Gross trailer weights

[hoff135]

I have a fairly old kane low loader which has no plate but has what I'm told is two 8 ton axles(8stud). I don't know what it weighs but if it weighs 4 ton I thought this meant I could put 12ton on it.

A mate has a 2 year old kane low loader. Similar but obviously much newer. It has 2 very similar 8 ton axles (8stud). During conversation I mentioned about his being a 16ton low loader, he said no its a 19ton. I had a look at the plate because it's very similar in the way its built. The plate had each axle down as 8000kg but also had the drawbar down as 3000kg giving gross weight of 19000kg.

I didn't know drawbars were included in calculating gross tonnage. So does this mean mine is a 19ton lowloader and I could carry a 14-15 ton digger?

 

[balerman]

Trailer will probably carry 15t no problem,but with no plate the legalities are a minefield if you get stopped.

 

[roscoe erf]

thought the law was a trailer mass of 18ton only

 

[roscoe erf]

thought the law was a trailer mass of 18ton only

The existing trailer limit of 18.29t remains in place.

 

[hoff135]

Trailer will probably carry 15t no problem,but with no plate the legalities are a minefield if you get stopped.

I thought plates only became law in recent years? But if it was older it was okay?

 

[Exfarmer]

I have a fairly old kane low loader which has no plate but has what I'm told is two 8 ton axles(8stud). I don't know what it weighs but if it weighs 4 ton I thought this meant I could put 12ton on it.

A mate has a 2 year old kane low loader. Similar but obviously much newer. It has 2 very similar 8 ton axles (8stud). During conversation I mentioned about his being a 16ton low loader, he said no its a 19ton. I had a look at the plate because it's very similar in the way its built. The plate had each axle down as 8000kg but also had the drawbar down as 3000kg giving gross weight of 19000kg.

I didn't know drawbars were included in calculating gross tonnage. So does this mean mine is a 19ton lowloader and I could carry a 14-15 ton digger?

Trailer plate is irrelevant when it goes above the 18.29 tonne you are allowed to tow. I would be distinctly unhappy to be towing a trailer weighung 18 tonne on 8 stud axles!

 

[hoff135]

Trailer plate is irrelevant when it goes above the 18.29 tonne you are allowed to tow. I would be distinctly unhappy to be towing a trailer weighung 18 tonne on 8 stud axles!

Okay but why is my mates trailer classed as 19ton gross while on 8 ton axles?

 

[Exfarmer]

Okay but why is my mates trailer classed as 19ton gross while on 8 ton axles?

You ask me ? No idea.

 

[roscoe erf]

Okay but why is my mates trailer classed as 19ton gross while on 8 ton axles?

wishful thinking just because the plate says it can dose not make it legal my truck can gross at 60t according to the plate but not in this country it can't

 

[hoff135]

wishful thinking just because the plate says it can dose not make it legal my truck can gross at 60t according to the plate but not in this country it can't

I understand. Forget the 19t gross. If it was 18ton gross with a digger loaded on it how does this work on 8 ton axles?

 

[roscoe erf]

I understand. Forget the 19t gross. If it was 18ton gross with a digger loaded on it how does this work on 8 ton axles?

16t 0n the axles 2 ton on the tractor if the tractor hitch if it can take it

 

[hoff135]

16t 0n the axles 2 ton on the tractor if the tractor hitch if it can take it

Assume that is legal in the eyes of the law?

 

[roscoe erf]

Assume that is legal in the eyes of the law?

well not sure but there has to be some weight transfer to tractor you need to know what your hitch and back axle is rated at

 

[Exfarmer]

Assume that is legal in the eyes of the law?

Your tractor must not weigh less than 1/3rd of the weight of the trailer

 

[Andrew]

Okay but why is my mates trailer classed as 19ton gross while on 8 ton axles?

2x 8t axles + 3t imposed on the hitch, perfectly legal in some countries, assuming the 3t doesn't overload the hitch rating or tractor axle.

As others have said, in the UK it's 18.29t gross trailer and 31t all up gross

 

[Xiaomi]

The existing trailer limit of 18.29t remains in place.

Sorry for dragging up an old thread, but I was looking for this information. Where does the figure of 18.29T come from? It's a very precise but seemingly abstract fractional part - just wondering if anyone knows what it is based upon?

 

[Exfarmer]

Sorry for dragging up an old thread, but I was looking for this information. Where does the figure of 18.29T come from? It's a very precise but seemingly abstract fractional part - just wondering if anyone knows what it is based upon?

it is 75% of the max weight that a tractor trailer combination was allowed 24 imperial tons , which is 24.386 metric tonnes
Edited 24.286 tonnes

 

[Andrew]

18 imperial ton is 18288kg so rounded to 18290.

If you mean where is it stated in law:

Agricultural tractor and trailer weight and speed limit regulations

Announces new regulations to increase the weight and speed limits of tractors and trailers.

www.gov.uk

 

[roscoe erf]

Sorry for dragging up an old thread, but I was looking for this information. Where does the figure of 18.29T come from? It's a very precise but seemingly abstract fractional part - just wondering if anyone knows what it is based upon?

something to do with imperial weight conversion to metric