Perfect Hunting Trailer Load Limit

Hunting trailer load limit

Trailer load limit

For trailer load limit as with our 2 other articles GVM and GCM, let’s once again look at 2013 Hilux Turbo diesel manual dual cab. The Hilux has a maximum GCM of 5,210kg and a maximum GVM of 2,710kg (sourced from redbook.com.au). This means I can legally tow a 2,500kg GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) trailer behind my hunting rig (assuming the ute is packed to the max including ball weight).

So do I just make a hunting trailer that has the largest trailer load limit I can tow?

Well just like vehicles, there are ADRs (Australian Design Rules) that apply to the legal requirements of trailers.

In Australia different trailer load limits have different requirements:

Up to 750kg GTM does not require brakes
750kg to 2,000kg GTM must have brakes on at least one axle and they can be over-ride type
Over 2,000kg GTM all wheels must have electric or power assisted hydraulic brakes (driver controlled hand or foot), a tearaway brake system is also required.

Basically once you go over 2,000kg GTM you must have electronic brakes and a tear-away system. This means your vehicle must be fitted with an electric brake controller and you need a battery on board your trailer.

photo of a Redarc in car electronic trailer brake controller dial fitted to a switch panel — Redarc in car electronic trailer brake controller unit

Electronic brake controller for trailers

Once you put an electric brakes on the trailer, only vehicles with electronic brake controllers can tow the trailer. Well none of my hunting mates have electronic brake controllers. So Instantly no one can legally assist me in towing and I can’t lend the trailer or borrow their vehicle for a hunting trip.

Trailer battery

Might as well add $90 to your registration costs of the trailer. A friend of mine works in a caravan yard. He says that they battery is a guaranteed returning customer. Every year they will be bcak for a new battery because they don’t last with little to no use.

Trailer load limit recommendation

If you have 2x 320kg quads and a 500kg side by side that’s a total weight on 1,140kg. If your trailer weighed 650kg (that would be an extremely heavy trailer) that would leave you about another 210kg for other stuff. For me it would be difficult to justify an extra 500kg carrying capacity at the cost of a battery and electronic brake controller.

To avoid the need for electronic brakes, an electronic brake controller and a trailer battery I would recommend limiting your hunting trailer load limit to 2,000kg. You can use the hunting trailer across more vehicles with less maintenance and less headaches.

Next hunting trailer topics

Trailer Axles
Deck Material, Length and Width
Deciding on trailer Springs
Choosing trailer brakes
Which coupling/hitch for a hunting trailer coupling
Perfect Hunting Trailer Type
Wheels for a hunting Trailer
Trailer finish and accessories

October 20, 2017January 18, 2019

Perfect Hunting Trailer Axles

photo of a single axle table top trailer with 2 quads coupled to a dual cab ute with dog box

Trailer axles

Single trailer axle VS Tandem trailer axle

Single axle trailers have one axle with two wheels. Tandem axle trailers (also known a dual axle trailers) have two trailer axles with four wheels.

Some people will argue that single trailer axle is fine they are lighter and reduce maintenance because of less parts. They do cost less, they are easier to maneuver by hand and easier to maneuver in tight situations.

10x6 tandem box trailer covered in mud carrying a Polaris SxS — Tandem axle 10×6 box trailer used for hunting – carrying a RZR Polaris side by side

There are a few reasons I like tandem axles.

They are a lot more stable when they aren’t attached to the vehicle. Less likely to tip up etc if you stand on the back or unintentionally put some weight on the back.
If you break; an axle, a hub, a wheel or a spring sometimes you can run the trailer on one axle (be mindful you have halved your GTM) by removing the wheels of one axle (preferably the non-braked wheels).
Better suspension set-up for off-road
Tow better at high speeds
Spread of load across the chassis
A flat tyre has dramatic less affect
Lower rated tyres (weight carrying ability)
A lot less wear on the tyres
Easier to learn to reverse

If your going to have a reasonable length trailer, a tandem axle is just common sense. As your spreading the load across the chassis which is important under heavy duty use like we do going out west.

With tandem axles it’s also harder to increase your draw-bar weight (you still need to need aware of it though).

Construction

It would be good at this point to point out to buy solid axles and not weld on hubs. Less points for breakages is a good thing, especially on corrugations along way from home.

photo of roller rocker springs with mechanical disc brakes — 2000kg trailer load limit roller rocker springs with mechanical disc brakes

Axle placement

Be mindful of your axle placement, there are lots of camper trailers out there with single axles placed to far back and this puts massive draw bar weight on your vehicle.

Draw bar weight is included in your GVM and excessive weight ruins the ride handling. At www.trailersauce.co.nz they recommend 75mm rear of centre.

Trailer axles recommendation

Tandem trailer axles are the way to go. I’ve spoken to quite a few hunters about their trailers. Only those with single axles have regretted not going tandem and would definitely go dual axle it if they did it again.

