GVWR vs GAWR?

I am looking to replace my old snowmobile trailer with a utility trailer with a drop down gate. It would be an added benefit if I could haul my Kubota B every once in a while. The trailers seem to have 3500 lb axles and weight about 1000 lbs. So my simple math says one could haul my tractor that weights 2500 lbs every once in a while.

But they are rated for 2990 lbs, I assume because they don't have brakes and 3K is the limit without brakes. I would be pulling with a full size pickup with double cab and 8' box, so I am not really worried about stopping with that much weight. But can the trailer handle it without doing damage?

Thanks,
Tim
 
GVWR is Gross vehicle weight rating. GAWR is gross axle weight rating. I am going to guess the rating on the trailers you are looking at have a lighter deck capacity than the axles limiting the weight carrying capability of the trailer. Another words the axles may carry the load but the deck will not.
 
It depends on the terrain and your pickup: new, or old, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton or 1 ton. Some older 1/2 ton pickup did not have great brakes when they were brand new. You already know the trailer is under sized to haul your tractor. How much extra would it cost to step up to the next heavier trailer rating with brakes? Probably less than another $1,000.
 
The primary need is to haul the snowmobile - I don't want anything longer than 12' to do that. Eventually I hope to get a 18' tandem axle that would haul all my tractors. Being able to move the little one with this first trailer would be nice, but not necessary.

Tim
 
I have a trailer similar to, if not exactly the same as, the one you are probably considering. Single 3500lb axle, 2990lb GVWR.

One time I loaned it to a neighbor to haul a new John Deere 1023e compact tractor with loader and backhoe home from the dealer. It was only a few miles and we both figured it would handle it. I went with him.

We figured that tractor had to weigh between 2500 and 3000lbs. It was sketchyyyyyyyy. You could see the side rails of the trailer had a distinct inward bow to them. We took it real slow and careful on the drive home, and got there in one piece, but agreed that was probably not a good idea.

After that we only ever hauled his backhoe on my 7 ton tandem axle deckover trailer. Since then he has purchased his own trailer, a 6 ton tandem axle lowboy. Overkill for the backhoe, sure, but he can haul pretty much anything he'll ever need to haul except his motorhome.
 
Another issue with the new trailer may be that the tires are not rated for any more than the trailer weight rating. What you are considering is exceeding the trailer rated capacity by approx 25 percent. I would definitely not want to be on public roads if you are exceeding the tire capacity by that much .
 
My main concern is not whether you can pull it, but whether you can stop it if you had to. I would buy too much trailer. I bought a single axle PJ with a 4,999 lb. GVW to haul my 8N. The trailer is about 1,000 lbs. and the tractor over 2500. I'm well below my maximum. I've had one incident in 3 years where I had to hit my brakes hard and I was glad I had too much trailer.
 
If you're wanting to haul a 2500 lb tractor, you need a trailer with more than a 3500 lb capacity axle under it. A 6x12 trailer would easily handle that Kubota with tandem 3500 lb axles. You will be happier with two 3500s than one 5000. The tandem 3500s will ride smoother empty and having 4 brakes is better than 2.
 
Can you get a trailer just heavy enough for the kubota and haul the sleds on it?

The frame, hitch, springs, or axles, the weakest link is the limiting factor. Probably the frame. A 4,000 pound utility with tandem 3500 pound axles sounds like about the dual-purpose ticket for you.
 
I 2nd the tandem axle idea. You can get one 12 or 14 ft long with two 3500 lb axles and it will handle what your planning on and pull much better than a single axle.
 
I think I am settling on a 6x12 utility trailer with metal sides for the sled and a bunch of other misc uses, lumber, mulch, etc. And then some day an 18' equipment trailer for the Kubota and mower, or either of my farm tractors. Will need a 10K for that, as each of the big tractors is over 5K. Truck can handle 10K.
Thanks everyone,
Tim
 

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