What Axle Capacity Would Trailer with 10 inch Brake Assemblies Have

Question:

I recently purchase a 1971 Stidham BP 2-horse straight load trailer, after inspecting it I found out that it didnt have the VIN# placard with all the info regarding carrying capacity, maybe you can help me out to determine the weight carrying capacity of my trailer with the following information that I gather form the trailer it self: The axle size its a tandem trailer 1-1/2inch square axle. Brakes size or hub is 10inch by 2-1/14 width It has four leaves springs on each axle end I also fou the part numbers for the axle bearings, here they are inner bearing #LM48548 Outter brearing #L44649 The bolt pattern in 5 on 4-1/2 Thank you so much for your help, if you need more information from me let me know. PS. Ive attached a pic of a very similar trailer as reference....

asked by: Harmodio M

Expert Reply:

The best capacity indicator you mentioned was the brake assembly size being 10 inch by 2-1/4 inch as this is standard on 3,500 lb axles. That said square axles aren't typically made to any standard size capacity like round axles. With round axles you can easily figure out the capacity based on diameter but square axles don't follow that same standard. All I can really say is that most likely you have an axle capacity of 7,000 lb but axle capacity doesn't always mean trailer capacity as you are limited by the lowest rated component on a trailer as the overall capacity.

expert reply by: Jameson C