Trailer suspension max loading question.

The place for all technical car discussions. If you haven't already, read our Disclaimer first!

Moderator: The Mod Squad

Trailer suspension max loading question.

Postby ~SlideWays~ » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:02 am

I'm rebuilding a trailer and not sure about the suspension max loading rating.

It has Trojan Duratorque's (single axle) which have a tag stating 1250kg Max Loading. My understanding is this is for both sides combined, rather than 1250kg each side.

What I am not sure about is how to measure that loading, is it simply the weight of the trailer itself plus the weight of the car?

For example lets say the trailer was 300kg, that only leaves 950kg's of car.

Or will it take into account that the towball/drawbar is also taking a lot of that weight, spread it out like a 3 legged stool?
User avatar
~SlideWays~
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4974
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:02 am
Location: Wellington

Postby xsspeed » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:31 am

I'm pretty sure it is trailer plus load - you can't really count on the tow ball supporting weight - and tbh loading the trailer with too much weight onto the tow ball is almost as bad as not enough.

What would you be towing on a single axle trailer thats much more than 1000kg?
xsspeed
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 3946
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:56 pm
Location: Auckland

Postby Mr.Phreak » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:36 am

The drawbar shouldn't have much weight on it anyway, probably about 10% of the trailer max

Although it really comes down to what your towbar can handle.

There's a reason most car transporters are tandems
Image
User avatar
Mr.Phreak
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2700
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:10 pm
Location: Gisborne

Postby wde_bdy » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:56 am

Mine uses 1500kg springs, gives a bit more leeway on what you can safely load. Often its the hubs and tyres that are the limiting factor on a single axle.

Callum
User avatar
wde_bdy
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2704
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2002 11:43 pm
Location: Gisborne

Postby ~SlideWays~ » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:05 am

It will be to tow my AE92 Trueno race car, its about 920kg's.

Tow vehicle is my MWB Landcruiser (around 2500kg's), with choice of either a 50mm ball or 1 7/8".

Also the trailer will be braked.

It'd be pretty easy to go over that 1250kg's if it is trailer + car. Anything like a Silvia or Evo would put it over. But it should be fine for my race car, just wondering if its worth upgrading the durotorques.

I'd like to stick with single axle because it makes it easier to man handle it by myself into its parking spot. But can anyone comment on if a tandem would be harder to man handle and turn into a tight spot?
User avatar
~SlideWays~
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4974
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:02 am
Location: Wellington

Postby ~SlideWays~ » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:18 am

wde_bdy wrote:Mine uses 1500kg springs, gives a bit more leeway on what you can safely load. Often its the hubs and tyres that are the limiting factor on a single axle.

Callum


I've just sent an email to get prices on more durotorques. Either a 2nd set to make it tandem or just higher rating to replace what I have. Might have to stick with what I have for now though.
User avatar
~SlideWays~
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4974
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:02 am
Location: Wellington

Postby DVSMOTORSPORT » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:31 am

Some tandems you can wind the jockey wheel up high enough so the front wheels are off the ground. But other wise they can suck to move around by yourself.
Hi Im Ben, Have a nice day :)
User avatar
DVSMOTORSPORT
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 328
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:59 pm
Location: Hamilton

Postby pureadrenalin » Mon Jan 30, 2012 12:33 pm

Go tandem.

I've seen a electric trailer mover something like this one, but it had a tow ball instead of picking up the jockie wheel.
Used four car battery's for power/give it some weight to move the trailer around and had four wheels. They built a spot for it on the trailer to move it around

Image
----------------------------------
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together
User avatar
pureadrenalin
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 585
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:01 pm
Location: New Plymouth

Postby Emperor » Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:25 pm

Ill check what our load rating is.. Kea single axle, and it holds my rx7, the stagea, r32s, even a safari lol
facebook.com/zeroclearanceswag
User avatar
Emperor
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4815
Joined: Wed May 12, 2004 1:14 am
Location: Hamilton

Postby matt dunn » Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:51 pm

xsspeed wrote:What would you be towing on a single axle trailer thats much more than 1000kg?


