Trailer/Truck towing weights

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

Trailer/Truck towing weights

teejay99 · Belle River On Ford Member

The 7000 GVWR on the trailer is what the trailer axles were designed to handle ( I'm assuming a double axle trailer .).....all your stuff should weigh less than that . Does your truck have the trailer tow package which would include a trans cooler and a decent gear for towing ....mid 3's or higher numerically . A 3.55 would be fine . Is the truck a super cab or crew cab ?

-- Edited by teejay99 on Sunday 14th of August 2016 04:38:54 PM

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

teejay99 wrote:
The 7000 GVWR on the trailer is what the trailer axles were designed to handle ( I'm assuming a double axle trailer .).....all your stuff should weigh less than that . Does your truck have the trailer tow package which would include a trans cooler and a decent gear for towing ....mid 3's or higher numerically . A 3.55 would be fine . Is the truck a super cab or crew cab ?

-- Edited by teejay99 on Sunday 14th of August 2016 04:38:54 PM

Thanks for the quick help Teejay,

I was told it had the tow package, its a company truck and they did order it that way for me, I will go out and check on the rear axle ratio it is the extended (super cab with the 6.5' box

it has a trailer mode but no gain for the trailer brakes like my last chev with a trailer package had.

I will go check.

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

yes double axle, with electric brakes

wuga · Prince Edward County Ont

The other thing is allowable tongue weight. Your ownership states what the truck licensed weight is. When your trailer is loaded and attached, only the truck weight including the tongue weight must not exceed that licensed weight, no matter what the trailer weight is and what the truck is capable of towing. The trailer is also not allowed to go over the rated weight and you probably already have about 3500 lbs in empty trailer. Not a bad idea to hook up the empty trailer and go do some weighing. Or you can just try and get away with whatever.

Warren

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

found the window sticker and it does state 3.55 rear end and a trailer tow package GVWR 6500lbs. I suppose if I do not load the trailer to full capacity I will be ok as it is good to 7000lbs GVWR.

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

wuga wrote:
The other thing is allowable tongue weight. Your ownership states what the truck licensed weight is. When your trailer is loaded and attached, only the truck weight including the tongue weight must not exceed that licensed weight, no matter what the trailer weight is and what the truck is capable of towing. The trailer is also not allowed to go over the rated weight and you probably already have about 3500 lbs in empty trailer. Not a bad idea to hook up the empty trailer and go do some weighing. Or you can just try and get away with whatever.

Warren

Thanks Warren, I will also check that, I sure don't need to buy something I cant use, as stated I will likely resell it after my move and my project is on the road.

Angelo

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

wuga wrote:
The other thing is allowable tongue weight. Your ownership states what the truck licensed weight is. When your trailer is loaded and attached, only the truck weight including the tongue weight must not exceed that licensed weight, no matter what the trailer weight is and what the truck is capable of towing. The trailer is also not allowed to go over the rated weight and you probably already have about 3500 lbs in empty trailer. Not a bad idea to hook up the empty trailer and go do some weighing. Or you can just try and get away with whatever.

Warren

Thanks Warren, I will also check that, I sure don't need to buy something I cant use, as stated I will likely resell it after my move and my project is on the road.

Angelo

teejay99 · Belle River On Ford Member

Cargo trailers are usually pretty light , but GVWR includes the weight of the trailer in the 7000 lbs . Keep in mind that the 7000 GVWR is the weight on top of the axles of the trailer .....the 6500 lbs trailer TOW capacity on the truck is simply pulling that weight rather than carrying it .

If the truck has a trailer tow package , it probably has a class 3 hitch and a plug in for the trailer electric brakes . it would be nice if the truck was ordered with a brake equalizer which is a device inside the truck cab that allows you to dial in the trailer brakes to coincide with the truck brakes . I know you are only going a fairly short distance but you might keep in mind that there are idiot drivers out there who might pass you and then cut in quickly , making you get on the brakes . it happens .

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

teejay99 wrote:
Cargo trailers are usually pretty light , but GVWR includes the weight of the trailer in the 7000 lbs . Keep in mind that the 7000 GVWR is the weight on top of the axles of the trailer .....the 6500 lbs trailer TOW capacity on the truck is simply pulling that weight rather than carrying it .

If the truck has a trailer tow package , it probably has a class 3 hitch and a plug in for the trailer electric brakes . it would be nice if the truck was ordered with a brake equalizer which is a device inside the truck cab that allows you to dial in the trailer brakes to coincide with the truck brakes . I know you are only going a fairly short distance but you might keep in mind that there are idiot drivers out there who might pass you and then cut in quickly , making you get on the brakes . it happens .

