Has anyone actually bent 8"+ I beam frame on trailer?

[disney]

Looking at deckover trailers 20+5' bumper pull; thinking 8, or 10k tandem singles; have choices of 8" 10lb frame on the mid strength model, or 12" 14lb upgrade able to 19lb on heavy version. I don't want to un-necessarily add weight, cost, decrease mpg, and increase stopping distances, but I certainly don't want to learn the hard way. I am most interested in hearing direct, or second hand knowledge, than just being told to get the more expensive, heavy frame. Thanks to all. current uses heavy wheeled equipment (8k)+, heavy pallets, and possibly mini-mid ex's. future uses???? If I go with the 8" 10lb frame I will get 12" oc cross bracing, to help strengthen and spread the load.

 

[Btown]

I have seen a few that are bent for sale on Craig’s lists. I think they bend when they are loaded heavy and roll over.

 

[fried1765]

Looking at deckover trailers 20+5' bumper pull; thinking 8, or 10k tandem singles; have choices of 8" 10lb frame on the mid strength model, or 12" 14lb upgrade able to 19lb on heavy version. I don't want to un-necessarily add weight, cost, decrease mpg, and increase stopping distances, but I certainly don't want to learn the hard way. I am most interested in hearing direct, or second hand knowledge, than just being told to get the more expensive, heavy frame. Thanks to all. current uses heavy wheeled equipment (8k)+, heavy pallets, and possibly mini-mid ex's. future uses???? If I go with the 8" 10lb frame I will get 12" oc cross bracing, to help strengthen and spread the load.

"8 or 10K tandem singles"?
I have a 14K GVWR trailer with 2 stacked 6" C-channel frame members.
For a 16K - 20K GVWR trailer, I would definitely go with the 12" frame.
10 lb./ft. v/s 14 lb./ft on a 25' length is only 100 lbs. more.
If you should choose the 19 lb. version, your trailer weight would only be 225 lbs. more than the light weight 10 lb./ft. frame.
225 lb. weight difference, for a trailer that size, is insignificant in my opinion!
At some point you will want to haul more weight than you currently think you will.
Get the most sturdily constructed trailer that you can afford!

 

[laurencen]

few years ago I sold a forklift, the fellow who picked it up wanted it loaded on a trailer, I told him the forklift was too heavy for his trailer but he insisted it was good, using my deer644 I loaded it slowly on his trailer, as it creaked and bottomed the suspension out he said keep going, well it bent the trailer, hitch and one axle, he was of dark skin eastern, had no respect for his equipment and drove away using only 1 inch ratchet straps to hold it

 

[lostcreekranch]

few years ago I sold a forklift, the fellow who picked it up wanted it loaded on a trailer, I told him the forklift was too heavy for his trailer but he insisted it was good, using my deer644 I loaded it slowly on his trailer, as it creaked and bottomed the suspension out he said keep going, well it bent the trailer, hitch and one axle, he was of dark skin eastern, had no respect for his equipment and drove away using only 1 inch ratchet straps to hold it

Not sure what his skin color had to do with it??

Idiots come in all colors.

Had he had a wreck, he could have easily said that “you loaded it”.

 

[blackrams]

Was recently asked to go north and load up a fork lift and take it to TN. I asked what it weighed and the potential buyer said, "Oh, I'm not real sure but your trailer will handle it." Said, I'd let him know. Came home and researched it. Darn thing was about 10K more than my trailer was rated for.

The whole point is, most folks don't care, it's not their equipment. Needless to say, I didn't take that trip. Yes, excessive weight can break or bend a trailer. Have also seen one that was within the rated weight for the trailer but, the idiot cut a corner too tightly and put one side into a ditch with steep sides. He couldn't get out by himself so he got a wrecker to give him a tug out. Ended up bending the frame getting pulled out so, there's lots of ways to screw the pooch.

Rams

 

[4570Man]

Has anyone actually bent 8"+ I beam frame on trailer?

Most people don’t realise how heavy forklifts are. After all “they’re like a 1/3 the size of a car”. Mine weighs 11,800 pounds dry and isn’t even a big forklift.

 

[Peter 315]

Re: Has anyone actually bent 8"+ I beam frame on trailer?

When we move the forklifts on the flatbed trailers, we use a steel plate so they wont wreck the wood floor

 

[prevent]

Re: Has anyone actually bent 8"+ I beam frame on trailer?

Most people don’t release how heavy forklifts are. After all “they’re like a 1/3 the size of a car”. Mine weighs 11,800 pounds dry and isn’t even a big forklift.

At work people always come with their little single axle 3500# rated trailers and or tandem 7000# rated trailers with the mesh tailgate and are like "You can drive up"... Lol simply look at them and say "this weighs 13,000lbs, plus this pallet is 3700lbs. So no" Plus we have a policy that we do not drive onto any trailers.

 

[Reb954]

My 7,000# car hauler trailer has about a 2" to 3" bow in it. I noticed it when I bought it, asked the previous owner about it. He also bought it used and had never noticed it. I just checked the tires for any unusual wear and made sure it tracked fine and bought it, at a discounted price. As I remember it has a 6" channel iron frame. I suspect a previous owner had loaded something heavy but didn't block the back of the trailer.

Recently a guy commented about the bow in my trailer. I just told him the manufacturer does that so water runs off the deck. His comment, "Oooh, thats a good idea." :laughing: