Axles to weight ratio

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Aug 6, 2025
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I know very little about this but, how many axles would I need haul 10,000 lbs on a trailer with a standard tounge hitch?
Or can I even do that?

Thanks,
Kevin
 
That's depends as axle ratings vary but a trailer with 10k in cargo capacity will either have 2 or 3 axles depending on configuration and potentially dual tires.

The bigger concern with that kind of weight is the tongue weight. Just the trailer alone with 10k of payload might weigh 5k, bringing your total to 15k. Then, the general rule of thumb is 10-15% of total weight as tongue weight to prevent sway. This brings you to somewhere between 1500lbs and 2250lbs on the tongue which is squarely in 3/4 or 1 ton truck with class V hitch territory. Even then one would need to carefully ensure you're not exceeding the axle weight ratings of the tow vehicle with.
 
Oh ok. So I would need that hitch and a 3/4 ton truck to haul 10,000lbs on a trailer behind it then?
At a minimum, yes and the truck may already have a class V hitch. You would need to research that and would still need to check the trucks specifications to ensure you're not exceeding it's payload or axle weight ratings.
 
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