I have a tandem axle trailer with 7000lb total capacity with brakes and I need to tow a forklift that weighs 7000lb. I think I will be a little over the limit but what do you all think? Will the trailer axles fall apart or bend so bad I will not make the trip?

 

I think you can get away with it, as at leat 500 of that will go on the truck, it will be heavy, but not bad, just go easy and remember the wieght you have behind you. It won't fall apart or bend at loading, it's the holes and dips in the pavement that will catch up to you. If you were to do it regular, I would be more concerned. I loaded a 656 IH utility tractor on a 7000 capablr trailer, and it survived, but the axles were touching the frame, and I didn't get in any rush, I sure didn't like it, but that was long ago, and the trailer is still in regular use. I think my top speed on that trip was 45 , only 20 miles, but I drove the tractor back rather than haul it, just because I did not like how it was. It also had a loader on it, so that threw the balance way off, the forklift will be more centerable.

 

Fish -

Does that total trailer capacity include the weight of the trailer? If so, you're going to be WAY over! How sure are you that the forklift weighs 7000 pounds? Might be a good idea to get it weighed.

Steve

 

If the forklift actually weighs 7000 lbs, you will be overweight on the trailer by however much the trailer weighs. Is this a car-hauler trailer or a general-duty utility trailer? The car-haulers usually have beefier frames than the utilites and the car hauler's floor is usually stronger too. I would try to find out what the forklift actually weighs and you may end up having to rent a flatbed equipment trailer for hauling tractors and such from an equipment rental place. The forklift service companies that come to my work and haul forklifts back and forth usually have some pretty heavy duty trailers behind their service trucks. I was surprised at how much one of our stand-up electric forklifts weighs. It's not a big one, but the forklift by itself weighs 5000 lbs and the battery weighs another 2000 lbs. You wouldn't think it by looking at it, the whole thing is small enough to fit in the back of a shortbed pickup truck, but it would definitely squash a pickup! There's alot of steel in that thing!

 

with a forklift you are dealing with a huge amount of weight in a very small area. most trailers are designed to have the weight spread out all over the trailer. you might find that the boards on the floor of your trailer are not as strong as you thought.

 

This a heavy duty utility trailer. The frame is 4" channel and the floor supports are 3"x2" angle . I got the weight of the forktruck off the sticker on the unit.

 

I was thinking of putting a couple sheets of plywood down where it was to sit to distribute the weight.

 

Fish, You haven't posted how far you are planning to move the unit.

John

 

466 miles. I took some advice and plan to rent a 8 ton trailer for hauling heavy equipment from Hertz equipment for $65 a day. I now need to get a pintle hitch to go into my receiver.

 

Fish -

With that distance, I think you made the right choice to rent a trailer. Now your trailer will live to fight another day!!! Good luck on your tow.

Steve

 

I agree, good decision . Check out www.etrailer.com for a few choices for slide-in pintle hitch mounts for your 2x2 reciever hitch.

 

I aggree too. Down the road is one thing, but several hundred miles is another. Good for you.