weight on tires

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lstewartff

New member
OK I have a 5x8 trailer thinking about using for pressure washing. My question is if the tires have a max weigh of 1200 lbs each Is the weight limited to just 1200 lbs or do I add both tires together to get 2400 lbs?
 
lstewartff said:
OK I have a 5x8 trailer thinking about using for pressure washing. My question is if the tires have a max weigh of 1200 lbs each Is the weight limited to just 1200 lbs or do I add both tires together to get 2400 lbs?
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1,200 plus 1,200 plus tongue weight is absolute maximum allowed. But you will want to allow a margin for safety so do not go that heavy.
 
I would also check the axle capacity, sometimes they are 3000 pound capacity, I have seen some lower than that.

What is the trailer rated for?

How much does the trailer weigh?

Subtract the weight of the trailer from the capacity and that will tell you what you can carry on the trailer but don't exceed more than 80% of the capacity to be safe.

Depending on the vehicle towing the trailer, a lot of the hitches are rated for 500 pound tongue weight unless noted for higher amounts.

These things are also important when figuring out how much you can put on a trailer.
 
This reminds me of another "safety" issue I've seen in our service dept..
Tires vs. "catastrophic failure"..
.. two wheel trailer balancing on a pivot-point (the tongue),
and I see the cheapest brand tires, with the wimpiest ratings on the street.
..and you want to "fully-load" that with your livelihood ??
My point here.. and suggestion..
Run truck-rated tires on your truck,
..and truck rated tires on your trailer.
never less.
This way of thinking is called "managed insurance"
..aka.. "BulletProofing"
 
I look at it this way.

Overload the truck or trailer, something happens that shouldn't.

Insurance companies find out as they hate to pay anything they don't have to. You get sued because you overloaded the trailer/truck and loose your business, house, ect.

Find the right trailer, or share the weight of everything between the truck and the trailer staying within both legal payload limits.
 
Very good point.

If a state trooper or DOT officer thinks you have too much weight on your trailer or you have the wrong vehicle rated to pull the trailer they can pull you over and do an inspection, even have you go to the nearest truck scales if they don't have the portable folding scale in their vehicle and check the weight of the trailer.

If you are loaded too heavy or not proportioned good, they can put an out of service tag on your trailer and you cannot move it until you remedy the situation, trying to move it after they leave results in serious fines in the thousands of dollars and you might even see the inside of a jail.

These are the things we try to warn guys about so it does not happen to them, I have seen it happen here where I live (Federal DOT regulations are applicable in all states in case you think that they don't apply in your state) and people are surprised at the fines, vehicles tagged and lost time to remedy the situation.

Everyone here is trying to give you good advice so this type of thing does not happen to you or worse, you end up in an accident because of the trailer not loaded properly and safely and then your insurance does not want to pay the claim because of this and now the bad stuff stuff starts to happen.
 
When we purchased our new trailer it came with 8 ply tires. When they wear out we are going to go with maybe a 10 ply tire just for a little extra insurance. But don't get the idea that just because you use a heavy duty tire you can add more weight to your trailer. You still have to remember what the axle's are rated for.
 
Rance said:
When we purchased our new trailer it came with 8 ply tires. When they wear out we are going to go with maybe a 10 ply tire just for a little extra insurance. But don't get the idea that just because you use a heavy duty tire you can add more weight to your trailer. You still have to remember what the axle's are rated for.
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You can only go by what the trailer is rated for. Not by what the axle is rated for. Every manufactured trailer has a rating plate on it.
 
Thanks guys I was going to try a tank on this trailer but there is no way I can do it with a full tank. I might just put my washer on it and garden hose reel to hook to a water source and get a hose reel. Then I can mount my other equipment to it some how till I can get a stronger trailer.
 
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