trailmanor load

[wbmiller3]

Originally Posted by Larryjb

Something I noticed is this:
Expedition alone: 5940 lbs
Expedition weight attached to trailer with WDH: 2820 + 3080 = 5900.

The WDH has transferred 40 lbs of the Expedition mass to the trailer. This also means that the weight of the trailer is more than the loaded trailer alone. Now that I think of this, it shouldn't surprise me, but all the more reason to make sure you have good brakes and a good brake controller, and good tires/rims.

You are correct! That's why I said it was interesting. Glad it is only 40 lbs!

[Dash07]

Did you ever upgrade with lift kit?

[Larryjb]

Mine already had the lift kit installed. The lift kit has no connection with the axle rating. I know at least one member on here who did upgrade his axle.

I started another thread:
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=18578
I was surprised just how easy it is to overload your trailer with "stuff". When I weighed everything as it came out, it wasn't just one big thing that overloaded our trailer. Now, that was with 3 adults and 2 kids in a 2720, so that is pushing the limits.

[rickst29]

Originally Posted by Larryjb

I did a search for loading a trailmanor, and the best thread I came across so far was this one:
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...hlight=loading

Rick accounts for 1400 lbs extra due to fresh water, battery, AC, food, clothing, etc. I can lift an AC quite easily, so it's certainly less than 100 lbs. a batter may be close to 100 lbs, the fresh water in a 20 gal tank will add 160 lbs. These items will give you a total of 360 lbs tops, unless you're wiring several batteries in parallel to give you longer dry camps.

The limiting factors, in 2619 and 2720 models from older years, were the 3500 lb axle and the Load Grade "C" tires.

With a 5000 lb axle, I don't worry about the 3500 lb limitation. You forgot to add in the propane tank weights. I've got a 40 gallon water tank (insted of 20), and also carry a few separate gallons of filtered water for cooking and drinking (those jugs are done via R/O first, then marble chips to taste better). I've also got about 60 lbs of rooftop solar, a bigger fridge (kept pretty full), a ton of genuine ceramic dishes for throwing big parties, and several add-in appliances (a big HEPA air cleaner, etc). And DW is a clothes horse. At my very heaviest loading, for a multi-week trip, we did approach 4100 lbs - GWV, including tongue weight on the scale. But I usually travel quite a bit lighter than that.

Originally Posted by Larryjb

1) Lift kit (anyone make this yourselves? I image shipping of 2 tubular steel bars would be quite expensive)

2) 15" rims. Do I need 15x5.5; 5 lugs on 5.5?

3) D rated tires. I noticed that 225/75-R15 Endurance had MUCH higher rating than the 205/75-R15. Would the 225 fit?

1. The lift kit isn't very large, and the two pieces weigh a lot less than a set of new "stabilizer jacks". I never needed a lift kit, because my 5000 lb axle provided the extra height all by itself. But I'd order from the factory - the shipping cost probably isn't prohibitive.

2. I don't know the 3500 lb axle requirements - but search is your friend. When ordering rims, be sure to pay attention to the "offset".

3. Although I have the big axle, my wheel wells were built standard. I upgraded both the wheel width (5.5 to 6.0) and the tire width (225's). It' a bit tight, but they've never bottomed out, or hit the front/back lips or sides of the wheel wells during rough travel. I have: "MAXXIS TIRES - M8008 ST RADIAL TRAILER TIRE 225/75R15 10 Ply", on "ULTRA TYPE 062 TRAILER MACHINED RIM with CLEAR COAT 15x6".

When upgraded, your limiting factor will be the axle (not the TM frame, nor the tires). Right now, your limiting factor is the tires - and that's why the Load Class "C" 14 inch tires blow out so often: they're running too "close to the edge" of their limitations.

[Bill]

Larry -

This thread has gotten kind of confusing, but I'll throw in a couple things even though you probably have them by now.

The bolt pattern on the OEM wheels is "5 on 4.5". If you want the new 15" wheels to fit the existing bolt pattern on the existing hub, the new wheel must also be "5 on 4.5". This is a very common size, so it should be no problem. Just make sure that the new wheels are rated for at least 60 psi air pressure.

The OEM wheels are probably 14x6. Your new wheels must be 15x6. Although many 15" tires will fit either a 6" or 7" wheel, don't try to go to 7". One of our founding members, RockyMtnRay, bought 7" wheels, and had an awful time making them fit.

The OEM wheels had zero offset. Although we have discussed offset a few times, the answer is always the same - stay with zero offset. Fortunately, that size is almost universally available.

Did you see Bill Miller's (wbmiller3) article about installing the lift kit? It is in the TM Technical Library, and is quite good including some photos. In my opinion it would not be hard to fab your own lift tubes, assuming that you can cut some steel tubes to length, and then drill holes in them. In fact, your metal supplier might be willing to cut them for you. Much cheaper, and no shipping. At this time of transition especially, the new factory might or might not be able to sell you the tubes. If you inquire, let us know the outcome.

Rickst29 is right. The OEM axle is rated for a 3500 pound load, and for almost all of us, that is the lowest-rated part in the setup. I will mention that in all the years of the forum, we have not heard of a single axle failure - and I will let you make your own decisions.

Bill

[Larryjb]

Bill,

I'm not sure if your response was directed to me or not, so I'm left a little confused myself. I already upgraded my wheels to 15" rims and Goodyear Endurance LR E tires. I already have the lift kit, but my axle limits my load to 3500 lbs. I'm satisfied with this setup at this time.

Your summary will be useful for others reading this thread, however, because throughout the thread from the beginning I was doing a ton of learning about tires/wheels/loads until I settled on my rims/tires.

[Bill]

Larry -

I share your confusion. I was actually responding to the snippets attributed to you in Rick's post just above mine. Yes, I was under the impression that you had already made the changes, but decided to respond in case I had missed something. I think Rick's post was aimed primarily at the issue of the 3500-pound axle vs his 5000-pound unit.

So
RESET!

Bill

[tentcamper]

Some of the TM's have 5,200 lbs axle's with 6 lugs. That is what we have on our 2009 3023. When I got the build specs for our axle from dexter ,Trailmanor manufacture was the purchaser. about 10 months before our TM build date. Maybe it was an option at the time???

I know from a past conversation with trailmanor man regarding buying his wheels, he had 6 lugs on his 2720 wheels? Not sure about his axle?

[YNPKing]

Hopefully, I'm not mentioning something that was already said. When I bought my TM in 2014, I was concerned about the weight carrying capacity of the AL-KO U35 (3500 lb) axle.

It is my understanding that the weight an axle is carrying is calculated as follows: Total Trailer weight - Tongue weight - Wheel and Axle weight. I noted the weight of the U35 Axle (172 lbs) and the Tires/Rims (82 lbs). So, if the Tongue weight is assumed to be 400 lbs, then the Total Trailer weight when at Axle capacity (3500 lbs) is 4154 lbs. The use of a WDH hitch would add to the Trailer weight. Is my understanding correct?

[rickst29]

And your 're-calculation' was perfect.