True enough about the idiots!

It does have the tow package with the HD receiver, 3.55 gears and the large plug (I assume for the electric brakes) the trailer is 2 axel with electric brakes, so I'm hoping it will be sufficient.

Angelo

teejay99 · Belle River On Ford Member

If you are happy with all that , you need to make sure the trailer is level with the truck .......4x4 's are hgher in stature than 4x2's although they tow about the same weight . If the truck is higher than the trailer tongue , you may need to get a different sleeve to maintain a level situations . there are striaght sleeves and dropped sleeves in various configurations .

sleeve 2.jpg

fatstax · Cobourg On member

that curt line of inserts and trailer stuff is pretty reasonable, cheaper then princess auto even.

parklane · St.Thomas On Rod-side member

Go and buy yourself a trailer brake controller, and install it under your dash, where it's handy to reach from the drivers seat. The wiring connection for the controller is usually in the wiring near the steering column, and should hook directly into the back of the controller. There should be no other hook up necessary. Get a decent controller like a Tekonsha, and not some cheap POS.

Marten · Kemptville Ont Carpenter/Renovations

Hi Angelo,
I will add my 2 cents here for you. I tow a trailer that size for a living, actually slightly smaller. It carries all my tools. The 7000 GVWR of the trailer is actually a little deceiving. That is probably the max safe capacity of the two axles. you can add 10% on top for tongue weight. The trailer should weigh less then 2000 lbs. so lots of room/ weight for your stuff. Your owners manual will give you the max towing capacity of the truck. I think you will be fine here. If the truck has a towing package that plug is for the trailer. Not sure if it has a controller but if you are only going a short distance you will be fine. The controller is great to have but for a one time use maybe a bit pricy. Some trucks have them built in now a days. Keeping the trailer level is good but again for such a short distance you have nothing to worry about. If you were to travel a long distance with a sloped trailer you will eat up tires for sure. With a trailer that size you will find lots of use for it. Storage, moving hot rods, etc. Pace makes a very nice trailer. If you have never backed up a trailer that size it will be interesting for sure. Have a helper back you up and bring some patience with you.

shag766 · Foxboro On Rod-side Member

parklane wrote:
Go and buy yourself a trailer brake controller, and install it under your dash, where it's handy to reach from the drivers seat. The wiring connection for the controller is usually in the wiring near the steering column, and should hook directly into the back of the controller. There should be no other hook up necessary. Get a decent controller like a Tekonsha, and not some cheap POS.

X2

shag766 · Foxboro On Rod-side Member

thoughts from an old truck driver, tractor trailers, and still pulling some personal ones around. you are getting close to being out there with a 20ft enclosed for a half ton. it all boils down to "how you load it" and yes put a brake controller in it for a couple of reasons. trailers are built with a tongue height of 18" to be the sweet spot for the ride to be level and with a 1/2 ton it is more of an issue with the more weight you put on. tongue heavy will push the truck around and tongue light will have the hitch bouncing on the ball and taking weight off the rear drive axle which takes away control. if you are trying to put the truck and all that stuff in the pic of your avatar on then i doubt it. the truck will take too much length room and tools and stuff will weigh up heavy and you can't space it right. how about maybe running the truck over and leaving it there and come back for another load of the shop stuff, loaded right. then rearrange it all and see if the truck will go back in, maybe. you are talking at least 1/2 your trailer in just wheel base length heavier on one end and paper light on the other.
i would put a controller in, more brakes heavy-less brakes empty and your the judge on how much. if you end up keeping the trailer longer than for just this i would be snooping for one of these set-ups used.
-www.tdotperformance.ca/pro-series-49903-pro-series-complete-rb-wt-dist-kit-10-000-lbs-gtw-1000-lbs-tw.html
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you can put a lot of weight on a 20ft

Janies dirty 37 · Aug 15, 2016

What Shag said x2

mine is 18 ft.

Brake controller ! Balance load. Easy peasy .

teejay99 · Belle River On Ford Member

Angelo , brake controllers are not expensive if you have the rest of the necessary towing items including proper wiring . If you decide to get a controller , make sure the wiring uses connectors on the installation , not splicing .

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

Thanks for all the great input everyone, Shag I would invest in the controller as I had a factory one in a Chev I had, I also looked into insurance today as I will need to tow it with my company work truck (not my company) and they said they would not insure the trailer if it was not towed with my own personal truck!

