your trailer weight

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your trailer weight

Postby ae6black » Fri Nov 26, 2021 10:34 am

My tear is currently sitting on stilts under a carport in the yard. Since I went to the dark side and got a camper with a bathroom I haven't been using it. When I built my tear, I built heavy duty with 3/4 plywood for sides and floor and then covered it with aluminum. The reason I built so heavy was because I periodically winch it off and on the trailer, which I use for every purpose under the sun. Since I had a rather beefy trailer that I mounted my tear on I never weighed it since weight was never an issue for me. So my ridicules question is, what is the heaviest weight on this forum for a 4 x 8 teardrop? Until I remount the td, I won't be able to weigh it. In the meantime I am on the lookout for a used trailer to purchase so I can put it up for sale. I just need to know what cargo rating I need for the trailer.

Art
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Re: your trailer weight

Postby S. Heisley » Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:32 pm

Hi, Art:

It's hard to believe that it's been that long since we did collected this data and posted it; but, here is what Andrew (angieB) and I did back in 2014, which still holds true.

Andrew's: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=60392

Sharon's: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56787

As you will see, the weights are all over the place, not consistent. How light or heavy a build is depends on the builder.
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Re: your trailer weight

Postby noseoil » Sat Nov 27, 2021 10:19 am

our 5' X 9' X 4' tall = 1660#

Best guess you will need somewhere about a 2,500# trailer. With your build, it's going to be a bit on the heavy side based on wall construction & skins, but YMMV...
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

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Re: your trailer weight

Postby working on it » Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:25 am

ae6black wrote:... When I built my tear, I built heavy duty with 3/4 plywood ... what is the heaviest weight on this forum for a 4 x 8 teardrop? ...


* I think my 4x8 (at 2220+ lbs) may still be the heaviest, due to using 3/4" plywood all-around, then bracing inside with 1" and 1/2" oak boards, and later reinforcing the frame with 1/4" steel angle. I used 10-12 tubes of PL adhesive, 5 gallons of poly & paint, probably 50 lbs of steel bracing & hardware in the shell alone, 150 lbs of A/C and on-board generator equipment, and ?? lbs of storage solutions everywhere. The list goes on and on....

* The trailer frame I started with was very small, with a feeble axle, which was inadequate to carry the load, even on my first trip (1438 lbs), so I upgraded the axle and beefed-up the side-rails to carry the load, which had already become 1600 lbs. At one point, I tried to reduce the weight, but then decided to go with the flow, and just kept adding-to.

* On my last trip in 2020, my trailer weighed (not scaled in a few years, but all "added load" pieces are weighed before addition or subtraction from the total) around 2220 lbs (+/- 100 lbs). Still heavy. Glad I opted for a 3500 lb axle and 3000 lb springs.

* Concerning the basic frame's weight, I believe it was 236 lbs (50" x 60", with 1000 lb axle? and 8" wheels/tires). After enlarging it to 50" x 96" with welded-on steel tubing, with a new 3" square tube tongue, coupler+chains+jack, a 3/4"+ thick floor (1/2" ply, +1/4 Luan, + Titebond2 and +46 fasteners), new axle hubs/bearings+ 1.5" wheel spacers, +14" wheels and tires, the total rolling weight was 400 lbs, as weighed at a recycler's scale.

* Later, just prior to packing for the first trip, I weighed it again at a steel supplier's scale, at 1280 lbs (the last time I actually weighed the trailer as a whole). Perhaps my trailer now weighs possibly less or more than my guesstimated 2220 lbs, but I do weigh all items added on a bathroom scale I keep in the garage.
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composite evolution of the HHRv.jpg
composite evolution of the HHRv.jpg (716.26 KiB) Viewed 328 times
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
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Re: your trailer weight

Postby ae6black » Sat Nov 27, 2021 2:12 pm

You all just convinced me that I need to remount and then weigh before I do anything. Thanks!

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Re: your trailer weight

Postby gudmund » Sat Nov 27, 2021 9:00 pm

my first tear was a 4x8 built with 3/4 plywood sides/floor - 2x2 steel commercial frame w/Dexter torsion axle - 14inch wheels. It weighted in just short of 920lbs empty, it never was any more than 1400lbs when fully loaded. (back than, I used to carry the ice chest/water in the back of the trailer - no longer do = those items are now located in the P/U box just inside the tail gate. = no more water damage in trailer if-when water sloops out - In back of P/U, water = 'no big deal') Today's 5x8 (built w/same 3/4in sides/floor & 14inch wheels but has leaf springs w/2x3in steel commercial frame) was at 1150lbs empty when I picked it up new, but is now up to 1750lbs fully loaded with all of the extra's added - roof rack w/side awnings - extra propane tank etc............Here in Washington/Oregon. I use the state's truck weight stations after hours when they are closed - if you see the digital weight numbers lite up after hours = the scales are still on and can be used. :thinking: ............. PS both trailers had/have full sized mounted spare tire....... (today's truck &1750lb trailer pictured here)167722
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