Nashville TJ's Build - Continued

[RocknLJ]

Open roads card going through the truck lanes with the tow pig and jeep on a trailer was one of the best ideas I had for our recent Ouray trip.
Now for the bad decisions….. I could write a book

 

[sab]

Something doesn't make sense (to me), and maybe I just haven't thought about it enough. You've calculated the weight of your trailer as 4,080 lb, and I agree with that figure. But then, the weight on the tongue, plus the weight on the trailer axle should also add up to 4,080 lb, assuming both surfaces were level. However, with 900 lb on the tongue and 1,540 lb on the trailer axle, that's only 2,440 lb. There's 1,640 lb missing.

Okay, I thought about this more. The weight on your tongue should be the weight of your truck without the trailer attached minus the weight of your truck with the trailer attached (just like if you stood on the hitch instead of in the driver's seat - the truck weight would be the same no matter where you are in/on the truck).

Empty, your truck weighed 4,860 lb (front axle) + 3,780 lb (rear axle) = 8,640 lb. With the trailer on it, it weighed 4,560 lb (front axle) + 6,620 lb (rear axle) = 11,180 lb. That makes your tongue weight an astounding 2,540 lb. As a double check, when you add that tongue weight to the trailer axle weight (1,540 lb), you end up with the trailer weight you calculated earlier - 4,080 lb.

Either my brain is fritzing (always a possibility), or your tongue weight is crazy! My head hurts...

 

[Wildman]

I'm not looking forward to weighing my Jeep once it's running/driving. I know I'm close to 5K bls but it'll be interesting to see where I am. Fo my 38" tires I'm coming in around 158 lbs per corner. Those bigger axles add weight but not as much as Jeff's.

I have my Open Roads card too and of course forgot to use it on the trip to retrieve the Hemi Jeep.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Something doesn't make sense (to me), and maybe I just haven't thought about it enough. You've calculated the weight of your trailer as 4,080 lb, and I agree with that figure. But then, the weight on the tongue, plus the weight on the trailer axle should also add up to 4,080 lb, assuming both surfaces were level. However, with 900 lb on the tongue and 1,540 lb on the trailer axle, that's only 2,440 lb. There's 1,640 lb missing.

Okay, I thought about this more. The weight on your tongue should be the weight of your truck without the trailer attached minus the weight of your truck with the trailer attached (just like if you stood on the hitch instead of in the driver's seat - the truck weight would be the same no matter where you are in/on the truck).

Empty, your truck weighed 4,860 lb (front axle) + 3,780 lb (rear axle) = 8,640 lb. With the trailer on it, it weighed 4,560 lb (front axle) + 6,620 lb (rear axle) = 11,180 lb. That makes your tongue weight an astounding 2,540 lb. As a double check, when you add that tongue weight to the trailer axle weight (1,540 lb), you end up with the trailer weight you calculated earlier - 4,080 lb.

Either my brain is fritzing (always a possibility), or your tongue weight is crazy! My head hurts...

You've raised an interesting conundrum, Scott. I hadn't looked at the breakdown at all.

I think it is likely that the overall measured weight of the truck is spot on, the overall measured weight of the truck and trailer is spot on, and the calculated weight of the trailer is spot on. However, given I was on a scale meant for a semi, I think the breakdown between steer axle, drive axle, and trailer axle may be suspect. Just take a look at the stoppie weight on the Jeep.

That said, in the past I have directly weighed the tongue weight with my fat-ass Jeep on the trailer. It's about 1200 pounds:

So, it's unlikely there would be more tongue weight with the trailer empty - especially given that with positioning there is more weight of the rig forward of the trailer axles.

I have no basis for which to trust the fancy new hitch tongue weight, but it seems reasonable. I could certainly double check the 900 pound figure with the Klau (and who knows if that thing is accurate... )

 

[AirborneTexasRanger]

 

[Brianj5600]

It's a beautiful day here in Nashville, so I took a short ride and did something I've been meaning to do for a while: Weigh the Jeep.

So, I headed down to my nearby T/A Truck Stop, which has a certified scale:

The Jeep :

View attachment 556984

Full tank, and me in it. So just about 6400 pounds. Ouch. Glad I got rid of that hi-lift. I'd always guessed that the rig was up there close to 6,000, but I was just a bit off - and surprised it was over.

And that triggered another thought - how much does the trailer weight, and have I exceeded its 10K capacity? I always knew I was close. So, after getting home, I hitched up the trailer to the tow pig and headed back down to the T/A.

Here is the truck and the trailer:

View attachment 556985

And here is the truck:

View attachment 556986

That makes the trailer 4,080 pounds.

And that makes the gross weight of the trailer and the Jeep: 10,450 pounds. No wonder I'm blowing tires...

And another fun fact. You may recall that I picked up this hitch which has a tongue weight scale:

View attachment 556987

And yes, you are reading that correctly: 900 pounds. At first, I thought that the scale must have been off. 900 pounds on the tongue - of an empty trailer? But then it dawned on me that the trailer is not empty at all - I bet I have the better part of 1,000 pounds of axle shafts, drive shafts, spare parts, equipment, fluids, etc., sitting in the box at the front of the trailer.

So yeah, I'm pushing it on the trailer.

But a piece of good news: Thanks to Ryan ( @Apparition ) I was able to top off the tow pig for $2.83/gal using my new Open Roads Card.

