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Trailer suggestions for high millage

#1

D

dereklawncare

Alright, I put on miles on miles last mowing season! I bought a cheap single axle tilt trailer to use last year. I think I"m on the 3rd set of tires. What I think really does the damage to the tires is when I get about 60mph I can notice the trailer wobbles. What do you guys that put on lots of miles use? I've got a 48" zero turn on it but if for some reason I'm not hauling the mower the trailer will "wobble" even worse.


#2

reynoldston

reynoldston

Aluma Trailers made in Iowa. The last trailer you will ever have to buy. Many models to chose from for you personal needs.


#3

Ric

Ric

dereklawncare said:
Alright, I put on miles on miles last mowing season! I bought a cheap single axle tilt trailer to use last year. I think I"m on the 3rd set of tires. What I think really does the damage to the tires is when I get about 60mph I can notice the trailer wobbles. What do you guys that put on lots of miles use? I've got a 48" zero turn on it but if for some reason I'm not hauling the mower the trailer will "wobble" even worse.
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You say you bought a cheap single axle trailer, what make and what size are we talking about. If your trailer wobbles at 60 mph without a load it's most likely being caused by the pitch on the trailer. I use a 6x12 Triple Crown I haul a 36" Stander, 48" ztr and 30" push with seven equipment racks.


#4

Z

zmister11

You said it was a tilt trailer so it's probably one of those 4x8s right?


#5

Ric

Ric

zmister11 said:
You said it was a tilt trailer so it's probably one of those 4x8s right?
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I would say it has to be at least that. He said he carried a 48" ztr on it, can you get a 48" ztr on a 4x8 trailer?


#6

TaskForceLawnCare

TaskForceLawnCare

does it have the little 10" rims or actual normal size rims and tires. it could also be caused by pitch like Ric said. it should sit close to level with it loaded.


#7

reynoldston

reynoldston

If you have more tongue weight and your trailer will handle better. A cheap trailer and that is what you will always have. What's the different between a weed eater 1 and a Ferris they both cut grass.


#8

Ric

Ric

You really need to adjust your tongue weight for the hitch and draw bar you are using, keeping the trailer as level as possible. Maximum tongue weight on most draw bars is only 600lbs.


#9

reynoldston

reynoldston

I have pulled trailers for a good many years and have yet found a way to weight anything??? I have gone to the salvage yard and they weight the trailer and tow vehicle as a unit. So how would anyone know tongue weight?


#10

Ric

Ric

reynoldston said:
I have pulled trailers for a good many years and have yet found a way to weight anything??? I have gone to the salvage yard and they weight the trailer and tow vehicle as a unit. So how would anyone know tongue weight?
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Well I've pulled trailers for a lot of years also and have yet to find a draw bar or hitch that didn't specify and have a maximum load weight and tongue weight. That's the reason they have different classes of hitches.


#11

S

SeniorCitizen

reynoldston said:
I have pulled trailers for a good many years and have yet found a way to weight anything??? I have gone to the salvage yard and they weight the trailer and tow vehicle as a unit. So how would anyone know tongue weight?
Click to expand...
Equipment needed:

1 or 2 bath scales
1 2x6 about 2 ft. long

If using 2 scales park them side by side about 6 inches apart. Nothing critical here.
Place 2x6 on top of scales that you placed under where the jack stand will rest.
Lower jack stand down on 2x6 somewhere in mid vicinity between the 2 scales.
Remove loaded trailer hitch from puck-um-up truck ball.
Raise the trailer hitch from ball hitch.
Read the 2 scales and add for the total.

Reverse the order to proceed with your daily adventures. Put the bath scales back where you found them.


#12

Ric

Ric

SeniorCitizen said:
Equipment needed:

1 or 2 bath scales
1 2x6 about 2 ft. long

If using 2 scales park them side by side about 6 inches apart. Nothing critical here.
Place 2x6 on top of scales that you placed under where the jack stand will rest.
Lower jack stand down on 2x6 somewhere in mid vicinity between the 2 scales.
Remove loaded trailer hitch from puck-um-up truck ball.
Raise the trailer hitch from ball hitch.
Read the 2 scales and add for the total.

Reverse the order to proceed with your daily adventures. Put the bath scales back where you found them.
Click to expand...


Try one of these Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scale - 2,000-lb Capacity Sherline Tools 5780


#13

reynoldston

reynoldston

OK I am sure everyone who owns a trailer but me weights there trailer tongue. I guess I am running on luck I don't lose my trailer. Personally I think just some common sense works here. You do need some tongue weight or your trailer will sway.


#14

Ric

Ric

reynoldston said:
OK I am sure everyone who owns a trailer but me weights there trailer tongue. I guess I am running on luck I don't lose my trailer. Personally I think just some common sense works here. You do need some tongue weight or your trailer will sway.
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It was you that ask, So how would anyone know tongue weight? I just gave you an answer and a link to a scale. The thing is if you make sure your trailer is level and your load is center you should have very little weight on the tongue and the trailer shouldn't wobble.


#15

reynoldston

reynoldston

Ric said:
It was you that ask, So how would anyone know tongue weight? I just gave you an answer and a link to a scale. The thing is if you make sure your trailer is level and your load is center you should have very little weight on the tongue and the trailer shouldn't wobble.
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I guess we disagree on tongue weight, Oh well. No sense me going any farther on this.


#16

exotion

exotion

I figure I should be able to lift the tongue and move it. That's a sign of good balance. If the rear is to heavy it's way to easy to lift and will almost tip when lifted. If tongue is to heavy your back is going to hurt


#17

Ric

Ric

exotion said:
I figure I should be able to lift the tongue and move it. That's a sign of good balance. If the rear is to heavy it's way to easy to lift and will almost tip when lifted. If tongue is to heavy your back is going to hurt
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That's what I was told also. Basically your trailer should set level, your trailer your tongue weight should be about 10 percent of total trailer weight empty.That's what the manufactures say. Your tongue weight will increase when you add your load to the trailer.


#18

reynoldston

reynoldston

Ric said:
That's what I was told also. Basically your trailer should set level, your trailer your tongue weight should be about 10 percent of total trailer weight empty.That's what the manufactures say. Your tongue weight will increase when you add your load to the trailer.
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I know and understand what you are saying here. I am looking at it in the real world. Very few people have a way to weight their trailer load. It takes common sense. When I pick up a lawn tractor I make a judgment how heavy is it, I don't know the exact weight. Now when I load it I have to make another judgment call by balancing it over the axle to make sure I have enough tongue weight but not too much. Unloaded the trailer is level which helps with this call. There is a lot of different between a push mower and a 1500 lb. garden tractor how I load it. There are also times also when you have a load that its hard to get that good balance. Common sense You don't go down the highway 60MPH but go a slower speed on the back roads. Other common sense things tie your load down proper, look for hoods that can fly open, light weight things can fly off your trailer. When you are doing lawn service you know how to load your trailer and do it the same each time, when I pick up repairs no two loads are the same.


#19

exotion

exotion

reynoldston said:
I know and understand what you are saying here. I am looking at it in the real world. Very few people have a way to weight their trailer load. It takes common sense. When I pick up a lawn tractor I make a judgment how heavy is it, I don't know the exact weight. Now when I load it I have to make another judgment call by balancing it over the axle to make sure I have enough tongue weight but not too much. Unloaded the trailer is level which helps with this call. There is a lot of different between a push mower and a 1500 lb. garden tractor how I load it. There are also times also when you have a load that its hard to get that good balance. Common sense You don't go down the highway 60MPH but go a slower speed on the back roads. Other common sense things tie your load down proper, look for hoods that can fly open, light weight things can fly off your trailer. When you've are doing lawn service you know how to load your trailer and do it the same each time, when I pick up repairs no two loads are the same.
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I

When loading heavy things it's always better to have more weight on the tongue so tractors I back in and park with the engine on top of the axle and rear wheels on the tongue knowing the exact weight can be troublesome and a waste of time unless you have a light weight vehicle just balance best you can as long as your not waaaay off your fine


#20

Ric

Ric

exotion said:
I

When loading heavy things it's always better to have more weight on the tongue so tractors I back in and park with the engine on top of the axle and rear wheels on the tongue knowing the exact weight can be troublesome and a waste of time unless you have a light weight vehicle just balance best you can as long as your not waaaay off your fine
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How you load a trailer and what you load it with really depends on the physical size of the trailer and it's load ratings. In my case knowing the weights of every piece equipment makes a big difference in how and where it gets loaded and mounted and it shouldn't be a waste of time if you care about safety. Trucks have pull ratings as well as load ratings. Pulling with a light weight vehicle is fine as long as your pulling something within the vehicle's tongue weight and recommendations.


