Trailer GVW

[rainjer]

How is the GVW on a trailer figured? Is it the weight of the trailer while hooked up to the car or the trailer sitting on the front jack?

I just weighed my trailer. It was 1200 lbs un-hooked from the car & the tongue jack on the scale & 1080 lbs hooked to the car with just he trailer tire on the scale. My trailer has a 1180 lbs GVW.

Jeremy

[madjack]

GVW, is the total weight of the trailer, including everything in it INCLUDING the tongue weight, so not only is it overloaded but there is no safety factor built in...the safety factor should be 50% over the expected weight of the trailer for spring trailers...this is not as important for torsion axles and applies mainly to spring hung trailers that are always loaded...which is why I would never recommend anything less than the 1450/1800# trailers that HF and others sell...I hate to tell you this but you are in danger of "flattening" your springs...ask Doug Hodder about this, he has personal experience.....
madjack

[rainjer]

So what do I do to increase the GVW? Heavier springs?

[madjack]

yep...you need springs in the 1500#/pair range...if you have a spring shop in your area, you may be able to add a single leaf to each stack...
madjack

[rainjer]

Thanks for the help MJ.

I had a very restless night thinking about this issue so I decide to make some calls.

I spoke to a local trailer builder today. He is telling me I am legal & safe. According to him, if you pull on to the scale with the trailer on the scale & the tow vehicle tire off the scale and weigh it, and as long as the weight is less than the GVW you are legal & safe.

As far as the springs are concerned, the spring on my trailer may be ok also. The GVW is based in the tire & tire pressure, springs & axel combo. A trailer rated 1180lbs & one at 1450lbs can and will use the same spring & tire but a different axel. I have upgraded my axel already because the original axel was bent. I also know the tires are rated at 780lbs each. That leaves the springs.

To check & see if the springs are heavy enough is to measure the amount the spring compresses vertically from the frame. You jack up one side of the trailer until all of the weight is off the spring & measure it. Then you put the load back the spring & measure it again. He says you want anything up to 1” is ok. I have check the spring compression & it is right at ¾” or slightly less.

All this being said, it looks like with the upgrade I did to the axel, my GVW is actually high than the trailers original stated, I just don’t know what it is. I may still order the next heavier spring just to be on the safe side.

He did caution me to make sure I did not get too heavy of a spring if I upgrade them. This may cause tire problems.

Jeremy

[madjack]

Jer, I went back and looked it up...he is right, you are legal(barely) but "safe" is another question entirely...while yes, many folks regularly load these little trailer(HF and such) on a regular basis, they do not stay loaded to the max all the time, such as we do with a camper and gear onboard...when running at max weights and especially at hiway speeds, you run the danger of flattening the springs...this is a condition where the springs lose their flex because of loading...so legal you may be but safe you may not be...tractor trailers are regularly spec'd at 50% over legal max because of this and I know that Doug flattened springs on his first tear, running at 80mph across country and loaded to max...I would still recommend a spring upgrade...good luck......
madjack

[rainjer]

I have already decided to order the next heavier springs. That are rated 750lbs each. It is only $75 including shipping. I think it is worth the piece of mind.

[madjack]

I have already decided to order the next heavier springs. That are rated 750lbs each. It is only $75 including shipping. I think it is worth the piece of mind.

...CHEAP insurance...at twice the price ..................