Increasing capacity of a trailer

[oleman]

I want to increase the carrying capacity of my tractor hauler.
This is a factory made 16' car hauler trailer. I added 600 more pounds of steel too it that significantly increases the frame structure.
Currently it has 2 EA 3500# axles, with electric braking on the rear axle only.
I can install another 3500# el braking axle for a 3 axle setup at 3500# each which will spread the load over more of the frame and make it a more stable hauler except on tight turns.
This mod would give it 10500 capacity on the ground with 2 axles braking.
The advantage of another 3500 is all the wheels and tires and brakes will be the same.
I could change out one of the 3500 axles for a 5000 braking axle, giving it 8000# at the wheel.
OR add a 5000# axle with braking making it 3 axles with 12000 at the ground.
The 3500 and 5000 axles are essentially the same dimensions and would be an easy fit.
A more costly option would be 2 new 5000#/ 7500 axles with brakes.
My currently thinking to get the 10,000 gross I want is 3 ea 3500# axles.
The cheap way out.
Any trailer modification experts out there?
This is in Texas registered as a farm trailer, legally it can be any thing I want it to be.

 

[Looking4new]

Can you get away with 4 axles @ 3500# ea would give you 14,000lbs minus the empty weight of the trailer would give you a payload of 10,000# +/-

I just found this, does it apply to you?

Trailers with a gross weight exceeding 4,500 lbs. must pass an annual safety inspection.

https://txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/trailers

Another thought. IF you increase the capacity of your trailer, will you need to get it inspected for the increased weight? As well as the annual safety?

 

[xring100]

Can you get away with 4 axles @ 3500# ea would give you 14,000lbs minus the empty weight of the trailer would give you a payload of 10,000# +/-

I just found this, does it apply to you?

Trailers with a gross weight exceeding 4,500 lbs. must pass an annual safety inspection.

https://txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/trailers

I would hope its gross weight does not exceed 4000 lbs its a 7000 lb 16' car hauler not much good if it can only haul 2500 lbs what car would it haul?

 

[bcp]

Some states require all trailers above a certain weight to have brakes on all axles.

If you have a 5000lb axle and a 3500lb axle, how will you arrange to have the 5000lb axle carry more weight?

I would go with two 5000lb axles and sell the old axles on CL to recover part of the cost.

Bruce

 

[RoMad]

I would sell it and buy a heavier duty trailer but since you have already added the steel you probably won't do that. 2nd option I would do is put two 5k lb axles on it and sell the two you have now. With a 3rd axle on a trailer that short you would need to cut off the first two and re space all three . it also would be harder to turn with the tires sliding sideways as you turn. It would look funny too with 3 axles.

 

[jejeosborne]

All axles must be the same rating.

 

[kenmac]

I did the same thing you did . Even extended my trailer. It is now 20 ft. I bought 2 new 5200# axles and installed 235x85x16 tires. I think the axle place told me this combo is now rated at 12K. I can say that the springs no longer bottom out when I have my tractor on the trailer

 

[Diamondpilot]

Some states require all trailers above a certain weight to have brakes on all axles.

If you have a 5000lb axle and a 3500lb axle, how will you arrange to have the 5000lb axle carry more weight?

I would go with two 5000lb axles and sell the old axles on CL to recover part of the cost.

Bruce

This is the best option but go for 6000# axles, 5 new wheels, and 5 new load range E radial trailer tires.

You see where I am going. Sell your current trailer and buy a new one. Used trailers sell good.

Chris

 

[7879fordman]

The best option is to buy 7000 pound axles and be done .

There not that high without or with brakes .

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

 

[94BULLITT]

The best thing to do would be buy a 10k trailer.

 

[cr250250r]

Some desert guys around me have ran into your problem and ran 3 axles to add cheap weight rating. Its 1/3 more tires 1/3 more bearings, turns like crap and you really need to move your axles to get three located right. Everyone I talked to said they would have just stepped up to twin 5200s and bolted them in if they had to do it again. One guy did swap back to twins and was stuck with one axle for awhile because he could sell a pair, but not the single. New bearings, new brakes=maintence free for awhile on the twin set up.

 

[Renze]

I work(ed) in the industry but will not give any advice without getting a proper look to base a judgement upon... and i dont have time to re-engineer it for you

 

[crazyal]

Remember this, if you have a 3500 lb axle and a 5000 lb axle and the higher rated tire on the 5000 lb axle blows you are going to put all that weight on the lower load rated tire. Most likely this is going to happen while you are driving. You've increased the chances of that second tire blowing before you can come to a stop. Mot sure if I would want to increase the chances of that happening. So if I was going to do it I would change both tires so they were the same load rating.

You would also probably need to change your suspension set up. If it's leaf springs with a load equalizer it's going to put half the load on the light axle. You would probably have to use a torsion bar set up to avoid that. So now you'll have one leaf spring and one torsion spring axle. It's going to set off red flags to anyone who looks. Of course having one 5 lug nut axle and one 6 lug axle will also set off flags.

Finally your trailer should have a tag on it saying it's load rating. Some states will use that as the maximum load. Exceed it and you'll be fined. Once you add it all up I think your only option is to replace both axles, springs, tires, and wheels.

I have a 16' tri axle trailer rated for 22k . It's OK but it's all tire. It's expensive to replace all those tires. It has very little tongue weight because it's hard to move the equipment far enough forward. Not a big deal when I'm using a 2 1/2 ton dump to pull it but I notice it when I move it empty with my Tundra. While it may be the cheapest option it does have some drawbacks.

 

[BWSwede]

I agree with Chris. Sell it and buy a higher capacity one.

I understand the need to increase your capacity but don't risk your safety as well as others on the road around you. Are you a structural engineer? A certified welder? Don't risk it, it is not worth it.

I get so pissed off seeing overloaded home made trailers hauling down the highway jeopardizing my life and everybody else's life in the vicinity. I just don't understand what makes people think that because they have a welder they are qualified to make an object that carries tons of weight and can barrel down the highway at 60 mph. Just last year I saw a trailer fold in half carrying a load of hay. The belly dropped to the ground (GN) and it left scratches in the asphalt a couple hundred yards before it could slow down enough to move onto the shoulder.

I know laws vary by state but where I live you can't believe what is on the road. It is just not right.

This rant is not aimed at you, but just in general to those who build something as potentially dangerous as a home made trailer.

BWSwede

 

[bdog]

I have fooled with a lot of trailers in my time. I have built trailers from scratch, added heavier axles, made bumper pulls to goosenecks, etc. Looking back on it you really are probably better off to sell your trailer and buy what you want. Trailer parts are not cheap. To go to a heavier axle you need to buy the axle, springs, larger wheels, tires, etc. It adds up. Tires and wheels alone assuming you buy five are going to set you back around $750. Figure that much on brake axles plus other parts. Probably $1500-2000 to do a change over plus all your time. I. Bet you could sell your trailer and put that much money with it a fx get what you want that is heavier all the way round.

 

[crazyal]

The OP added steel tot he frame of the trailer. Selling it could be an issue now.