Am I legal? Tow weight question (weights listed)

[RobertN]

Why does the boat industry not use a GN or 5th wheel for the heavy boats?

Towing a boat that has over 1,800# of tongue weight I can tell you its a lot. Way too much for my F-250 and my GM 3500. My F-350 4x4 PSD SRW handles it ok but its got the heaviest suspension for that year at 11,500# GVWR.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why does the boat industry not use a GN or 5th wheel for the heavy boats?

They do not work because of the angle of the break over at the boat ramp. The trailer would get into the bed and tail gate. This is something you must watch out for with any GN or 5th wheel trailer when off normal roads or on uneven surfaces. My neighbor got his 5th wheel into his brand new GM 3500 diesel the second time out.

I have seen a few but like I said they just do not work. We pull up to 25,000# boat and trailer combos off a standard ball hitch using pickups and pull over 45,000# boats using a semi or farm tractor and a converted mobile home trailer. The boat in the picture is 15,600# average tow weight but can get heavier when loaded up for long trips. The trailer alone weighs over 2,800#.

Chris

 

[Reg]

Give 'em a week or so, THEN check their web site again.
I suspect there will be a change or two.

I'm sure there is enough complex "material" to keep this thread going for at least another month.

{"Complex" as in; has real and imaginary parts.}

Hmmm, are ALL their trailers spec'd like this ?
{rhetorical, don't bother}

 

[RobertN]

Interesting; just had never thought about it.

Was out hunting two weeks ago, and took the 5th wheel. There was a steep apron off the road where we pulled off; I was watching like a hawk going in, and coming back out, for just the reason you mention...

The trailer would get into the bed and tail gate. This is something you must watch out for with any GN or 5th wheel trailer when off normal roads or on uneven surfaces.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

Quote:
Originally Posted by JIGBUILDER
#1. it says GAWR plus the hitch weight = GVWR. Which is what I said.

duffster says; ...Eh? Do you need me to repeat would you said again.

LOL. The sum of the trailers GAWR (tandam axles) had better equal its GVWR. The reg you posted says the GAWR plus the hitch weight shall equal GVWR. Their the same.
==================================================================

duffster Quote;
Besides you claim they don't use GVWR, so then why would it matter if GAWR=GVWR?
__________________

The trucks GVWR isn't used to figure how much weight the truck may carry. Thats the function of the trucks FAWR/RAWR. Don't confuse manufactures recommended weights with what DOT looks at if the combination is ever weighed.

 

[JIGBUILDER]

Your GVWR is the max the truck can weigh loaded. That includes any hitch loads. Example would be a truck rated 11400 GVWR weighing 10400 by itself plus 1000 lbs more on the hitch. Even though the axles together may be rated higher than the GVWR, that figure sets the max if weighed you could read on the scales for the truck. It is possible to have a front axle that is fine and still overload the rear axle while under the GVRW. At that point, the rear axle rating rules and the load must be reduced or shifted to get it under the rating. That's why you see semi's moving the trailer axles as they may have too much weight on the truck rear axles. But under the max load allowed.

GVWR doesn't carry weight. Thats the function of axle and tire capacities. GVWR in some states may be uprated but the axles and tire capacities are what they are. My state for example uses the trucks FAWR/RAWR/tire capacities for weighing the truck.

I live between three of my states biggest rock crushers. DOT/state troopers/county run rolling weight checks points on dump trucks weekly around here. the procedure is they have me drive the truck rear wheel on their portables. Open the trucks door and find the trucks RAWR numbers. Sometimes they look at the trucks tires for load capacity. Sometimes both. GVWR doesn't enter the picture till the truck and trailer are over 26000 combined.

 

[Duffster]

The sum of the trailers GAWR (tandam axles) had better equal its GVWR. The reg you posted says the GAWR plus the hitch weight shall equal GVWR. Their the same.

If GAWR has to equal GVWR how can that be the same as GAWR+Hitch weight = GVWR.

I think you are confused.

Just because I'm not a fan of speculation, I called Hudson Trailers a few minutes ago and spoke to Kenny at their office.

He verified that, indeed, the trailer is rated for 8,950# on the tongue plate. He further stated that the stated GVWR assumes a 1 ton tongue load.

Thanks for calling.

 

[KeithInSpace]

This is a moot point. The shock load from hitting bumps in the road would far exceed the load you could place on the axles loading the tractor.

With this, I do not disagree.

Trust me, anything near a ton of tongue weight on a bumper pull will make the toughest trucks feel the pain.
The trailer for it has 3 6K axles and those are 2" x 10" main beams on the trailer. It has 10 ply 6 lug wheels and tire combo.

THIS is an example of a trailer from which I would reasonably expect a 1 ton tongue load. Heck...based on axle rating, it's just over 10% at 1 ton.

I can't consider a situation where a 'properly loaded' 7,000# trailer would have 1 ton of tongue load. Legalities aside, nobody can say that is good practice...not even Hudson Trailers. Straight from the mouth of Kenny.

Thanks for calling.

My pleasure.