Has anyone ever managed to raise the weight rating on their trailer?

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by crocky, Nov 6, 2020.

  1. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    My current trailer is rated at 14k but the build is the same build as the same manufacturer uses for their triple axle 21k rated trailers. I was toying with the idea of putting a set of 10k single wheel axles under it as Shipshe trailers use. I'm curious if anyone has even been successful at getting a trailer rated for a heavier weight rating by upgrading axles?

    The trailer build is more than capable of holding that weight it's just it only has 2x 7k axles under it. The 21k model just uses 3x 7k axles but all the build is the same (i beams bracing ect)

    I don't want a triple axle btw

    No one builds the trailer that I want, but my trailer if I could run it with 2x 10k axles could be modified to what I want, but it's not worth doing if I can't up the weight rating.
     
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  3. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    You would need to talk to the mfg of the trailer. Ultimately they are the only ones that can.
    I don't see them taking on that liability, but maybe they will if they are the ones doing the modifications.
     
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  4. magoo68

    magoo68 Road Train Member

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    Tire rating might be a issue
     
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  5. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    Na they have tires rated for those axles. They are expensive but no worse than buying 8 tires for dually axles or 6 tires for 3 triples.
     
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  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Your best bet would be to talk to the manufacturer as @ZVar suggested. The frames may look identical but there might be different grades of steel used.
     
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  7. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    I have so many old trailers with non readable tags or tags that weren’t stamp with weight ratings. Wasn’t a mandate till the 80’s. They were built during the time of 72,000 lb gross and 76,000 lb gross. Yet they are registered for todays 80,000 gross without any re certification.

    As I have been told by the DPS Directors office in Austin. It is not the inspecting officers job to determine whether or not a componant is/was built and/or rated for a certain weight. It is their job to make sure the licensing paperwork paid for on the unit to the state matches the axle and length configuration chart of the state, what you are hauling with it, and the weight you paid for on the registration.
     
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  8. 24kHotshot

    24kHotshot Heavy Load Member

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    I was told if you pull of the rating sticker/plate on a trailer dot goes by axle/tire ratings. Just be sure to register for that weight with irp
     
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  9. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    Yeah, that's sort of what I was thinking... I mean it's just a sticker nothing stamped to the steel. Lots of blank stickers you can buy on Amazon and so forth.

    I mean heck I just built my own 5th wheel flat plate hitch and the truck was DOT inspected just fine.

    I haven't shopped around much but I found a full 10k axle kit with 2 axles, the hangers to weld onto the trailer and the springs. Only the downside, the kit was kinda pricey (over $3k but came with wheels/tires too) but I haven't shopped around much that was 1st one I came across but I guess I'd have to price it all out for the mods I'd like to see if it's worth it if I did go that way.
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2020
  10. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    Use a quality wheel too, like Alcoa, not some knockoff. I actually cracked an aluminum wheel coming out of a tunnel that had a sharp turn I could not see. Put too much stress on the wheel and it let go. I had 18,000 on a Featherlight with the axles back.
     
  11. crocky

    crocky Road Train Member

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    Yeah, that's one of the reasons I leaned away from modifying my existing trailer. I can 100% make my current trailer work for what I want but the only axles I can use would be 10k or 12k super single axles. I just do not want a heavy-duty trailer rated over 14k without dual wheel axles. It sort of just like running a SRW truck vs a dual rear wheel truck. The duals give you more stability and you don't as easily end up in an "oh ####" situation if 1 tire blows out.

    Due to my trailer design, the main ibeams are too wide to use dual wheel axles and after thinking about it for a while I don't want another trailer with single wheel axles. At least not one that would be rated at 20k lbs or more.

    So I'm shopping trailers now, be it a used 3 car I can use for now or maybe buy a new 25gn big tex 40ft.
     
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