#21

reynoldston

reynoldston

Ric said:
How you load a trailer and what you load it with really depends on the physical size of the trailer and it's load ratings. In my case knowing the weights of every piece equipment makes a big difference in how and where it gets loaded and mounted and it shouldn't be a waste of time if you care about safety. Trucks have pull ratings as well as load ratings. Pulling with a light weight vehicle is fine as long as your pulling something within the vehicle's tongue weight and recommendations.
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This is the reason I have the use of 5 different trailers and different tow vehicles. My smallest trailer 1000lbs., pull able with a car and for smaller equipment and good gas mileage, to a triple axle trailer good for up to 18,000 lbs. pulled with a HD 1 ton dully diesel for small dozers. For 99% of my trailer needs I would say I use my all aluminum trailer 2000 lb. rate with a loading ramp and pull it with my car. Being in the repair trade no two loads are the same and most of the time not runnable or moves on its own. Most of the time just a come-a-long to load lawn equipment to a 12,000 lb. pull rate electric winch for full size farm tractors to pull unto the trailers. For really large equipment we have to hire a lowboy. At my age the heavy equipment is for my son in law and grand son to handle, repair, and play with. For me its lawn mowers and cycles.


#22

TaskForceLawnCare

TaskForceLawnCare

just don't buy a cheap box store trailer. I've never measured tongue weight either. I have a 18' 20k lbs Hank dump trailer never had sway problems loaded or unloaded. I have 2 mid west trailers one is an 20' equipment trailer and one is an 18' landscape trailer all are tandem axle none have sway issues. I use a solid straight draw bar for the dump just because of the weight. if buy a cheap trailer just expect cheap results.


#23

D

dereklawncare

Sorry for slow response, computer was down. Someone asked for a pic of my set up. Trailer is 60" wide.

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#24

M

mikeb1982

I have noticed my trailers will get that wobble when it is loaded un-evenly. when i go pick up a load of rocks and the loader loads me up heave in the front or rear it will sway back and forth at higher speeds so i have to slow it down until i get to the job site. make sure you are evenly distributing the weight on the trailer the best you can and try to get it level when loaded. Also check out some tires with a higher ply count. another thing would be to check and make sure the tires are not rubbing on the wheel wells, that can happen if you dent in the wheel wells by accidently hitting it with your mower, good luck man.


#25

P

possum

You need to level your trailer. When hauling an average load like pictured the trailer should be near level. You have plenty of truck for the load. Get your hitch offset down enough to lower the trailer. They have them at a car parts place.


#26

D

dereklawncare

thanks guys, I'll check out the wheel well and try to get the trailer level. Gonna order another set of tires before mowing starts, as I'm gonna put 20k+ miles on that trailer. I'll take a closer look at the ply count.

Does anyone use tailgate ramps? Then just load the mower right into the bed of the truck.

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#27

M

mikeb1982

dereklawncare said:
thanks guys, I'll check out the wheel well and try to get the trailer level. Gonna order another set of tires before mowing starts, as I'm gonna put 20k+ miles on that trailer. I'll take a closer look at the ply count.

Does anyone use tailgate ramps? Then just load the mower right into the bed of the truck.
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Yes, I use them. you want to have a shallow of enough angle that the deck of your mower is not scraping. You can make your own with a welder and use a gate assist like the gorilla lift because it gets heavy. If you decide to have one made, use the heaviest expanded metal you can do without it being too heavy to lift and dont weld any seams in the middle of the gate because thats where the mower is driving. the metal will start to sag and pop the welds. let me know if you are going to actually get one and i'll throw up some pictures.


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