Trailer to haul EB

[jeffncs]

I rebuilt a 16’ equipment trailer a while back. It’s a 7k, 16’ trailer. Is that adequate to move a mildly built EB?

(mildly built = lift, 33s, warn 8274, soft top, custom bumpers)

Im debating a larger trailer with more capacity…Im thinking ,y trailer is borderline under-capacity.

 

[El Kabong]

I use a 16 footer for vehicle hauling. It has a fence for hauling other stuff, so it can be awkward at times. It's tough on bigger stuff, but the EB fits easily. With an FSB I could barely close the original gate, but after that was stolen, my replacement won't. Someday, when it doesn't need to do double duty as a trash hauler, I'll probably cut the fence off. Without that it would be a pretty decent hauler for other vehicles. But for now the EB fits fine.

Oops, forgot the pic. This was an 8 hour drive the day I bought it. The Bronco is heavier now, with doors, windshield, & a top, but it towed easily that day.

 

[nvrstuk]

I use a 16', 7,000# trailer for hauling my 5350# Bronco for up to 8,000 miles/yr. I am appr 200# under 7K gross when fully loaded hauling it for wheeling trips. I've weighed it 3 times.

I use the best tires I can find. Swapped to GoodYear 2 yrs ago because I was blowing out tires w/o visible wear every 4,000 miles. So far so good with the GY's.

Different empty trailers weigh different amounts, check your #'s.

Been hauling the Bronco with this trailer since '98. This is my "do-everything" trailer. I have easily removeable sides and front for it. Slide them in the stake pockets and I can haul 4 tons of construction debris (locally) because of the sides. It hauls 2 3/4 cord of firewood. Great trailer. Like tires, I could use several trailers too! lol

 

[Yeller]

Load it up and go weigh it at the truck stop. Park with the front axle and rear axle if the truck along with the trailer on their own pad on the scale, then reweigh just the truck the same way. You need to know how much weight is on each axle. You can calculate the total weight that way. You’ll also know what the tongue weight is. This way you know exactly what is going on.

I need to get my ass in gear and right an article on this like I’ve been saying I’m going to for the last 10 years.

I tow mine on an 8k rated 14’ single axle. The bronco weight 4700#.

Here’s pics of the trailer on the scale correctly and you can see what the weight report should look like axle 1, 2, and 3 with a grand total.

And for reference that trailer is about to get its 50,000 mile check up and it’s 1st set of new tires.

 

[nvrstuk]

I want Steve to post up what he hauls with. I am still wanting to build what he uses


Hey- You typed faster with less distractions or something....

 

[Yeller]

Nah just posted and thought I should add more info

Oh I fixed that truck so it doesn’t have an automatic sag too, it had one without a load so it got lifted more, which killed my soul lol

 

[fatboy]

As Steve said, weight it. It is really the only way to know for sure what is going on. If you are not a fan of towing (I am not) but find you have to on occasion, you probably will not be happy in the margins. I always felt my truck was on the margin. First with my 96 dodge 1500, then with my Tundra and even with my v-10 Excursion, though the excursion was definitely a step up from the others and increased my comfort level. I now have an F350 diesel and no longer feel like I am operating on the margin. I have a 7k trailer and mostly haul my Kubota.

Good luck.

 

[jeffncs]

Thanks to all for the replies. I’m very comfortable pulling just about anything. Recently, I upgraded from a 5.0 F150 to a new F250 with the 7.3 gasser.

Reading some posts on NC4X4, guys are talking about 10% trailer load buffer and telling me I should have a 10k. I’d like to have a 10k - don’t know that I need a 10k.

I’ll do as you suggested, get some weights (trailer, bronco) and go from there.

 

[.94 OR]

Load it up and go weigh it at the truck stop. Park with the front axle and rear axle if the truck along with the trailer on their own pad on the scale, then reweigh just the truck the same way. You need to know how much weight is on each axle. You can calculate the total weight that way. You’ll also know what the tongue weight is. This way you know exactly what is going on.

