x5 weight issues

Bulk · #1 08-05-2012, 08:02 AM

In all seriousness - I wouldn't worry about 200lbs myself. Everything is over engineered these days. Especially in the USA (Sorry guys but it's true) anyone and anything is a target for litigation so they are not going to design a trailer that falls to bits if you go 1 lb over rating. My best guess is that it's been tested to 1.3 times the rated weight so you should be fine with 220lbs over and if it were me I'd just do it. I assume it's a braked trailer and so in that case that would be where your limit comes from. Steel is pretty strong so just don't drive so close to the person in front that you need to brake hard and you'll be fine.

Saying that - if it were me and it didn't go to plan I'd have no one to blame but myself and you would be the same in this case.

My 2c

blktoptrvl · #2 08-05-2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulk

In all seriousness - I wouldn't worry about 200lbs myself. Everything is over engineered these days. Especially in the USA (Sorry guys but it's true) anyone and anything is a target for litigation so they are not going to design a trailer that falls to bits if you go 1 lb over rating. My best guess is that it's been tested to 1.3 times the rated weight so you should be fine with 220lbs over and if it were me I'd just do it. I assume it's a braked trailer and so in that case that would be where your limit comes from. Steel is pretty strong so just don't drive so close to the person in front that you need to brake hard and you'll be fine.

Saying that - if it were me and it didn't go to plan I'd have no one to blame but myself and you would be the same in this case.

My 2c

That last sentence is very important... If you choose to knowingly go over the weight limit and there is an incident, I wonder if any insurance company will pick up the tab.

Removing the Back seat cushion is easy and wil save a few pounds.

civdiv99 · #3 08-05-2012, 02:45 PM

I'd wager it's a 7,000 gross wt tandem axle trailer he's talking about. 3,500 lb axles are a very common axle rating, and it wouldn't surprise me if the tire load ratings are commensurate with that axle. Trailer tires, especially with a few years under their belts (

) are kinda notorious for failing if tire pressure is even a bit low. Regardless of your decisions, I suggest being all kinds of anal about checking them yourself and don't run even a little bit below max pressure on the sidewall if you are (and you will be) approaching the tire's design load. If possible, after you pick up the trailer, you can generally find a load vs. pressure table on manufacturer's website.

Second, check them often if you don't have a portable tire pressure monitoring system (spendy, so likely not, but for those who tow often, I'll tell ya what, I wouldn't be without mine). If one tire fails you may not be aware of it, but then the other will fail very shortly thereafter, and you will then be acutely aware of it. And it sucks to be on the side of he road near "Thumbnail, Nebraska" waiting on the rental company to get it unscrewed.

Marine6531 · #4 08-06-2012, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the responses gents. I'm still not sure if I'm going to risk it.

I was figuring towing the car would take away about 2mpg (26' deisel Penske). There websit says "up to 12mpg" so I was figuring 10mpg (no trailer). With trailer 8 mpg. Seem about right?

If so, traveling 2900+ miles it will cost me anoth $270 in gas pulling the trailer. $270 + $430 for trailer means I'm at $700. If I can ship for $1,000 it might be worth it. As I'm talking to these shipping companies though they all seem like a scam.

civdiv99 · #5 08-07-2012, 12:05 AM

6531 is MOS I presume. Aviation(ish) right?

San Diego - so, what, travelling from Mirimar then?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marine6531

Thanks for the responses gents. I'm still not sure if I'm going to risk it.

I was figuring towing the car would take away about 2mpg (26' deisel Penske). There websit says "up to 12mpg" so I was figuring 10mpg (no trailer). With trailer 8 mpg. Seem about right?

If so, traveling 2900+ miles it will cost me anoth $270 in gas pulling the trailer. $270 + $430 for trailer means I'm at $700. If I can ship for $1,000 it might be worth it. As I'm talking to these shipping companies though they all seem like a scam.