Upgrading trailer axle? (for the truck)

Well my current setup has been working ok but I think I am pushing the limits of my truck and trailer and would like to haul more. I really like my trailer, I bought it from the fellow who built it and its pretty heavy duty even though its only 6x10. He said it had a 3500# axle. Thing is the trailer weighs in at 1400# so it really only has about a ton of capacity left. I Generally load up my truck bed with a full cord and then put my tractor and all my gear in the trailer and then pack rounds across the front and back, along the sides, etc. If my trailer were more heavy duty with taller sides I'd like to put most of the wood in the trailer, and put my little tractor and all the equipment in the truck. I know my truck is overweight... judging by how low the springs are riding I'm probably at ~5k in the back on most trips. And its a 2hr drive back home with the family in the truck. I'd like to drop that weight in half for the truck, and increase what the trailer hauls.

I have never swapped axles but do a lot of automotive wrenching. Is this what I need? http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200330501_200330501 add on $100 shipping and this upgrade is getting pricey fast. Not to mention I'll need 2 new wheels and tires rated for that so were probably talking several hundred more. I'll have to buy a new round plug and re-wire it for brakes too. I do want the extra brakes, I bet fully loaded right now I am hauling 7-9k... Last trip I had to get on the brakes a few times and was smelling that burnt plastic smell. I think the dimensions are all right, I'll have to double check though. I'd also get some matching 3x3 angle and build the sides up atleast twice as high. At 2' high and 6x10 thats 120cuft so about a cord. With 6,000# axle minus curb weight thats probably around 4500 or a little less capacity, guess I shouldnt go much over a cord. I could still put a couple rows of wood in the truck too but I guess I'm really not able to haul much more, as I figure I am hauling about a cord and a quarter as it is now. Bummer. I think I might need to just get a lot bigger trailer, IDK.

As always I keep an eye out on craigslist for trailers, but dont usually see anything much better than mine until I get over $1k. And they are all pretty much car haulers/landscape trailers that dont have any or just really low sides, and sit a lot closer to the ground that I'd like to be pulling through the field.

Opinions?

I'll atach a few pics of my current trailer to give you guys and idea what I'm dealing with...

I think you guys are right. And yeah I got the integrated brake controller. One thing I am concerned with a lot of the landscape/car haulers in the 16ft range is they ride pretty low, and of course the maneuverability. Just getting in the field with my truck and trailer requires 4x4, the entrance goes up maybe 2 foot and you cant swing wide its a very narrow dirt road with ditches right there. A 16 footer with a dove tail might have a heck of a time making the turn, and bottom out too. I just barely hit the dirt now, especially when the trailer is full.

I do try and watch craigslist from time to time. Usually the $1000 or less big trailers are junk but every once and I while I do see some decent ones, just never jump on em. Maybe I should just watch for a while and keep using what I got until I find a good deal.

For example I looked today and found this http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/2329276219.html but looks like it needs fenders at least, who knows about the brakes, and cant quite tell if it has stake pockets. Are stake pockets sold that you can just weld on like at tsc or somewhere? That trailer is a little shorter at 14' which would be good for me but looks like it rides as low as my 10' does now.

Maybe next time I am up there, and have a camera, I'll try to grab a few pics of the entrance to the field and you guys can see if you think I could even fit a 16 footer in there...

lukem said:

Based on what you describe, a small dump trailer or military surplus trailer may be a good idea too. They generally have good clearance, high load ratings, and are pretty maneuverable. I have no idea what they go in terms of $$ though.

Click to expand...

Yeah they often come up locally, sometimes you can get em with the canvas cover and all. I dont think they are rated very high and are much less volume compared to the trailers I am looking at though. One of my friends thought they were available in half ton or one ton? IDK if thats right but its not as much as I have now even. When I fix up my old 78 bronco though I think one of those would look sharp with it.

MarkinNC said:

Since I have a tandem axle landscape trailer (I put 2 foot sides on), I suspect you would be more that happy with one. Mine is 14 feet long and I can carry almost a cord in a trip. I bet a 16 foot would carry a cord. I would actually recommend keeping your existing trailer since it is small and handy though. The tongue weight of a tandem axle trailer is more than your little tractor could handle. I ended up buying a new one because finding a used one is tough. I would jump on one if you find it in good shape used.

Click to expand...

Well thats one of the problems I really dont want to give up my 6x10 so I'd be eating the cost of another one. Its a nice convenient size, and nice for when I need to haul around stuff with the garden tractor bigger than what a dump cart will hold. Although that 6x10 fully loaded with wood is just over the limit of the tractor, the front ends starts bouncing off the ground. But I'm already fabricated a front weight bracket for it. I guess the more I think about it though I already haul that much now, just in the truck bed, I hate to spend a grand or more just to change things up without really increasing my capacity if that makes sense.

See them small trailer can hold alot with tall enough sides! But man that would make me nervous. I assume your tires are matched for the 3500# axle... do they get real warm? I've noticed my 6x10's tires get pretty hot.

I really think my 6x10 would be a great setup to beef up, I just dont know if its worth putting all the money into. I wonder if a trailer place would give me any credit on my old axle or something?