I need to get my ass in gear and right an article on this like I’ve been saying I’m going to for the last 10 years.

I tow mine on an 8k rated 14’ single axle. The bronco weight 4700#.

Here’s pics of the trailer on the scale correctly and you can see what the weight report should look like axle 1, 2, and 3 with a grand total.

And for reference that trailer is about to get its 50,000 mile check up and it’s 1st set of new tires.

Are your trailer tires rated for that weight?

 

[Scoop]

The 7K should be ok. My concern would be limited ability to adjust tongue weight by placement of the Bronco on the trailer. With my 18 + 2 dovetail trailer I have 2-3 feet of adjustment.

 

[migs]

I have a 7k 14' equipment trailer that I've been hauling Broncos and all kinds of stuff all over the place for quite some time. First with a regular cab shortbed dodge 1500, then a 1998 ford expedition and currently a 2011 Ford expedition EL. The trailer has electric brakes and I've always had a trailer brake controller in the tow vehicle. Luckily it's well balanced with the Broncos and medium sized tractors and long highway trips are no problem, the heavier awkward loads are reserved for just shorter trips across town.
I just wish it were a little longer and had a winch to pull stuff on...

 

[jeffncs]

I have a 7k 14' equipment trailer that I've been hauling Broncos and all kinds of stuff all over the place for quite some time. First with a regular cab shortbed dodge 1500, then a 1998 ford expedition and currently a 2011 Ford expedition EL. The trailer has electric brakes and I've always had a trailer brake controller in the tow vehicle. Luckily it's well balanced with the Broncos and medium sized tractors and long highway trips are no problem, the heavier awkward loads are reserved for just shorter trips across town.
I just wish it were a little longer and had a winch to pull stuff on...

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Dumb question - are you positive that’s a 7k trailer? It has 6 lug rims which usually means 5k axles (total 10k on a tandem)…. Most 7k trailers have the 3500# 5 lug axles….

 

[migs]

Dumb question - are you positive that’s a 7k trailer? It has 6 lug rims which usually means 5k axles (total 10k on a tandem)…. Most 7k trailers have the 3500# 5 lug axles….

Yeah, I had originally thought it might've been a 10klb trailer (was purchased used without much history info) but the brakes, spindles and bearings are that of 3500lb axles.

*edit*(i should add that a previous owner must have thought so as well…as one axle has a slight bend to it)

 

[TX-ZACH]

I haul mine on an 18' Ranch King lowboy w/ 2 #3500 axles. Sub Compact Tractors and EB's are just fine. Hauling with a F150 5.0 no problems. Adding mounts for axle straps are a good idea.

 

[nvrstuk]

2 important points:

One- 7K or 10K or 12K.... & brakes

Your Bronco isn't going to fall thru the decking because it's 7k or 12K. Hundreds of us towing with 7K trailers have proven that the axles and bearings can take the load. I check my brgs every spring AND if I tow over 7-8,000 miles that year I check them again in the fall.

Here's the main difference- Braking capacity. This is where you'll notice the difference between the trailers. My 7K rated trailer came new out of the Midwest with brakes on only one axle. After one trip with a half ton Dodge truck towing it I put brakes on the other axle! Freakin' scary when it couldn't stop going down a grade that wasn't very steep. Also bought a 3/4ton truck. Perfect combo for decades of worry free towing. You NEED excellent brakes, the largest you can get on your 7K trailer. Newer half ton trucks must have 3X the braking capacity of '90's and earlier 1/2 tons. My 2018 F150 towing the Bronco locally is totally night and day for braking and lack of brake fade. (MPG drops by 11mpg when towing the Bronco with it tho)



Two- trailer tongue sweet spot- someone mentioned this already. This is the key to safe towing (along with brakes).
You should weigh your tongue weight after checking towing performance & handling as a reference, not only for hitch weight safety but as ballpark tongue weight capacity. Figure out where your Bronco needs to be strapped down for no sway, great handling and then MARK that spot on your trailer fender with a rivet to make it easy to load up perfectly every single time. I align my door hinges with the rivet on my trlr
fender. LLike already mentioned the sweet spot on a 7K trailer is only a foot or so before you will REALLY notice your trailer behind you. No surprises with the rivet. I weighed my trailer tongue on my bridge (only 50' of flat level hard ground I have). The local scale wasn't accurate under 700# they said.

