Deciphering Weight Information And Dump Trailers |
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Brittney H. Mittchell
3 August 2012
When hauling utilizing dump trailers, owners should always think about the weight of the cargo and the weight rating of the trailer. This is required both for the save use of the trailer and hitch. All trailers come with tags that outline the weight of the trailer and the weights it is able to carry. Owners ought to take the time to familiarize themselves with this tag.
The tag usually includes information on the GVWR and GAWR as well as the unloaded weight of the trailer. The GVWR is the gross vehicle weight rating and is the maximum amount of weight of the trailer fully loaded. Owners must keep in mind that the weight of the trailer itself is included in the GVWR and therefore the maximum load that can be put in the trailer is the GVWR minus the weight of the trailer. For dump trailers, this is particularly important to be mindful of as dump trailers can be made of very solid construction which makes them heavier than other types of trailers.
The GAWR is also significant for owners to remember. GAWR is the gross axle weight rating which is the largest amount of weight that any single axle should have on it. For single axle trailers this is not a significant worry, but for dual axles and triple axles, it is very important. The load must be distributed evenly between the axles. Often individual axles have different weight ratings, so an owner should consult the tags to ensure that the trailer is being loaded properly.
Motorcycle trailers also include information which list the weight rating and axle ratings of the trailers. Owners of these kinds of trailers should also carefully inspect the weight loaded into the trailer and how that weight is distributed across the axles. The trailer must be as balanced as can be, both over the axles and from side to side. This will ensure the smoothest drive for both dump and motorcycle hauler.
When loading dump trailers or motorcycle trailers, users must always remember to keep the weight rating of the trailer in mind. Exceeding the weight rating can be dangerous and could even result in damage to the trailer or the hitch. The best way to make sure that a trailer is loaded correctly is to load it and then take it to a commercial scale where it can be professional weighed. This will give the most complete information on the gross vehicle weight.