Trailer Rating

VaGent

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
221
I really need some help guys. I have read a lot but am unable to find what I am needing.

I recently bought a used Loadrite trailer that appears to be heavy duty. I say this because of the following information not withstanding the fact that with all the rollers removed & no cross members installed at this time, I still am unable to lift the tongue of the trailer. The over all size of the trailer now is 21'-3" long & 72" wide outside to outside of the frame.

Frame steel size: 3"X4" tubesteel as well as cross members (2) All galvanized
Axle tube: 2"X3" tubesteel
Springs: 5 leaf with each leaf about 3/8" thick
Tongue: 3"x4" tube steel
Wheels & tires: 15" galvanize wheels with H78X15 D tires
Surge brakes rated for 6000 lbs.
Axle length measured from center of tire track is 90"
Surge brakes rated for 6000 lbs using Dicco Model 60 actuator with 10" drums
Age of trailer: Unknown but at least built back in the late 80s or early 90s.

This trailer was being used to haul a 21' inboard/outboard tri-hull cuddy cabin boat with a large 454 V-8 powered engine. The owner sold it as is with all the rollers intact & it's in very good shape except the brakes need to be replaced from the master cylinder all the way back to the brake shoes. Everything brakewise needs to be replaced as it was used primarily in salt water.

My problem is this. There are no identification labels or anything on the frame to indicate what model or what the rating it is anywhere. I tried calling Loadrite & practically got "blown off" as they just didn't have the time to help me out. I''m trying to determine what the weight rating of the trailer is & what the springs & tires are rated for.

I am attempting to convert this trailer into a pontoon trailer which is really pretty easy but since I don't know the TRUE rating of the trailer, I wondering if it is TOO heavy for my pontoon. I have an old 20ft 1986 Riveria Crusier with a 1987 Johnson 70 using 2-6 gallon gas tanks & 2 batteirs onboard. NO trolling motor or fancy furniture. Just a bench seat across the back(6 ft long), a helm & & small 36" seat & table. I am "guesstimating" the total weight of the toon based on several people who know more about toons then I do to be about 1500-1800 MAX right now. 2000 lbs at the absolute max.

Based on the sizes of the steel used in the trailer there is really no doubt in my mind that it will handle the pontoon with no problems at all once I get it set up & balanced correctly & very possibly even a much heavier ontoon then the one I have. Since I am not a structual engineer I cna only guess after working around steel all my life in the electrical construction industry that what I have is probably way more then I actually need. Sometimes MORE is not always better.

Can anyone possibly tell me where I could go to find out what the rating of the trailer "might be" based on the information I provided above or where I could go to find parts to replace the brakes? None of my measurements concerning axle size, springs or anything else seems to match up with anything I have seen on a multitude of trailer websites. Not even Loadrite's site. I'm really about to pull my hair out right now over this. Thanks in advance.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Trailer Rating

it never hurts to have a heavier trailer than you need. i have a 20 ft toon on about the same trailer you describe, no problems.
 

VaGent

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
221
Re: Trailer Rating

it never hurts to have a heavier trailer than you need. i have a 20 ft toon on about the same trailer you describe, no problems.

Thanks for the info. I don't want too big of a trailer but cetainly one that will carry my pontoon safely. I'd just like to know for my own information what the actual rating of the trailer really is. I've taken off the 15" tires & wheels & replaced them with 13" off of another Loadrite I don't use anymore with ST175/80D13 biased ply tires (B78x15). If I can find the parts to redo the brakes I will have very nice trailer that is copied from a Tracker trailer I have access to. In fact I carried my pontoon home from the lake where I bought it with the Tracker trailer that has ST 175/80C14 biased tires & it handled the pontoon just fine. Using my tires & wheels it will be a little bit lower for lopading/unloading the toon which is a plus verses the 15" tires that were on the trialer. And the Tracker has a rating of 3450 lbs so I know my trailer will definitly handle the load of my pontoon. Thanks again for the information about yours.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Trailer Rating

Based on the tire size alone, an H78x15 tire equates to a current ST225-75 R15 radial. A load range D in that tire size has a capacity of 2540 pounds at 65 PSI inflation pressure. Multiply by 4 and that produces 10,160 pounds GVWR. That rating must include the trailer weight so subtract that from 10160 and you have the maximum load capacity. Obviously springs and the frame construction play into that capacity as well.
 

VaGent

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
221
Re: Trailer Rating


Thanks for the link BLuefish. It took a little while but I found everything I needed to know about my trailer along with all the parts to replace the entire brake system.

I started taking the brakes apart today & the brake hub along with the backing plate almost fell into my hands in pieces as it was so eaten up from the salt water. I am going to replace everything from the actuator to the bearing buddies with all new parts. If my pocket book holds up & my wife doesn't leave me first I am going to be just fine. :)
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,317
Re: Trailer Rating

I'm on my 4th Loadrite and have most the old documentation.

Is it a roller trailer or a bunk? Could make a diffrence but my docs don't cover bunk trailers of that vintage.

The only roller trailers they list that runs 21-22' in length that use 15" tires is rated for #3600

Specifics:
17-18' trailer - measures 20'2" with 15" D series Trailer weight = 600 lbs.
18-20' trailer - measures 22' with 15" D series Trailer weight = 700 lbs.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
Re: Trailer Rating

Single or dual axle? I have a mid 80's load rite here with twin axles, 5 leaves per spring and two inch diameter axle tubes. It came with 14" wheels, and is rated at 4500lbs. I also have a similar trailer by Shoreline that has two 3300lb axles, 5 leaf springs, and four 14" tires rated at 6,000 lbs GVW.
None of mine came new with 15" wheels. You can get a better idea at its true capacity by looking at things like spindle diameters, wheel bearing size, tire ratings and tubing sizes. My 2,800lb rated single axle Load rite has 3x4" tubing, 5 leaf springs, and E78-14 tires. It was bought new with a 21' trihull cuddy cabin Larson and was a bit light for that boat in my opinion.

I've only towed a few pontoon boats, but it don't hurt to have a bit heavier trailer. Pontoons are wide and can induce lots of sway, a bit stiffer suspension can help control that. Just make sure what ever bunk system you set up that it cradles the boat well. Those that I dealt with all had double bunks on each side that allowed each pontoon to settle in between each pair of bunks.
You can adjust the tongue weight once the boat is loaded by moving the axle.
 
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