Forum Discussion

motormike73's avatar
motormike73
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013

trailer questions/concerns

i have not done a ton of hauling/trailering and always got a little nervous when pulling something and so had some questions about a new project of mine. i have a little utility trailer and wanted to use it to haul a custom motorcycle i built. i upgraded to 12" wheels and built a rail for my bike to go on. also added a longer tongue. the trailer is rated at 1000# and my hitch is rated at #2000. i am guessing the bike weighs between 700-800 and another couple hundred for the trailer...so getting pretty close to if not slightly exceeding the trailer rating. the tires are c rated/1880# (990 each). my questions are:

how concerned about the 1000# rating should i be?

even though the tires are well within the load rating, they just look "small" to me (4-5" width) and should a beefier tire be used, or is the load rating what i should be concerned with? (again i am at only about have of what the tires are rated for)

i did take it out for a test run with the bike on it. drove around the neighborhood as well as got it up to speed on the highway. everything seemed fine other than i could "feel" the trailer back there and a sort of pulling sensation. i am just using a little chevy 2wd 6 cylinder crossover to pull it. i suppose thats somewhat normal being as i dont have a ton of power?

and lastly i have considered flipping the axle to lower it a bit to make loading a little easier. i know i would need to raise the fenders, but otherwise is this an okay thing to do? i have seen some posts where people dont recommend this, saying it puts too much stress on the u-bolts and relys on them to take the weight vs the axle itself.

i apologize for the lengthy post. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Nov 13, 2013
    Sounds a lot like my utility trailer (Lil' Tex). It's a 4x8 tilt bed. It has a "#1500" load rating.

    It came with 12" tires, but I've replaced them with a higher load tire, but I never had an issue with the lower rated tires...

    I put 2 yards of bark mulch in it or load it up with fire wood or other heavy stuff.. I've never really weighed it, but I've driven it at hwy speeds for hundreds of miles with a load in it (fire wood) and never had an issue.

    Just make sure the tires are at their max cold psi and load up the bike and enjoy... :) Stuff happens every day, so no guarantees in anything we do, so just use common sense and that's usually enough to get you thru it!

    Good luck!

    Mitch
  • campigloo's avatar
    campigloo
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2013
    Sounds like you have plenty of power. The tugging action is common due to the single axle.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Nov 13, 2013
    Flipping axles is the proper term. Its coined when all trailer axle tubes were straight. FYI Some trailers today have straight axle tubes so simply flip or rotate the axle and take the brake backing plate off and rotate it hence flipping the axle. If your axles are straight and not camber bowed then the job is simple. There will be no added stress on U bolts from flipping axle on a single axle trailer.

    The tires are fine. As some mentioned small diameter tires rotate at a faster rpm and require more attention to good bearing maintenance.

    Your experience with the V6 engine is typical when towing or carrying weight.
  • motormike73's avatar
    motormike73
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2013
    had some weights taken at the truck stop. bike was 620 and the trailer overall by itself was 340.
  • motormike73's avatar
    motormike73
    Explorer
    Nov 11, 2013
    actually a friend just told me a qt down the street has one for trucks. i will take it and weigh it to be on the safe side.
  • motormike73's avatar
    motormike73
    Explorer
    Nov 11, 2013
    yeah i meant relocating...poor choice of words when i said flipping. i am trying to find a place with a scale i can use. i found a recycling place but its not terribly close. any suggestions on the types of businesses that would have them? would be easy back home, i am from a small town but live in the city now and no grain elevators here!
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Nov 11, 2013
    I'd get some weights from the scale rather than guess. Some of those light weight trailers don't have a LOT of reserve.
    Good luck / Skip
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 11, 2013
    If you mean relocating the axle tubes so they are above the springs...flipping the axles.

    Springs on top of axles can be relocated so the springs are under the axles.
    You would need to weld new spring perches on the bottom of axles so springs can be mounted properly.

    You do NOT flip the axles over..you just relocate the springs....so that the bend in axle tubes is still bowed up.

    Relocating the springs under the axle tubes will lower the trailer.
    Many new trailers come that way and they are heavier than you utility trailer.
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Nov 11, 2013
    Your tires are fine, and upgrading to 12" wheels was a good idea. That slows the RPMs of the wheel bearings down so they last longer.

    I would not flip the axle. Generally axles are not perfectly straight. They have a slight amount of positive camber built in to promote side-to-side stability. If you flip the axle over it will have negative camber and the trailer will be more prone to darting from side-to-side behind you.

    Tow the trailer level or slightly nose down. Make sure you have at least 10-15% of the total trailer weight on the tongue. Watch it carefully to see that it tows straight behind you with no constant darting from side-to-side.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,103 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 22, 2025