Here is the $3.89/gal cost of the fill-up prior to the discount. Thanks again Ryan!

View attachment 556989

That helps offset all the extra fuel it takes to haul around all these pounds...

Aye caramba!

 

[Wildman]

I was a little shocked at your tongue weight but when the Jeep in on the trailer 10% would be 1K lbs. And everything I've read says 10-15% of total trailer weight. I am shocked at your empty tongue weight but with everything in your spares box it's understandable.

I know I need to buy a new trailer so I'll make sure I get one that is over rated for me & my toys.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I was a little shocked at your tongue weight but when the Jeep in on the trailer 10% would be 1K lbs. And everything I've read says 10-15% of total trailer weight. I am shocked at your empty tongue weight but with everything in your spares box it's understandable.

I know I need to buy a new trailer so I'll make sure I get one that is over rated for me & my toys.

I've been giving thought to putting 7k pound axles under it - I may start thinking harder. I've got a lot of custom work on the trailer, so I'd rather not do a replacement.

 

[lBasket]

I've been giving thought to putting 7k pound axles under it - I may start thinking harder. I've got a lot of custom work on the trailer, so I'd rather not do a replacement.

Cool, that will be interesting to read about here

 

[Wildman]

I've been giving thought to putting 7k pound axles under it - I may start thinking harder. I've got a lot of custom work on the trailer, so I'd rather not do a replacement.

I can fully appreciate that. Mine is too short for my future plans so I'm looking at getting a 18'-20' split deck so I can have a drive on but haul the bike crossways on the nose. And yep I'll spec it out with 7K or 8K axles so I don't overload it. But yes you've done a lot of custom work to your trailer already so I understand not wanting to get rid of it.

 

[reddvltj]

I've been giving thought to putting 7k pound axles under it - I may start thinking harder. I've got a lot of custom work on the trailer, so I'd rather not do a replacement.

Maybe just put a 3rd matching axle under instead of having to buy 2 more expensive axles....?!?!?!

 

[Apparition]

You've raised an interesting conundrum, Scott. I hadn't looked at the breakdown at all.

I think it is likely that the overall measured weight of the truck is spot on, the overall measured weight of the truck and trailer is spot on, and the calculated weight of the trailer is spot on. However, given I was on a scale meant for a semi, I think the breakdown between steer axle, drive axle, and trailer axle may be suspect. Just take a look at the stoppie weight on the Jeep.

That said, in the past I have directly weighed the tongue weight with my fat-ass Jeep on the trailer. It's about 1200 pounds:

View attachment 557040

So, it's unlikely there would be more tongue weight with the trailer empty - especially given that with positioning there is more weight of the rig forward of the trailer axles.

I have no basis for which to trust the fancy new hitch tongue weight, but it seems reasonable. I could certainly double check the 900 pound figure with the Klau (and who knows if that thing is accurate... )

Are you still using your weight distribution on long trips? Be interesting to see the weight comparison once you transfer that weight back to the front axle.

 

[BlueC]

I've been giving thought to putting 7k pound axles under it - I may start thinking harder.

What do you currently have, and are you having issues?

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Are you still using your weight distribution on long trips? Be interesting to see the weight comparison once you transfer that weight back to the front axle.

I do use the wdh on long trips. Subtle difference, but subtle is worth it on a very long trip.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

What do you currently have, and are you having issues?

I have 5.2k’s under there now, and yes, I’ve had issues. I’ve broken shackles and destroyed the bushings in the center carrier. Dan ( @Blackjack ) helped me with upgrading that carrier and the shackles, and no problems since.

I’ve also gone through three sets of tires to find a version with high enough capacity, and would not blow out. I think I’ve now had 4 or 5 blowouts. I thought I had solved it with Carlyle 10 plys - but I lost one of those on the way back from Moab this year. The 6 lug axles limit my tire size.

 

[BlueC]

I have 5.2k’s under there now

Yeah, I think 7s are your future. If you've never done it, it's a pretty straight forward swap, you just need a few measurements before buying the axles, and the axles really aren't that expensive.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Yeah, I think 7s are your future. If you've never done it, it's a pretty straight forward swap, you just need a few measurements before buying the axles, and the axles really aren't that expensive.

New running gear and springs (you know, for ride quality) as well, as I will have to lift it a bit to clear larger tires.

Oh, and 6 new tires and wheels as well…

Financially, I would not be surprised if its a toss-up between the upgrade and selling this one and buying another.

 

[Wildman]

New running gear and springs (you know, for ride quality) as well, and I will have to lift it a bit to clear larger tires.

Oh, and 6 new tires and wheels as well…

Financially, I would not be surprised if its a toss-up between the upgrade and selling this one and buying another.

I'd guess you're probably correct on it being a tosh up. But as you said you've done a lot of tweaks to your trailer making it "YOURS" so I'd guess you'll go with the new axles.

 

[Apparition]

I do use the wdh on long trips. Subtle difference, but subtle is worth it on a very long trip.

I've read many times that people towing with trucks running the 7.3 godzilla's can be a bit squirrely which I've always believed to be the loss of the extra weight on the front end of a truck designed around the diesel.

A 7.3 weighs 382 lbs less than a 6.7 so you've lightened up the front enough to be a gasser.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I'd guess you're probably correct on it being a tosh up. But as you said you've done a lot of tweaks to your trailer making it "YOURS" so I'd guess you'll go with the new axles.

But….those drive over fenders were a really fun project, so there it that.