Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[WinterDeere]

In Minnesota, most people call a tractor trailer is a semi

I always thought the name was applicable to any trailer in which nearly 50% of the trailer weight is sitting on the tow vehicle, by historical context.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Yep, full (or pull) trailers are pretty rare, the ones that support all their weight, except for the minuscule weight of the draw bar/tongue.

If they don't have an axle, or axles, in each end they're semi trailers, but watch people being in complete denial when pointing out that their regular trailer is a semi trailer. Be it for a boat, a basic flatbed, or whatever.

 

[WinterDeere]

Yep, full (or pull) trailers are pretty rare, the ones that support all their weight, except for the minuscule weight of the draw bar/tongue.

If they don't have an axle, or axles, in each end they're semi trailers, but watch people being in complete denial when pointing out that their regular trailer is a semi trailer. Be it for a boat, a basic flatbed, or whatever.

I'm no expert, but I always assumed the distinction was the fraction of weight on the tow vehicle. With a regular boat or landscape trailer, tongue weight is only 10% - 15% of gross trailer weight. But with a semi trailer, I think tongue weight is probably something like 40% or greater.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

No, that's not quite how it works. A semi trailer puts a portion of its weight, loaded or not, on the tow vehicle. That's the whole reason its named "semi trailer".

A pull trailer supports its own weight, and load, so it doesn't need a jack on the tongue. Okay, con gears (used to convert semi trailers to pull trailers do have jacks since they're heavy).

Below are two examples of typical semi trailers.

And here is an example of two pull trailers. Unusual ones, but pull trailers nevertheless, with steering front axles.

Come to think of it, the really simple way to tell a semi trailer from a pull trailer is if it has a steerable front axle or not. If it doesn't, it's a semi trailer.

 

[Dftodd]

I've never dug into the actual code on this, but looking at the resulting numbers, it appears to me the ratings are typically limited by tongue weight. Put more clearly, it seems the motive and stopping power of the most-heavily-configured 1/2 ton trucks is greater than its ability to carry tongue weight. And by "most-heavily-configured", I mean those with the largest engine/trans/rear option for their class, and sold with a tow package.

The reason I say this is that, if you look right down the line of ratings, excluding those limited by low-ratio rear diffs and small engines, the tow rating is always exactly 10x the tongue weight rating of the vehicle.

This is equally bogus, because it assumes the "ideal trailer", loaded to within a pound of the minimally-acceptable 10% tongue weight. That's not a practical assumption or safety margin, for anyone placing various loads on most trailers.

Max weight limits on a 1/2 ton truck are also figured with a properly set up weight distribution hitch.

My Sierra 1500 is rated for 9,500lbs. But I wouldn't want to pull anything over my landscape trailer with a 7000lb gvw without a weight distribution hitch.

 

[BravoXray]

View attachment 883119

Did you see the hand at the bottom of the box, holding on to it?

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Did you see the hand at the bottom of the box, holding on to it?

That's their handyman.

 

[WinterDeere]

No, that's not quite how it works. A semi trailer puts a portion of its weight, loaded or not, on the tow vehicle. That's the whole reason its named "semi trailer".

A pull trailer supports its own weight, and load, so it doesn't need a jack on the tongue. Okay, con gears (used to convert semi trailers to pull trailers do have jacks since they're heavy).

Below are two examples of typical semi trailers.

View attachment 883313


View attachment 883314

And here is an example of two pull trailers. Unusual ones, but pull trailers nevertheless, with steering front axles.View attachment 883315

Come to think of it, the really simple way to tell a semi trailer from a pull trailer is if it has a steerable front axle or not. If it doesn't, it's a semi trailer.

So, you’re saying a landscape trailer is a “semi trailer”?

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

So, you’re saying a landscape trailer is a “semi trailer”?

I think he is saying “everyone has their own opinion.” Because I think he is nuts not wanting to tow anything with a 1/2 ton truck. But that is just my opinion.

 

[dougtrr2]

So the guy hauling the box in the trunk is super safe. Either the stretch wrap or a guy in the trunk holding it, but both, that is just overkill.

Doug in SW IA