How much you can load on 53' dry van with single axle tractor and be legal?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Verdel, Oct 25, 2014.

  1. RubberDuck198

    RubberDuck198 Light Load Member

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    Why are we still assuming that all loads are 80,000 lbs?
     
  2. lobes1985

    lobes1985 Medium Load Member

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    Because that's the general interstate rule. Without getting into all the different state weight laws and permits.
     
  3. ezover

    ezover Light Load Member

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    depends on what you are plated for. our trucks are plated for 66k
     
  4. double yellow

    double yellow Road Train Member

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    14k upgraded steer
    20k single drive axle
    40k spread axle trailer
    ----------
    74k gross


    -40k
    ------
    34k tare

    Doable if loaded well
     
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  5. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Many of the (new trucks have tag ax. behind drive ax. off old tri. axel dump trucks or if room in ft. of drive axel must have a dip in it to clear driveshaft more $ involved !
     
  6. RubberDuck198

    RubberDuck198 Light Load Member

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    Wrong.

    As I said earlier, GVWR changes based on your axle configuration. 80,000 lbs is by no means a universal number. I'm driving a single axle tractor pulling a set of double pubs. Because of my axle configuration, my GVWR is 92,000 lbs. If I only had one pub, my GVWR would be 52,000 lbs.

    Schools tell you 80,000 lbs is universal because most newbies will not drive anything beyond your standard tandem axle truck, pulling a standard tandem axle trailer. 34,000+34,000+12,000=80,000. As you start getting into split axles, spread axles and LCV's, your GVWR changes.
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2014
  7. RubberDuck198

    RubberDuck198 Light Load Member

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    Double post
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2014
  8. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    If yo have the right spec, it would be legal.....When you consider the 2 axle truck is lighter, its possible to haul the same load with around 18 on steers and a sliding kingpin on a split axle trailer. If you factor in the lighter truck, you dont need to reach 80 k to haul the same load. Ive seen several trucks specked with biger steer tires so they could haul over 15k on that axle in some states.
     
  9. lobes1985

    lobes1985 Medium Load Member

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    I pull a tri-axle dump trailer. It's permitted for 107k, so no 80k isn't what all trucks gross
     
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  10. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Ok, just make sure you have plenty of BBC clearance and landing gear clearance. With a typical dry van load, you move the trailer up far enough to get 18k-20k on the steers, the front of the trailer is going to virtually be kissing the back of the cab. So long as you don't make any turns, you'll be ok, I guess. You can drive that. I don't want anything to do with it.