Moving Trailer Axles Forward

[dwcok]

I have a lawn trailer that I use in my business that weighs about 10,000lbs. The problem is the manufacturer that built the trailer put the axles too far back so my tongue weight is about 2300lbs. (Yes over limits for my receiver...hence why I am asking questions) I have approximately 1 foot that I could move the front torsion axle towards the front of the trailer before it starts interfering with the side ramp door. I am wondering if anyone has a formula or any way to figure how much weight that would take off the tongue?

Option #2 is to turn it into a gooseneck. The problem is the trailer shops and welders I have talked to about this end up having a glaze over their eyes by the time I get the question asked and they say they don't want any part of it. I could probably do it in my shop, I just really don't have time to mess with it. Has anyone done this and know approx what it costs?

[JSchuricht]

I think your asking for trouble. The reason a trailer shop won't touch it is that it is a huge risk. You get in a accident and the person that did the modification will end up getting sued too. Your best bet is to sell it and get a gooseneck that was built correctly to begin with. Your next best option would be to get a hitch that can carry the weight. Reese has a 4000/25000 or a 2500/18000 hitch.

[terryknight]

you can move axles. i have done it on several boat trailers, but i have no formula for it

[dwcok]

thanks for the replies. I had thought about moving the axle forward as much as possible and upgrading to a class V hitch and I think that would help matters. I don't pull down the highway much, just around my small town.

[Frozen Redneck]

I've always done axles 2/3 back... So if you're trailer is 12 feet, put the axle 8 ft back from the front, But I like having heavy tongue weight, it makes trailers pull better. But you can really move them up as far as you want though.. Within reason, it won't hurt anything, just make sure your loads are balanced or it'll whip your trailer all over the place. A gooseneck would be doable too, but it would be a pretty intensive modification. Your best be would probably have to be putting on a class 5 hitch on it!

[44magnum]

Ya best bet is an upgraded hitch and HOLY CRAP BATMAN I LIKE THAT 4000/25000 HITCH!!!!! Your lawn trailer weighs 10K? Dam.

[dwcok]

Yes it is a heavy built trailer and I have about 2500lbs of mowers and other equipment in it. Total gvw of truck and trailer is about 18,000. The front of the trailer is equipment storage and the back is the debris box. You can see the bucket at the very back that is hydraulic powered to dump clippings into then it will dump them into the box. The entire debris box and the ramp door are all hydraulic powered.
This is the best pic I have at this time.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

[44magnum]

Its hard to tell from the pic but it looks like the rear axle is about 3ft from the rear end of the trailer? What brand is that? If you can get us a better pic it might be more obvious, but from the looks of it I'm not sure moving the axles forward would make much a difference. Sorry I don't know any formula, but I wouldn't think it would do much for ya.

[terryknight]

Originally Posted by dwcok

Yes it is a heavy built trailer and I have about 2500lbs of mowers and other equipment in it. Total gvw of truck and trailer is about 18,000. The front of the trailer is equipment storage and the back is the debris box. You can see the bucket at the very back that is hydraulic powered to dump clippings into then it will dump them into the box. The entire debris box and the ramp door are all hydraulic powered.
This is the best pic I have at this time.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink

that's a very interesting trailer. i have never seen one like it

[dwcok]

The trailer is a debris systems brand. Debris Systems lawn care, yard maintenance, and debris removal trucks and trailers if you click on view more images you can see what it looks like better. On my trailer there is enough room to move the axle unlike the pics of the newer models shown there. The red one runs around $25,000 now, but they are the Lamborghini of lawn trailers!