I load all my stuff into the car and trailer when we go places,
Car is usually 1000kg, then 100L of fuel, Jack, axels stands, 8 spare wheels on the tyre rack, spare gearbox, toolboxes and heaps of other stuff, the car is usually packed full before it goes on the trailer,
plus the weight of the trailer itself.

Wouldn't surprise me if at times it was close to 2000kg on a single axel trailer.
7AGTE - DX20VT - viewtopic.php?t=59733
Discussion - viewtopic.php?t=59751
matt dunn
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 7109
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Timaru

Postby ~SlideWays~ » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:35 pm

matt dunn wrote:
xsspeed wrote:What would you be towing on a single axle trailer thats much more than 1000kg?


I load all my stuff into the car and trailer when we go places,
Car is usually 1000kg, then 100L of fuel, Jack, axels stands, 8 spare wheels on the tyre rack, spare gearbox, toolboxes and heaps of other stuff, the car is usually packed full before it goes on the trailer,
plus the weight of the trailer itself.

Wouldn't surprise me if at times it was close to 2000kg on a single axel trailer.


Does it have suspension? If so, do you know what the rating is?
User avatar
~SlideWays~
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4974
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:02 am
Location: Wellington

Postby ~SlideWays~ » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:35 pm

Emperor wrote:Ill check what our load rating is.. Kea single axle, and it holds my rx7, the stagea, r32s, even a safari lol


Sweet thanks would be good to know.
User avatar
~SlideWays~
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4974
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:02 am
Location: Wellington

Postby Lloyd » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:39 pm

~SlideWays~ wrote:
matt dunn wrote:
xsspeed wrote:What would you be towing on a single axle trailer thats much more than 1000kg?


I load all my stuff into the car and trailer when we go places,
Car is usually 1000kg, then 100L of fuel, Jack, axels stands, 8 spare wheels on the tyre rack, spare gearbox, toolboxes and heaps of other stuff, the car is usually packed full before it goes on the trailer,
plus the weight of the trailer itself.

Wouldn't surprise me if at times it was close to 2000kg on a single axel trailer.


Does it have suspension? If so, do you know what the rating is?


Might wanna check the tyre load ratings also. Even commercial stuff will be pushing the limits
User avatar
Lloyd
** Moderator **
 
Posts: 6195
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2002 1:50 pm
Location: Dunedin

Postby wde_bdy » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:52 pm

For tyres they tend to top out at 900kg each, and some of the cheaper chinese ones won't hold that despite being rated that much.

Callum
User avatar
wde_bdy
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 2704
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2002 11:43 pm
Location: Gisborne

Postby ~SlideWays~ » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:41 am

Lloyd wrote:
~SlideWays~ wrote:
matt dunn wrote:
xsspeed wrote:What would you be towing on a single axle trailer thats much more than 1000kg?


I load all my stuff into the car and trailer when we go places,
Car is usually 1000kg, then 100L of fuel, Jack, axels stands, 8 spare wheels on the tyre rack, spare gearbox, toolboxes and heaps of other stuff, the car is usually packed full before it goes on the trailer,
plus the weight of the trailer itself.

Wouldn't surprise me if at times it was close to 2000kg on a single axel trailer.


Does it have suspension? If so, do you know what the rating is?


Might wanna check the tyre load ratings also. Even commercial stuff will be pushing the limits


Yep, plan to fit some new 185/70/14 (might be 75 profile) commercial tyres. I looked up the load ratings specifically to figure it out.

Pitty I can't use my new 35" tyres from the Landcruiser because according to the rating of 112S its 1120kg EACH! Would look a bit rediculous though.
User avatar
~SlideWays~
Toyspeed Member
 
Posts: 4974
Joined: Sat Nov 23, 2002 3:02 am
Location: Wellington


Return to Tech Questions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests