Posted 2015-12-13 9:19 AM (#165563) Subject: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Regular
Posts: 88 Location: Washington
Hi. First post and already I need. We're in the market for a 3H Gooseneck living quarters with 6 or 8 foot shortwall. Question I have is, in general what is the difference in weight between the steel frame/aluminum body trailer vs. all aluminum. I've been doing some searching and the weights are not easy to come by. Some dealers will list the weight of just the trailer (aluminum) but that's not real helpful. So far I'm leaning to the Bison 7308 which seems to be about 7900# according to average ad weights. Thanks for the look.
Posted 2015-12-13 5:55 PM (#165564 - in reply to #165563) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
I doubt that thers is very little difference, the main thing is to have enough truck under what ever you have to be able to stop it, too many are out there close to gross weight or over and the whole thing is out of whack at that point as to springs, rear end and brakes.
Posted 2015-12-13 6:27 PM (#165565 - in reply to #165563) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Well, the weight of the trailer PLUS the LQ is NOT listed on the tag in most cases, that is just the bare trailer...you have to actually weigh them to get the final weights
Posted 2015-12-14 7:08 AM (#165569 - in reply to #165563) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
One you add a LQ all bets are off. I wouldn't worry about the trailer weight, you now need the total weight of trailer AND LQ. As stated above most trailers will only have a manufacturer tag stating the empty weight of the trailer alone. I think if most people took their LQ trailer to the scales they would be horrified how close to max weight or over they are. Lastly, it's not just the total weight but the distribution you'll want to know also, not all trailers are made equally and knowing how much pin weight it will place in the bed of your truck is also a very important number.
Posted 2015-12-14 9:45 AM (#165571 - in reply to #165563) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Regular
Posts: 88 Location: Washington
Thanks for all of the replies. The steel/aluminum Bison is as heavy as I intend to get (one dealer listed at 7900#). Have also looked at some all-aluminum trailers but a used one that fits my trailer budget and is reasonably new is hard to come by. Based on Kooner's response, there likely isn't a significant difference in weight anyway. I think my pin weight will be at max cargo weight or slightly higher but trailer weight should be well within manufacturers specs. I'm estimating 2200# for horses and 1000# for water/gear etc.
Posted 2015-12-14 5:52 PM (#165572 - in reply to #165563) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Don't overlook the pin weight...if it's at or over max as you state about then it's over weight. Once you load your horses and pack the LQ it's not going to get any lighter!
Posted 2015-12-15 8:05 AM (#165573 - in reply to #165563) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
For the record- I've not seen a modern trailer in the past 20 years that had its weight listed on a tag. It has the maximum legal allowable weight (GVWR) listed in pounds and kilograms. This is based on tires and axles only, and the same exact trailer from 2 different manufacturers may carry a GVWR from 14,400# to 18,000# depending on their formula- and both are considered proper.
The weight will be listed on the Statement of Origin, which gets turned in to title it.
FWIW- Bison builds their own LQs. And they weigh after completed. They can even tell you the pin weight at completion.
Posted 2015-12-26 9:48 AM (#165669 - in reply to #165573) Subject: RE: First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534 Location: Zionsville, Indiana
Good post, Horsey1. The majority of consumers do not believe that the empty weight is NOT listed anywhere on the VIN tag or elsewhere. only on the Certificate of Origin because that is required by law in most states.
I had a customer call me and ask if I thought his F350 could pull a used flatbed trailer that he had found. He said the tag showed it weighed 14,000# and he thought that the weight of his load plus the trailer might be too much for his truck. I finally convinced him that the number he referred to was the GVWR (two 7000# axles). Folks looking at two horse bumper pull trailers sometimes read the tags and think the trailer weighs 7000#, which is the GVWR. Wish we could afford to install a scale on our lot. It would come in very handy.
First post .............steel vs aluminum weight
