Will this tow ok?

[ericcarr2000]

Ok I just picked up a used trailer to be able to tow my 90 sea ray sundancer 250. I notice that there is no tags on it anywhere, but I was told that it has tandem 3500 pound axels on it. Does this mean that it can handle up to 7000 pounds on it because having it sitting in my driveway waiting to go up to pick up my boat it sure seems like when I stand on it in front of the axels that it gives some, is this normal?
Also I was told that the brakes work on it. I did look around on all the lines and can't seem to find any leaks anywhere. I guess first off do you guys think that this trailer will hold my boat which weighs 5000 pounds from what I've been told, and can someone give me some insight into how the brake system works on these, this is my first trailer that has brakes on it, to my surprise it uses just a 2 inch ball and not a 2 5/16.
I'll submit pics as soon as I get home.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Ok I just picked up a used trailer to be able to tow my 90 sea ray sundancer 250. I notice that there is no tags on it anywhere, but I was told that it has tandem 3500 pound axels on it. Does this mean that it can handle up to 7000 pounds on it because having it sitting in my driveway waiting to go up to pick up my boat it sure seems like when I stand on it in front of the axels that it gives some, is this normal?
Also I was told that the brakes work on it. I did look around on all the lines and can't seem to find any leaks anywhere. I guess first off do you guys think that this trailer will hold my boat which weighs 5000 pounds from what I've been told, and can someone give me some insight into how the brake system works on these, this is my first trailer that has brakes on it, to my surprise it uses just a 2 inch ball and not a 2 5/16.
I'll submit pics as soon as I get home.

Ayuh,.... The Axle Diameter, where the bearin's ride, will tell ya what kinda weight it can haul,....

I'm guessin' it's surge brakes,..??

If so, when the wagon pushes against the tow unit, the brakes apply,...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Examine the tires.
Make note of the size and load rating on each tire.
Then go to a web site that sells trailer tires, and look up the load capacity for the tires.
The capacity should be on the tires, but is often difficult to read.

Add the capacity of the 4 tires together, for example, 4 x 1500# = 6000#
6000 would be the weight limiting factor, even if the trailer had 2 5000# axles.

Now, take the 6000# number, and subtract the weight of the trailer itself.

So 6000 - 1240# = 4760# capacity.


So, since your trailer is currently empty, it will be easy for you to get the weight of the trailer.
Take it to a feed mill, moving company, recycling yard, or truck stop, and weight it up, Expect to pay $15 for the service.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Will this tow ok?

THIS^ assumes that the tires are correct for the axles... if someone went up or down in tires it won't help with axle rating....

You need to pull a hub off and measure as Bondo suggested AND check tire capacity

 

[Bondo]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Ayuh,.... Yer Right,... a Chain is only as strong, as it's weakest link,....

 

[ericcarr2000]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Ok so if I have tires rated @ 1760 load capacity, X 4=7040, - the 1300 pounds for the trailer would be 5740 pounds. So explain to me what significance the 3500 pound rating on each axel means?

 

[atimm693]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Means the axle and hubs can hold 3500lbs. But if the tires won't hold 3500lbs they are the weak point. If you're tires are rated similarly to your above post, then the trailer is good for up to the axles capacity. Some people will buy the cheapest tires they can find, and they become the limiting factor.

If you have a 3500lb axle, and the capacity of the tires meet or exceed the axle capacity, you can have up to 3500lbs on the axle. The weight of the trailer has to be subtracted from the capacity, like you did.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Will this tow ok?

The axle rating means what the axle will take. See the weakest link comment above to deterime what the trailer will take.

Call the manufacturer, give them the serial number and they will tell you the correct tire size and capacity. That's the only way to be sure.

 

[ericcarr2000]

Re: Will this tow ok?

So can it be summed up pretty much as this. From my research tandem axle trailers are either rated at 3000 or 3500 pounds. Lets say I only have the 3000 pound axles. The boat weighs 5100 pounds, I would be good on that part right? If I have 4 tires rated at 1760 X 4 = 7040, - the 1300 for the trailer that puts me at 5740 pounds. The boat weighs 5100 pounds, im assuming I would pretty much be OK then?
.
Take a look, do you guys think it would be able to handle the load of 5100 pounds?

