Can I get some help please.

[JPLandscape]

I am loosing my mind trying to wrap my head around all the specs and ratings. I am looking at a 20' Equipment trailer the trailer has a GVWR of 20 000 lbs. The trailer weight is 5920 lbs so that leaves me with a capacity of 14080 lbs. Skid steer weighs 10220 at operating capacity, I wanted room to spare as I plan to purchase a mini ex in the future and wanted some wiggle room so I don't need another or different trailer.

Heres my problem the best 2018 F250 SRW conventional towing capacity with gas motor and proper options is 15000 lbs. So you subtract the weight of the trailer 5920lbs I would be over weight with the skid steer.

This all makes sense from a numbers perspective but I look all around locally and everyone and there dog is pulling trailers with skid steers (both larger and smaller than mine) and mini Ex's up to 6 ton size with gas 3/4 tons. From mid 90's Ram 2500 with the 5.9l magnum to new f250's ect. They have loaded truck boxes, slip tanks, tool boxes on the trailers full of chains and binders, extra buckets with there machines loaded up.

So is something going over my head trying to figure out what a truck can haul? or are these people overweight and don't care?

 

[hosspuller]

The legal limit is the rated Gross combined vehicle weight rating or GCVWR of your truck. Is that where you're getting the tow capacity?

Then you have to not exceed your truck front & rear axle weight ratings with the loaded trailer hitch.

After that consider the trailer axle and tire loads.
The only way to be sure is to drive across a scale.

Sometimes people are overloaded and beat their equipment.

 

[JPLandscape]

I got the towing number from the ford towing capacity guide on there website as a max towing weight with a conventional trailer (hitch) I am starting to think I a mixing up what Ford says is the safe towing capacity that the truck is designed and capable of pulling safely and what would be the legal weight as in your GCVWR comment. So they may be legal with the GCVWR for the DOT but be over the weight limit that the trucks rated and built for?

 

[56wrench]

a lot of guys get away with stuff til they have to cross a scale then they get weeded out. the old rule of thumb-bigger is better applies here. I personally would go to a f350 dually or bigger. its not if you can pull it-its if you can control it and stop it

 

[rondig]

Well gcwr...for 2018 f250 is 19000 lbs for gooseneck towing...you would have to buy is lighter trailer to haul your skid steer...i trailer with two 8k lbs axles will haul a mini or skid no problem...and be legal on a f250....dump trailer works a dual purpose in this instance....but a dually is way to go.

 

[suladas]

The gas motor is what is making the towing capacity so low. And for strictly TOWING, the manufacture rating doesn't mean a lot. They up the rating for a change in rear end ratios, which just makes it easier on the truck to get going, absolutely no different safety wise. My 13 ram 3500 srw is rated for 17,000lbs bumper pull or gooseneck. I have towed 16k on the bumper and 20k on gooseneck and they pull pretty similar, for the same weight a gooseneck pulls a LOT easier. I am assuming the trailer you're looking at it a deck over gooseneck? They are super heavy trailers and limit capacity, that's why I went to a bumper pull non deck over. My trailer only weights 2200lbs with 2 7k axles, and has a GVW of 15400lbs, so I can haul 13200lbs. A similar trailer would work for you and keep you right at the 15000lb towing capacity. Gas motor might struggle a bit with the weight, but a 3500 srw will handle it just fine.

 

[suladas]

Well gcwr...for 2018 f250 is 19000 lbs for gooseneck towing...you would have to buy is lighter trailer to haul your skid steer...i trailer with two 8k lbs axles will haul a mini or skid no problem...and be legal on a f250....dump trailer works a dual purpose in this instance....but a dually is way to go.

8k axles are insanely pricey to buy and maintain though. Dump trailers are also insanely heavy, depending on type looking at probably extra 2000lbs.

 

[rondig]

Between the 7k dump and 8k dump waa 300.00....it is the extra ply tires that cost more.