So I will need to dig deeper, I'm not going to buy a truck for the move as well. I think I will just rent a U-Haul trailer.

Angelo

teejay99 · Belle River On Ford Member

You must have friends and or family with an appropriate truck ?? Hit them up ...it's not like it's a cross country tow .

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

teejay99 wrote:
You must have friends and or family with an appropriate truck ?? Hit them up ...it's not like it's a cross country tow .

Believe it or not I have always had a company truck some were my own but not anymore, and my wife is an ex insurance agent ! wont allow me to do it, something about if the traler comes undone and takes out a family of ah, never mind you get it!

teejay99 · Belle River On Ford Member

She does have a point , in this day and age , with possible law suits . When I was in the trailer business for a couple of years after retiring from the car business , I worked at Leisure Trailers in Windsor , a family owned business for 60 years now . We had an excellent service department and would often correct mistakes made by a few competitors . We made good money by making stuff right from screw ups , all with the thought of safety and liability in mind . Some of the stuff on the road was a lawsuit in waiting . , but if everything is done right , you're in the clear .

Just before I retired , a guy came in complaining of a "rattling noise " coming from the new trailer he just picked up .........when I had our guys look it over , they discovered that the other company had installed a 2 " ball on his hitch , when it required a 2 5/16 " !! Fortunately for the customer , he had driven on a flat road for about 20 miles ....had he encountered a railroad track it could have been a different story ! biggrin

-- Edited by teejay99 on Monday 15th of August 2016 08:35:01 PM

Janies dirty 37 · Aug 15, 2016

Its a non issue now. Momma said No!!!

Rent the uhaul. wink

shag766 · Foxboro On Rod-side Member

Janies dirty 37 wrote:
What Shag said x2
mine is 18 ft.
Brake controller ! Balance load. Easy peasy .

nice unit janie. i had a similar 23ft for years used mostly for sleds and bikes. i'd let the odd guy borrow it but not if they had a 1/2 ton. lots of times i would drop it and tell them how to load it and come back and move it and drop it again with my 1 ton. for future considerations of course, usually beer for the shop.

shag766 · Foxboro On Rod-side Member

v2addict wrote:
teejay99 wrote:
You must have friends and or family with an appropriate truck ?? Hit them up ...it's not like it's a cross country tow .
Believe it or not I have always had a company truck some were my own but not anymore, and my wife is an ex insurance agent ! wont allow me to do it, something about if the traler comes undone and takes out a family of ah, never mind you get it!

that's something i should probably check into also. humph- good point in today's world. the truck is in my business name and the trailers are in my name. never thought of it, humph! more for the to-do list. lol

v2addict · Craighurst On Member

Janies dirty 37 wrote:
Its a non issue now. Momma said No!!!
Rent the uhaul.

Bahahahhaha

Easy Janies, Momma's just the sensible one!! This boy always does what he pleases, that's what got me in this trouble biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Janies dirty 37 · Aug 17, 2016

ok, I guess we'll keep an eye out when you post pics of your new to you trailer. wink biggrin

Janies dirty 37 · Aug 17, 2016

shag766 wrote:
Janies dirty 37 wrote:
What Shag said x2
mine is 18 ft.
Brake controller ! Balance load. Easy peasy .
nice unit janie. i had a similar 23ft for years used mostly for sleds and bikes. i'd let the odd guy borrow it but not if they had a 1/2 ton. lots of times i would drop it and tell them how to load it and come back and move it and drop it again with my 1 ton. for future considerations of course, usually beer for the shop.

Ya, old school truck drivers daughter here. smile I prefer to drive my truck. some days dealing with silly drivers I wish I had a western star to jump in and get around. lmao. Don't shy away from hauling anything behind me but it doesn't cost a lot to do it the right way and safe for everyone. As you well know, we cant count on everyone being gifted with common sense.

shag766 · Foxboro On Rod-side Member

"we can't count on everyone being gifted with common sense." no comment but i am thinking some more than others. lol
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"Ya, old school truck drivers daughter here" really, just wondering did they have many diesels back that far or was it still mostly gas in the trucks. lmao- i had to hun.
you know your getting old when you can still remember the old mc-kinely transports with the super white mustangs with a 220 cummins and 4x4 loaded heavy with a set of trains headed north or south. man they could back the traffic up. lol i never seen it but i heard about it, not that old, lmao, yea i wish. lol