New trailer...is it to much?

socalledchad · May 8, 2016

Went looking for a 6x12 the other day...came home with this 7x14..I hope I didn't go overboard. ..I have 30 days to change my mind haha.

As with my other posts I'll pull this around 70% of the time the truck is on the road. 44k miles With the 5.7 6 speed with 3.55 4x4 (I would go 4.10 if it were 2wd) ...this trailer is 2k empty and I'll ad about 1200 lbs in tools. That pretty much will be always on there so 3200 lb. Then I'll put 1 or 2k lb materials to take to job sites but those trips are normally short and normally 5 or 6 times a month.

I did order a brake controller for this one...not the time delay one. ..will the ram get me to 150k miles with this set up Haha

So far I'm seeing 13.5 on the hwy..which isn't great but I'm ok with that..was getting 8 to 10 with the silverado 6.0

socalledchad · May 8, 2016

Also I put the 1k air lift bags on a few moths ago as it saged pretty good with even my 6x12..maybe it had more touge weight being single axel.

They worked way better than I thought the would for 80 bucks I highly recommend. I only have 5 psi in them in that picture ...but once at 35psi the truck only drops about an inch with a heavy trailer touge ...and the only reason is that is the bags are about 3/4 inch short. It stiffens right up and with them in at 35 psi with trailer unhooked ...it's 3/4 ton bouncy and stiff ride...so I let the air out to 5 psi when not towing

spoon059 · May 8, 2016

What is the weight difference between the 6x12 and the 7x14? I can't imagine its much. You aren't required to load the 7x14 with more stuff than you would have put in the 6x12. Other than the weight difference between the two, why would one be "wrong" and the other "right"?

socalledchad · May 8, 2016

Yes just the weight was my worry..and maybe a bit more drag...it's about 800 lbs more than the 6x12..and I probably will put more in it...I'm sure it's fine to tow it. Just the amount of miles is concerning as far as is it going to wear my truck out before I pay it off or trade it up

Danno · May 8, 2016

Look in the the owners manual for frontal area of trailer max sq ft.

Totesmygoats · May 8, 2016

5500# is definitely not too much, so long as you load it properly. Just don't go stuffing everything in the front...

14hemiexpress · May 8, 2016

I have to imagine a work trailer is like a shop you always think it's enough but it fills up quick and you'll be happy you went with a bigger trailer. At least that's my opinion your not to heavy it's a vnose and 14 ft isn't huge it'll have good road maners I would stick with the 7x14

ram5.7hemi · May 9, 2016

im in the same boat as you lol. altho for me its a travel trailer. i will be doing about 30k miles a year towing a 6500 pound travel trailer for working out of town... I'm hoping i get 185- 200k miles out of it...

xrsman · May 9, 2016

Your truck won't have any issues with that trailer. Tandem axle makes a huge difference too!

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reindeerman · May 9, 2016

I've got 150,000 miles on my 3rd generation 4.7 automatic 4X4. Towing 5,000+ lb livestock trailer. You should get a weight distribution hitch.

socalledchad · May 10, 2016

How often do you tow your livestock trailer?

Ionicbrick · May 11, 2016

I tow a 7x14 cargo as well for my construction company 4-5 days per week. It sounds like our duties with the trucks are very similar. I had a 2012 1500 5.7 that I put 40k on towing that trailer that many days per week and it did fine. Just watch your hitch weight (a weigh safe hitch is THE way to go for this), and baby your truck a bit. I increased the oil change intervals to 5000 miles and checked the tire pressures and air filter often. I would not recommend towing that baby without your brake controller for any length of time. One or two trips is fine, but don't go a month. Half tons have smaller brakes and putting the load all on the trucks brakes will warm them up and wear them quickly.

Last year I upgraded to a 2500. Not so much because the 1500 had an issue with the trailer, but when we tore out a bathroom I was having to leave the trailer somewhere to haul the debris. My 1500 only had 1400 lbs of payload, and the trailer tongue eats 450 of that. Add two guys with lunch and left 400-500 lbs for the bed of the truck. Heck, tile eats that up quickly. My 2500 has 2700 lbs payload, so now I don't have to worry about it.

Don't worry, the trailer seems big at first, but you get used to it.

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14hemiexpress · May 11, 2016

Ionicbrick said:
I tow a 7x14 cargo as well for my construction company 4-5 days per week. It sounds like our duties with the trucks are very similar. I had a 2012 1500 5.7 that I put 40k on towing that trailer that many days per week and it did fine. Just watch your hitch weight (a weigh safe hitch is THE way to go for this), and baby your truck a bit. I increased the oil change intervals to 5000 miles and checked the tire pressures and air filter often. I would not recommend towing that baby without your brake controller for any length of time. One or two trips is fine, but don't go a month. Half tons have smaller brakes and putting the load all on the trucks brakes will warm them up and wear them quickly.

Last year I upgraded to a 2500. Not so much because the 1500 had an issue with the trailer, but when we tore out a bathroom I was having to leave the trailer somewhere to haul the debris. My 1500 only had 1400 lbs of payload, and the trailer tongue eats 450 of that. Add two guys with lunch and left 400-500 lbs for the bed of the truck. Heck, tile eats that up quickly. My 2500 has 2700 lbs payload, so now I don't have to worry about it.

Don't worry, the trailer seems big at first, but you get used to it.

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Very solid information :happy107:

SHOOT2KILL · May 11, 2016

I have been towing 7x16 enclosed trailers since 1988...Combined mileage overall is close to 1,000,000...All were towed by 3500 Silverado's until I bought this Ram in Oct 15...Never had an engine related issue due to towing on any of those Silverado's...The TRANNYS are what die a slow death...If your in a snowbelt state, salt will kill it even faster...and then theres the snowplow...lol

tjfdesmo · May 11, 2016

I have had a 7x14 since 2003, and it has a flat front so it pulls like a parachute. I towed it quite a bit with a 2003 F150(company lease truck) back then, and it did OK at about 10 mpg. You'll be fine.

socalledchad · May 12, 2016

Very helpful thanks...I did go aabout a week with a brake controller but took it nice and easy...don't think it would have went well with a pallet of tiles on the trailer...with the brakes all hooked up and being at about 7k with the tiles I was stopping on a dime....but I never considered payload ..I should probably pay attention to that even though I have a tonneau on the back and rarely put anything in the bed...

Waterdawg · May 14, 2016

A weight distribution hitch is all you need and the brake controller.
Air Bags level out a ride, but still overload the rear wheels.

I pulled a 7x14 with a old Yukon using a weight distribution hitch for years.
You'll be fine.

reindeerman · May 15, 2016

socalledchad said:
How often do you tow your livestock trailer?

During the off season only twice a month or so. October thru January about five days a week. The trailer is rarely un-hitched.

U&A · May 19, 2016

may dad and I just towed a 2,000lbs trailer with a 2,300lbs tractor on it and the mower deck that was probobly 450lbs. no WDH. not quite as much as yours but close.

we used his 2006 f150 and it did great. you will have no problem whatsoever with your trailer or truck. just be nice to it

New trailer...is it to much?

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