Average Car Trailer Weight?

[jk333]

So, how much does your average Car Trailer Weigh? :dunno:

 

[5-90]

Tow dolly? Couple hundred pounds or so.

Flatbed? How solid? Figure probably 500-1,200 pounds, depending on materials and construction. Once you throw a car on it, it's not a bad idea to have an electric braking system on the trailer proper to assist in stopping - the XJ (particularly the earlier years) are notoriously under-braked.

Full-on equipment flatbed? They can weigh more than your rig - I've seen them around 4,000-5,000#, typically.

 

[RedHeep]

Tow dolly? Couple hundred pounds or so.

Flatbed? How solid? Figure probably 500-1,200 pounds, depending on materials and construction. Once you throw a car on it, it's not a bad idea to have an electric braking system on the trailer proper to assist in stopping - the XJ (particularly the earlier years) are notoriously under-braked.

Full-on equipment flatbed? They can weigh more than your rig - I've seen them around 4,000-5,000#, typically.

There's not a steel 16 foot single car trailer on the planet that weights 1200 lbs, unless it's the worst built trailer you've ever seen.

Most of the aluminum ones are at least 1000 lbs.

The Kaufman 17 foot steel deck trailer I just bought is 2300 lbs. The same trailer with a wood deck is 1950.

Wanna create havoc on the road? Tow another car on a trailer with an XJ.

:banghead:

 

[jk333]

I did mean a Car Trailer, as in a flat bed. I dont plan on towing or buying one for that matter. Curiosity just got the best of me.

 

[5-90]

There's not a steel 16 foot single car trailer on the planet that weights 1200 lbs, unless it's the worst built trailer you've ever seen.

Most of the aluminum ones are at least 1000 lbs.

The Kaufman 17 foot steel deck trailer I just bought is 2300 lbs. The same trailer with a wood deck is 1950.

Wanna create havoc on the road? Tow another car on a trailer with an XJ.

:banghead:

True - but aren't there an awful lot of wood-deck flatbed car haulers that only have steel structures? Or open-deck jobs, with expanded metal decks?

Those numbers were scratch estimates - and it looks like I lowballed them. Wups! So, thank you for bringing them a bit more into line...

 

[GoSlowGetStuck]

My open deck 18' trailer with wood decking weighs 1,680. You're looking at 1500-2000# for most steel frame car haulers with wood decks, more for all steel, and probably 1000-1200# for all-aluminum ones.

 

[5-90]

My open deck 18' trailer with wood decking weighs 1,680. You're looking at 1500-2000# for most steel frame car haulers with wood decks, more for all steel, and probably 1000-1200# for all-aluminum ones.

K. Now that I really chew on it, it sounds about right.

I've just had more occasion to play with equipment-hauling trailers (4,000-5,000# unladen weight, for throwing 10,000-15,000# equipment on) than carhaulers...

 

[lesslimited]

A few different steel frame trailer weights here...

http://www.allprowest.com/3Open_CarHaulers.html

And some Aluma weights here...

http://www.alumaklm.com/7800_tandem_utility_trailer_models.html

 

[cracker]

FWIW, my Big Tex 18 foot trailer weighs 1849lbs.

I don't even feel it behind the SuperDuty

 

[Jay S.]

My trailer (6.5' x 16') weighs 1620 lbs. It's got two layers of ¾" plywood for the deck.

 

[RedHeep]

My trailer (6.5' x 16') weighs 1620 lbs. It's got two layers of ¾" plywood for the deck.

What do you tow that's only 77" wide? I don't think my jeep would fit between the fenders.

 

[Jay S.]

I tow a 1998 XJ with 15x7 Ecco rims and 33x10.50 tires!
It's close but if fits. The deck is narrower than the space between the
fenders since they are mounted outside the frame rails.

 

[Sponge Bob]

My trailer (6.5' x 16') weighs 1620 lbs. It's got two layers of ¾" plywood for the deck.

Sounds like a landscape\utility type trailer. not to say it cannot work but you may be at the max for that trailer weight wise..

 

[RedHeep]

I tow a 1998 XJ with 15x7 Ecco rims and 33x10.50 tires!
It's close but if fits. The deck is narrower than the space between the
fenders since they are mounted outside the frame rails.

I'd be concerned about axle rating and frame strength. I agree, sounds like a landscaping trailer, not a car hauler.

My fenders are mounted outside the frame rails too. Except my frame rails are 6" channel and the deck is a full 84" wide.

 

[Jay S.]

Thanks for the concerns but it does just fine! I've pulled it to Michigan from South Carolina 4 times! I'll admit it's not 'overbuilt' and I'm careful about only using trailer tires on it that have the proper load-rating. Also,
it has 4-wheel electric brakes and has a 2 5/16" ball WITH the load distribution bars hooked up.