I have a 10' utility trailer that I "inherited" when my wifes father died. It has a single axle on 4 piece leaf springs, ST175/80D13 tires on five lug spoked wheels, and is commercially made out of heavy angle with a substantial two inch hitch...

Any tag or label that may have stated the trailers load capacity is long gone. What can I anticipate the trailers' capacity is before I try and stuff two big quads on it side by sideways? (About 1400#, with gas and gear...)

Any insight would be appreciated!

MB

 

To decide if you are loaded safely, try to figure out the lowest load rating in one of the following areas:

1. Tires - There should be a max load figure stamped on the sidewall of each tire. With two tires you can double that figure and see how it compares to the total load - trailer, quads and gear. Having 'D' rated tires is a good sign here, as they're one step up from the standard 'C' rating.

2. Axle & springs - Harder to determine this one. Take a real close look at your axle - usually there is a number stamped into the axle itself or a small plate that will give the axle load rating. 3,500 lbs is one of the most common but single axles can be lower or higher rated. Having 4 leaf springs is a good indicator that the traler is pretty heavy duty.

3. Trailer frame - How heavy duty is your frame? Is there just one level of steel to support the load or is there also a raised (or lowered) secondary rail to add extra strength? How long is the unsupported section of the trailer tougue? Basically, the beefier all this is the stronger the trailer will be.


Just an guess but from what you describe - (D tires, 5-lugs, 4 leafs) this seems to be a heavier than normal 10' trailer. I'd bet that you will have no problems with a 1,400 pound load.

Jaybee

 

The only thing i would add to jaybeecon55 list, replace the axel bearings ... the size of the bearings will greating help you figure out the axel weight limit. And it gets you to the axel to check it out for excessive wear, i live by I55 and I80, i see so many trailers where the axel has broken off.

 

thanks- the existing tires I put on are definately C rating... no idea what the original tires were. I had a huge piece of stone on it right after I bought it and blew out the dry rotted sidewalls! so had to put new rubber on it. I'm sure the guys replaced them with what was on there. The tongue is L4X3X3/16 LLV, two pieces extended out from the box to the hitch to form a triangle, the hitch being three feet out from the box. The side rails are L3X2X3/16 LLV, with some angle cross members supporting 2" thick plank- My father in law used it for a retiree landscaping business, I've had my riding lawnmower / Honda 250 / AC 500 (@700#) on it without issue. I'm just curious before I load both my bikes.. or my AC500 and my brother in laws AC400 plus gas and gear on it and try to go any distance. The axle housing is 2 1/2 to three inch pipe...no idea on the bearings (yet)....

MB

 

i would imagine it is at least a 1500lb axle

when you load it up,,,be concious of how much tongue weight you have