Open deck
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 75
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Open deck
I have a 16' open deck trailer that I use to sometimes tow my Cobra. Lately I've been helping a wood working friend of mine pick up pieces of old dismantled barns. The end of this month we are going up to the NY area to get think wood beams, ranging from 16' to 18'. I have a 97 EB Expedition with the 5.4, WD hitch and a Prodigy brake controller.
What is the max weight I should put on this trailer?There really isnt going to be a way I can tell what is the weight of each beam.I'm thinking around 8500 pounds????
What is the max weight I should put on this trailer?There really isnt going to be a way I can tell what is the weight of each beam.I'm thinking around 8500 pounds????
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA
Most 16' tandem axle flatbeds are rated 7000 lbs. A few manufacturers will rate them 7700 lbs, figuring in the 10% minimum tongue weight, but I wouldn't load a trailer with 3500 lb axles up that heavy. My trailer is rated 7000 lbs, and when I load my Jeep on it, I'm at 6800 lbs. 6000 of that is on the axles and 800 on the tongue.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, KY
Remember also that the trailer weighs around 1000lbs, so your max PAYLOAD will be closer to 6000lbs.
And if you want more barn wood, drive to Kentucky! I'm taking down a barn right now; 50' tobacco barn.
And if you want more barn wood, drive to Kentucky! I'm taking down a barn right now; 50' tobacco barn.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
> There really isnt going to be a way I can tell what is the weight of each beam
Actually there is.
A cubic foot of white oak will be about 34 pounds and pine about 18 pounds.
So ... if you load your trailer bed here is what each foot of height will be for say, white oak beams.
7 feet x 16 feet x 34 pounds (white oak) = 3808. So, if you tightly stack the oak beams two feet high you will end up with about 7616 pounds on the trailer.
If you know the species of the wood, use this chart for a rough estimate. A cord of wood = 128 cf.
Firewood
If this an old old barn, estimate 1.3 higher for the species because 1) dense old growth wood 2) beams are tighter stacking then cord wood.
Actually there is.
A cubic foot of white oak will be about 34 pounds and pine about 18 pounds.
So ... if you load your trailer bed here is what each foot of height will be for say, white oak beams.
7 feet x 16 feet x 34 pounds (white oak) = 3808. So, if you tightly stack the oak beams two feet high you will end up with about 7616 pounds on the trailer.
If you know the species of the wood, use this chart for a rough estimate. A cord of wood = 128 cf.
Firewood
If this an old old barn, estimate 1.3 higher for the species because 1) dense old growth wood 2) beams are tighter stacking then cord wood.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 87
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From: Snohomish, WA
My 16 ft tandem weighs right at 1800 empty (with ramps stowed), and has a 5200 lb payload.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 346
From: SE Iowa
According to the Machinist handbook, here are the weights of air dried lumber in pounds per cubic foot:
White Oak -> 47
Red Oak -> 44
Douglas Fir -> 32
Cedar -> @33 depending on exact species
Pine -> @26 depending on exact species
White Oak -> 47
Red Oak -> 44
Douglas Fir -> 32
Cedar -> @33 depending on exact species
Pine -> @26 depending on exact species
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: darrington wash
also factor in water weight if it is around a wet climate... or if they have been on the ground... that is damp.... or find a local scale close to where you are at... and drive down there with a beam or 2 and weigh them out and subtract the trailor weight...
i think my way is the easiest... you only have to subtract hahaaha
i think my way is the easiest... you only have to subtract hahaaha
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
From: Burton, Texas
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of wood is it, (heart pine would be my guess,) and how old is it? I'm going to TN for Thanksgiving, been looking for some "antique" wood to build furniture out of.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, KY
Its a mixture, I really have no idea. Much of it is hardwoods rather than pine. We're burning and selling it as fast as we can, we want it out of here! Its about 50 years old. You'd probably want the stuff we're burning... the only things we have set aside to sell are the main pillars and support beams (4x6, 4x4, 6x6, and 8x8s). Everything else is free/firewood/burn pile, so hurry up if you want some!
