Just got a new trailer, and may be in trouble with GVWR. Advice needed.

[Steve1300]

Interestingly, here in Florida, the state law limits ALL trucks pulling trailers to 65 MPH. Not that it is enforced, but it is what the law says.

 

[George2615]

Interestingly, here in Florida, the state law limits ALL trucks pulling trailers to 65 MPH. Not that it is enforced, but it is what the law says.

Same in NY except the speed limit while towing a trailer is 55. Quite a few states have the 55 MPH limit but do not usually enforce that law.

 

[aczlan]

Same in NY except the speed limit while towing a trailer is 55. Quite a few states have the 55 MPH limit but do not usually enforce that law.

Can you post a link to that law? I have never seen those limits posted in NY and the semi trucks on limited access roads (ie: 90, 81, 690, 490, etc, etc) certainly don't follow it.

Aaron Z

 

[Soundguy]

I've saw 85mph on the speedo in my Super Duty pulling my GN grossing 24K lbs. Some would call that stupid. I would call it insane if I was running ST tires rated for 65mph. Which I do not.

I might have to admit seeing 80 pulling a tractor on a trailer before.. it's been over 7ys though..

 

[ovrszd]

I might have to admit seeing 80 pulling a tractor on a trailer before.. it's been over 7ys though..

You are standing on lapsed Statute of Limitations huh??

 

[George2615]

Can you post a link to that law? I have never seen those limits posted in NY and the semi trucks on limited access roads (ie: 90, 81, 690, 490, etc, etc) certainly don't follow it.

Aaron Z

I found this online a while ago. Its a list of all states and trailer towing info

State Towing Laws



Triple AAA says trailer speed limit is same as passenger cars.
New York - AAA Digest of Motor Laws


This link says you can tow at the posted limit.
Towing Laws by State

I could find nothing to the contrary on the DMV website so the first link must have been misinformed.

 

[Soundguy]

You are standing on lapsed Statute of Limitations huh??

I'z takes the 5th!

 

[vsteel]

Who's dumb enough to haul a trailer and tractor going 85mph!

Keep in mind ST trailer tires, because they are not rated to carry people, are not rated at 100% like tires that carry people. They are only 80% (maybe 85% I forget) duty rated, so if you are fully loaded and rated at 65 and going 65 you are over using the tires. You really need to be doing roughly 50 mph to stay in the rating.

 

[Steve1300]

I found this online a while ago. Its a list of all states and trailer towing info

State Towing Laws



Triple AAA says trailer speed limit is same as passenger cars.
New York - AAA Digest of Motor Laws


This link says you can tow at the posted limit.
Towing Laws by State

I could find nothing to the contrary on the DMV website so the first link must have been misinformed.

It is pretty easy for any of us to check the facts. We need only to look up the laws of our individual states. Although we know that anything we find on the internet is true, I don't think the law enforcement people agree.

 

[dodge man]

To the OP, it looks to me like you would be OK using the trailer you have. It looks like you are right at the limits of it. If this is a trailer like I use mine, its gets used just a few times a year. How often will you be hauling this load? If its every day or every week, I'd upgrade. If its just a few times a year and you aren't always carrying all your stuff, I'd keep what you have.

 

[tcartwri]

2nd question: Am I ok being at 8k GVW as i'm only towing locally? Not worried about the tow vehicle, just about damaging the trailer with an extra 1k on it if i'm hauling with the rototill or other implement attached.

You should be putting at least 1K on the ball, so you are in fact ok with the current trailer. Just.

 

[downslope]

You should be putting at least 1K on the ball, so you are in fact ok with the current trailer. Just.

If the manufacturer's tag on the trailer is printed 7,000 GVW is it really OK to load it to 8K just because it has two 3.5K axles and 1000 lb is on the hitch? How do we know the rest of the trailer (frame, hitch, etc.) is built to handle 8K?

Big Tex even states in the specs that their 70CH trailer has a coupler rated at 7,000#.

7CH Tandem Axle Car Hauler | Big Tex Trailers

 

[tcartwri]

If the manufacturer's tag on the trailer is printed 7,000 GVW is it really OK to load it to 8K just because it has two 3.5K axles and 1000 lb is on the hitch? How do we know the rest of the trailer (frame, hitch, etc.) is built to handle 8K?

Big Tex even states in the specs that their 70CH trailer has a coupler rated at 7,000#.

7CH Tandem Axle Car Hauler | Big Tex Trailers

I'm just saying that that's the way the DOT is going to look at it if he's scaled.

 

[4570Man]

You should be putting at least 1K on the ball, so you are in fact ok with the current trailer. Just.

Not exactly. The trailer deck weighs more than that 1000 pounds.

 

[tcartwri]

Not exactly. The trailer deck weighs more than that 1000 pounds.

Unless I read it wrong, his scaled weight was 8K. Trailer is rated for 7K and has 3500lb axles. Weight of the trailer is already included.

 

[Sprinklerman]

They generally weigh the axles , as long as there is no more than 7 K on the axles and not over hitch load thats what the dot is worried about

 

[4570Man]

Unless I read it wrong, his scaled weight was 8K. Trailer is rated for 7K and has 3500lb axles. Weight of the trailer is already included.

I haven't read the whole thread. I read the guesstimate weights on the first page.

 

[downslope]

They generally weigh the axles , as long as there is no more than 7 K on the axles and not over hitch load thats what the dot is worried about

What does "not over hitch load" mean? Does DOT just compare the scaled axle weight to the ratings on the receiver, ball, coupler, etc, or do they measure the actual hitch weight? I suppose enforcement of these things can vary a lot by state or jurisdiction.

 

[Sprinklerman]

My excursion , says 500 lbs on the hitch and 5 K trailer without a weight distribution , 1K on the hitch and 10K trailer with bars .

And most dot cops look for the obvious . But if you are loaded and look to be heavy and the truck is sagging they may weigh your axles on the trailer , then on your truck , something over weight , pay dearly

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Going off the manufacturer listed weights for the trailer and cab.

I got the trailer for $3k, about $700 under MSRP. I could sell it pretty easily for what I paid for it. Looking around at a different dealer and they have a Reiser 10k GVWR 20' equipment trailer for $3,745.00

Don't know anything about that brand.

Reiser is a good "economy" brand. Better than or comparable to Big Tex.