help with trailer capacity
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,130
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From: Rural Central Ohio
help with trailer capacity
well im buying this 5300 lb diesel tractor and was wondering if this trailer will hold that well. the owner of the trailer unfortunately doesn't know much about the trailer and i dont really know much about trailers either. just by looking at it what do you guys think the towing capacity would be. also what can i look for on the trailer to make a rough determination of the capacity.
do you think $500 is a fair price?
do you think $500 is a fair price?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
Its all about which axles are under it. typically the lowest axles they put on a tandem axle trailer are 3500#s each so a total of 7k. that trailer might weigh about 1500# max which would leave you about 5500#s to carry the tractor so you should be fine. I would bet the axles on that equioment trailer have a higher rating than dual 3500# axles since they are typically made to carry skid steers and such
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 679
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From: NW Burbs of Illinois
Also there SHOULD be a tag on it somewhere. most likely located between the ball and the front of the trailer. It will list the weights and capacities as well. It looks older so it may be missing. The tags are typically rivited on though.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
$500 is a good price. If you can get him to knock a bit more off even better. If the trailer is too small for your needs, buy it anyway clean and paint it up and sell it for a profit. A little bit of TLC can go a long way when it comes to $$$$.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Tupelo,Ms
ive been looking for a trailer about that size but in my opinion it looks like a car hauler because its low low ha ha but check out like they said usually they put a tag on the frame somewhere that states max capacity and stuff but i do think that 500 is a fair price plus a 100 or so in paint and wood coat and you could probabbly make some profit off of the thing
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Go Bills !
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,778
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From: Buffalo, NY
I have done that many times. Wish this trailer was close to me, I'd be backing up to it, Fixing up and reselling. Trailers sell like hot cakes. Especially ones that have fresh paint.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Rochdale MA
The old saying is so true: Putty and paint make it what it ain't
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Farmington, Minnesota
Its all about which axles are under it. typically the lowest axles they put on a tandem axle trailer are 3500#s each so a total of 7k. that trailer might weigh about 1500# max which would leave you about 5500#s to carry the tractor so you should be fine. I would bet the axles on that equioment trailer have a higher rating than dual 3500# axles since they are typically made to carry skid steers and such
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 612
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From: Iowa
part of your answer will be how often you plan on hauling it around. If its for work and you plan on dragging it around 3 days of 5 for the next 5-7 years, consider something heavier IMHO, if you are dragging it home or pulling maybe 1 every week or couple of weeks, buy it, change the tires, and be happy. Why change the tires you ask? Tires fail due to degradation of the steel belts. this degradation takes place regardless of tire mileage and is mostly proportional to tire age. I have pulled trailers with very very old tires. I have ripped them apart in the middle of 3 lanes of bumper to bumper traffic at 65 MPH too( with a 5300 LB machine tool sitting centered on the axles). That little episode cost me a rim as well, but I got lucky and did not hit anyone else with the trailer when it happened. RV'ers say to change the tires every 3 years I think... that may be a bit extreme, but if you pull alot and dislike changing tires in bad places, put new rubber on it, especially when pushing the trailer capacity in the first place.