 

[bmc69]

I couldn't even guess how many 1000s of miles my trusty 16' 7K trailer has hauled EBs.

 

[Yeller]

Are your trailer tires rated for that weight?

Yes Sir! 4400# each

They are 235/85R-16 load range G all steel commercial trailer tires. They are also rated for 75mph which most typical ST trailer tires are only rated to 65. Not a huge issue for you fellas in the NE but those in the south and west with 75mph speed limits, its a bigger deal. They have them for 15" wheels too in 225/75r-15 in load range F.

Like These from Hercules

Before I started running these tires I always carried 2 spares, and rarely made a 2500 mile trip where I didn't use them both. Now I carry 1 and haven't needed it in over 100,000 miles.

 

[nvrstuk]

Must ride terrible!!!

Quoted "...They are 235/85R-16 load range G all
S T E E L
commercial trailer tires."


Sorry, slow day in the shop...

 

[jeffncs]

2 important points:

One- 7K or 10K or 12K.... & brakes

Your Bronco isn't going to fall thru the decking because it's 7k or 12K. Hundreds of us towing with 7K trailers have proven that the axles and bearings can take the load. I check my brgs every spring AND if I tow over 7-8,000 miles that year I check them again in the fall.

Here's the main difference- Braking capacity. This is where you'll notice the difference between the trailers. My 7K rated trailer came new out of the Midwest with brakes on only one axle. After one trip with a half ton Dodge truck towing it I put brakes on the other axle! Freakin' scary when it couldn't stop going down a grade that wasn't very steep. Also bought a 3/4ton truck. Perfect combo for decades of worry free towing. You NEED excellent brakes, the largest you can get on your 7K trailer. Newer half ton trucks must have 3X the braking capacity of '90's and earlier 1/2 tons. My 2018 F150 towing the Bronco locally is totally night and day for braking and lack of brake fade. (MPG drops by 11mpg when towing the Bronco with it tho)



Two- trailer tongue sweet spot- someone mentioned this already. This is the key to safe towing (along with brakes).
You should weigh your tongue weight after checking towing performance & handling as a reference, not only for hitch weight safety but as ballpark tongue weight capacity. Figure out where your Bronco needs to be strapped down for no sway, great handling and then MARK that spot on your trailer fender with a rivet to make it easy to load up perfectly every single time. I align my door hinges with the rivet on my trlr
fender. LLike already mentioned the sweet spot on a 7K trailer is only a foot or so before you will REALLY notice your trailer behind you. No surprises with the rivet. I weighed my trailer tongue on my bridge (only 50' of flat level hard ground I have). The local scale wasn't accurate under 700# they said.

I completely agree with all that you said. My questions really link into the rating / capacity and safety factor of the suspension and brakes on a 7k trailer.

I may take your advice and add brakes to my other axle. As it stands, I only have brakes on one axle.

I’ve move this vehicle and countless others using this trailer. I’m in a position to either upgrade or upsize. With the amount of time I have rebuilding this trailer, I’d rather just upgrade it with brakes and fabricate slide-in ramps (versus the folding ramps on there now).

 

[Yeller]

Must ride terrible!!!

Quoted "...They are 235/85R-16 load range G all
S T E E L
commercial trailer tires."


Sorry, slow day in the shop...

I really don't notice a difference. I'm sure there is, its 110psi too but haven't had any issues, also haven't had any ill effects with springs, hangers or related hardware. I certainly can't feel it on the truck