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: Will this tow ok?

I am no expert, but from the pics i am not sure about the brakes, or what kind they are to be exact.
I don't see the surge contraption. I see a 4 way plug, which means the aren't electric. If the aren't those two they must be hydrolic?
Does your tow vehicle have a hydrolic brake connection?

But as far as the trailer itself. Looks good to me. Make sure you have working brakes, that's what I would look at.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Don't over look what the springs are rated at.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Will this tow ok?

The boat weighs 5100 pounds, im assuming I would pretty much be OK then?

NADA says 5100 is dry weight. Add fuel, batteries, gear, etc. I usually pick a trailer with about 20% more capacity than expected average weight would dictate. Maximum allowable weight isn't necessarily a smart weight ...

 

[richard.prince]

Re: Will this tow ok?

I am no expert, but from the pics i am not sure about the brakes, or what kind they are to be exact.
I don't see the surge contraption. I see a 4 way plug, which means the aren't electric. If the aren't those two they must be hydrolic?
Does your tow vehicle have a hydrolic brake connection?

But as far as the trailer itself. Looks good to me. Make sure you have working brakes, that's what I would look at.

Those are surge brakes they just don't have the electronic lockout for reverse(the reason for a 4 pin and not 5 pin connection). As far as the actuator it is built into the coupler you can tell if you look at the very front of the coulper. There should be a cap on the tongue that you can remove to check and add fluid. I would suggest jacking up one of the wheels that has a brake and actuating the brakes and have someone try to turn that wheel. On one of my trailers you can stick a screw driver in the coupler to actuate the brakes and make sure they are clamping.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Will this tow ok?

tandem trailers CAN even have 2000 lb axles... as mentioned you HAVE to pull a hub and measure the bearing journals.

You also must subtract the trailer weight from the axle rating soooo if you had 3000 lb axles and the trailer weighed 1300 lbs then it could haul no more than 4700 lbs

MY tandem trailer has 6200 lb axles and is rated for 10,000 lbs

 

[agallant80]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Look at venture websites trailer spec page (link below) you will see tandome axle trailers rated anywhere from 3,600Lbs to 7,900Lbs. Use this logic to help you.

Notice how the lower capacity tandem trailers have 5 lug 14 inch rims and rated at 3600-4700.
The 15 inch 5 lug rims 5300-5900 and the 6 lug 15 inch rims are rated at 6400-7900

You have 5 lugs but I can't see how big the rim is. With that said I don't think I have ever seen 5 lug rims on a tandem trailer rated at 7K. If I were to guess I would say that trailer is rated somewhere in the 5K range.


Be carefull I have owned two boats with tandem axle trailers. One was a stingray clocking in at 3500 LBS and the other is my current bayliner clocking in at 7000LBS. Not all tandems are equal.
Venture

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Will this tow ok?

Looks very similar to my Eagle trailer, which is rated at 7,000 lbs. But you need to investigate a little more to see what you actually have there, as it can vary a lot.

 

[ericcarr2000]

Re: Will this tow ok?

As of this point I do know I have 205 75 14 size tires/rims. From what ive been reading up on, I read that I can measure the outside of the axel diameter to see what size I have, has anyone ever heard of this?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Will this tow ok?

As of this point I do know I have 205 75 14 size tires/rims. From what ive been reading up on, I read that I can measure the outside of the axel diameter to see what size I have, has anyone ever heard of this?

Ayuh,.... That's what I said in post #2,....

Ya measure where the bearin's ride,...

 

[ericcarr2000]

Re: Will this tow ok?

If I were to measure the outside diameter of the axel itself, underneath the boat, would this tell me anything, mine are 2" wide?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Will this tow ok?

If I were to measure the outside diameter of the axel itself, underneath the boat, would this tell me anything, mine are 2" wide?

Nope,...