuration you normally haul it and get it weighed with it tied down where it feels right to you. If you are as precise as you seem to be because you asked this question, you'll probably be real close and then you can be fairly confident you won't hurt anything by trusting your instinct in the future.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I have a 14K GVW gooseneck trailer. Each axle is rated 7,000#. The trailer empty is 5000#. If I load 10,000# on it, (15,000 total weight) 1000-2000# will be on the hitch and the truck rear axle (say 1500# for discussion) leaving 13,500 on the trailer axles, less than their rating.

Am I correctly understanding the specs? Would I be legal this way?

Thanks,
Ken

Yes you would be legal. As long as your tire weights and axle ratings are jot exceeded and your registration. Is high enough to cover the gross combined you will be good.

 

[NorEaster]

I have a 14K GVW gooseneck trailer. Each axle is rated 7,000#. The trailer empty is 5000#. If I load 10,000# on it, (15,000 total weight) 1000-2000# will be on the hitch and the truck rear axle (say 1500# for discussion) leaving 13,500 on the trailer axles, less than their rating.

Am I correctly understanding the specs? Would I be legal this way?

Thanks,
Ken

You are correct. Just keep in mind you'll also have to stay within the axle, wheel, and tire ratings for the tow vehicle, as well as stay under 26,001 pounds GCVW.

 

[5030]

I'd be more worried about stopping in an emergency situation that being overloaded. Electric drum brakes aren't all that great in the first place. No stoppie, Vehicular Homicide.....

 

[schmism]

As others have said, yes you are legal.

As others pointed out with truck rear GAWR as well as tire rateings. if your GN does not have a load shareing axle setup

then its possible to over load one of the axles if your load is poorly placed on the trailer. (such as in livestock or other enclosed trailers that may have torsion axles)

 

[NorEaster]

I'd be more worried about stopping in an emergency situation that being overloaded. Electric drum brakes aren't all that great in the first place. No stoppie, Vehicular Homicide.....

If electric brakes were so deadly, they wouldn't come standard on the majority of all utility and equipment trailers, goose or not. E over H is usually an option that adds thousand(s). Not saying I wouldn't choose E over H, but they are not the only acceptable braking system.