Ideas for a huge trailer tongue box?

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:56 pm

I've seen a trailer being pulled down I-40 with a noticeable amount of camber. I'm guessing it wasn't designed to hold the bulldozer that was sitting on it.

But to answer your question, it depends on the weak point. If the trailer builder says that the trailer can support stronger axles with no other changes, I suspect that your first failure would be a bent axle or a busted bearing.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I've seen a trailer being pulled down I-40 with a noticeable amount of camber. I'm guessing it wasn't designed to hold the bulldozer that was sitting on it.

But to answer your question, it depends on the weak point. If the trailer builder says that the trailer can support stronger axles with no other changes, I suspect that your first failure would be a bent axle or a busted bearing.

Re brakes (Cash's qn) -- both axles, it has PLENTY of brakes. My open hauler has 1 axle and even it will lock up fully loaded before the truck if adjusted too high. Brakes won't be the issue.

Re weak point. I guess I'm starting to be a contrarian on conventional wisdom of trailer weight ratings, since I have actually never heard of a trailer axle or bearing failure from overloading. Even the 3500lb axles and hubs look pretty stout to me. FWIW the exact frame is also available with 5k axles, so the trailer itself if very robust. I am guessing that the 3500lb weight rating has a huge safety margin and is based on an absolute worst case scenario, like getting air over a set of railroad tracks. We just won't do that

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

MikeWhitney wrote:

Re brakes (Cash's qn) -- both axles, it has PLENTY of brakes. My open hauler has 1 axle and even it will lock up fully loaded before the truck if adjusted too high. Brakes won't be the issue.

the problem with a single braked axle is that even at maximum (just short of lockup) you're only getting half the possible stopping power because that axle is only carrying half the load. so in a panic stop the trailer can only generate about half the deceleration force and transfers quite a bit to the tow vehicle which can have negative consequences.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:40 pm

Jason Tower wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Re brakes (Cash's qn) -- both axles, it has PLENTY of brakes. My open hauler has 1 axle and even it will lock up fully loaded before the truck if adjusted too high. Brakes won't be the issue.

the problem with a single braked axle is that even at maximum (just short of lockup) you're only getting half the possible stopping power because that axle is only carrying half the load. so in a panic stop the trailer can only generate about half the deceleration force and transfers quite a bit to the tow vehicle which can have negative consequences.

The "nice" thing about a single braked axle is that the trailer still tracks straight if you lock up the brakes.

I'd still put brakes on both axles.

RichardNuss · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 8:50 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Good advice. They are 3500 each. This was the only "issue" with the trailer, and was debated. We decided to "risk it". Will be right around 7k loaded, maybe 7500.

Remember that the tongue weight is carried by the tow vehicle, and not by the trailer axles. So you can subtract the tongue weight from your loaded trailer weight (unless you get your total weight figures by weighing it hooked up to the tow vehicle, or with the tongue jack down).

I have a 2001 model car hauler that is heavily constructed (weighs 2200 pounds by itself) and only has 3500lb axles. I have hauled 5-6000lb trucks on it several times (not all the time), and I'm still on the original axles and bearings - no issues. So I've been right at the limit (when you subtract the tongue weight) and haven't hurt anything. That said, I'd like to upgrade to 5k or 7k axles just for peace of mind, so that I don't have to think about what I'm loading on it and how I'm towing it. But I've wanted to do that for years, and it hasn't happened yet...

George Bright · **Posted:** Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:14 am

I used to tow a 32 ft. trailer for the testing company. It was a fifth wheel weighing 18,000 lbs. The problems we had were that the tires on the dual axles were overloaded by about 200-300 lbs. each. Also the electric brakes on each axle were not up to the task. I towed with a F450 so it had plenty of brakes. I did have the brakes fade out in the mountains of WV once. We never had problems with wheel bearings or the hubs. Tires always failed before they wore the tread out. We ran Mechelin XPS load range E tires. I forget the size but it was as big as we could run.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

1700lb tongue weight with the big box on the tongue!

Time for plan B ... Gym locker!

Full already. Let's see what's in there ... 2 front axles, 4 brake rotors, 4 calipers, brake hoses, master cylinder, ps pump, radius rods, front subframe, front knuckles, full shift linkage, 4 spare coilovers, front and rear upper and lower control arms, rear trailing arms, fuel filler neck, 4 bearings, rear hubs, 6 motor mounts, throttle cable, clutch cable, 6 front balljoints, fuel tank straps, the gimp, and a kitchen sink, I'm sure I am forgetting something.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2012 6:50 am

I sure hope those shelves, doors, latches, etc. are stronger than they look "from here" (I have not been up close to a gym locker in a looooong time :lol:

).

That collection of parts may weigh as much as my whole race car (950 lbs). :lol:

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Ideas for a huge trailer tongue box?

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