Next hunting trailer topics

Deck Material, Length and Width
Deciding on trailer Springs
Choosing trailer brakes
Which coupling/hitch for a hunting trailer coupling
Perfect Hunting Trailer Type
Wheels for a hunting trailer
Trailer finish and accessories

Previous hunting trailer topic

Trailer Load Limit

October 20, 2017October 18, 2019

Perfect Hunting Trailer Wheels

10x6 box trailer with dual axels and 4x4 offroad tyres and wheels

Trailer wheels and tyres

There are 2 easy options for trailer wheels; standard Ford Falcon style rims (same stud pattern as 2WD Hilux) with light truck tyres and 4×4 rims and tyres that match the tow vehicle.

Of course there is everything in between but these are the realistic choices as we discuss in detail below.

photo of tandem trailer with falcon rims and tyres — Ford Falcon type rims with load rate tyres to suit trailer wheels for 2000kg load limit

Ford Falcon style trailer rims

The reason I say Ford Falcon style rims for use as trailer wheels is because this is the most common stud pattern for trailers and a very common rim on passenger cars.

Ford Falcon rims are smaller width and take a smaller overall size tyre, this will lower the deck height of the trailer significantly.

Keeping the deck height lower to the ground makes the trailer easier to load and lowers the centre of gravity making it safer to tow.

Light truck tyres are cheaper and easy to obtain than bigger 4×4 off-road style tyres. Having cheaper trailer wheels means you can probably afford to have multiple spares.

Clearance of the axles on a trailer is not as much of an issue as you would think. 2,000kg tandem trailer axles are 45mm square, which is approximately 2/3 of a 4X4 diff. Trailer axles also do not have a differential pumpkin hanging down from the centre of the axle, creating a lot more clearance.

photo of tandem trailer with 4x4 off road trailer wheels fitted with all terrains — 4X4 off-road rims with 31 inch all terrain off-road tyres for trailer wheels

4×4 style trailer rims

Trailer wheels that match your tow vehicle are great in that you can carry extra spares across the vehicle and trailer.

Having 4×4 off-road trailer wheels however will raise the deck height of the trailer and center of gravity. The tyres will cost you more and if your they are not standard sizes you may have difficulties buying spares when your way out west.

4×4 wheels that do not match your tow vehicle are a waste and you might as well have Falcon rims. Which bring me to the point; if your going to use the trailer on another vehicle and it has different size tyres, then you have voided the benefits of matching tyres.

Trailer tyres

Just like your ute there are lots of tyre options out there. For a really good read on bias ply vs tubeless radials for off-roading read this article by Beadell Tours.

I’ve done a lot of research on the best tyre options for hunting. A very common search result is “Best tyres for roo shooting”. What you’ll find is that for “roo shooting’ the best tyre is a bias ply light truck tyre with aggressive tread such as a MRF M77.

The reason roo shooters choose a bias ply tyre like an MRF M77 is because they have a very thick side wall and very resistant to being stacked. When your constantly driving through sticks and rocks like roo shooters this is a constant problem.

However, these types of tyres are very expensive ranging from $250 – $360. I found the cheapest place to buy these types of tyres was out west like Goondiwindi (I’m from Brisbane).

I spoke at length with 2 tyre shops, they both recommended bias ply for roo shooting. However they said that they are horrible on the highway due to being a heavy tyre and the tread patterns. Both agreed that they basically just melt on the highway, expecting only 20,000km out of a set vs 50,000km from tubeless radials. For ride, comfort, longevity and cost tubeless radials are easily on top.

The trailer is not for roo shooting, it’s going to be used 90% of the time on the highway. So really you only want highway tyres. The trailer is only being pulled so mud tyres are no advantage (they cannot spin to clear the grooves either).

Trailer wheels recommendation

I’ve change my mind several times on wheel choice for a hunting trailer. But sticking with my purpose of use the decision is easily made.

Ford Falcon rims would be my preferred option for a trailer wheel. But for me it will come down to cost and the fact that I will be using the trailer across different vehicles with different tyre sizes.

The tyres I would choose would be a reasonable tubeless radial light truck tyres. They are cheap, great on the highway and mostly only used on roads. Once I get to my destination the trailer is unhitched and not used until the return trip. Just make sure they are rated to the load limit of the trailer (ie 2000kg = 4x 500kg tyres).

Next hunting trailer topic

Trailer finish and accessories

Previous hunting trailer topics

Trailer load limit
Trailer axles
Deck material, length and width
Deciding on trailer springs
Choosing trailer brakes
Which coupling/hitch for a hunting trailer coupling
Perfect hunting trailer type

June 15, 2017October 18, 2019

Welcome to Hunting, Shooting and Off-road Australia

Welcome fellow hunters and shooters! This blog is to share hunting and shooting stories, vehicle setups, trailer tips, how tos and much more.

We well take a look into the lives of hunters and shooters and there personal experiences.

Look at ways of setting up your 4WD to trek 1000km with a trailer full of quads and practical shooting setups.

What things to consider taking with you on a hardcore week long camping trip way out west or a long weekend quick hunt.

No matter what your requirements, hopefully we will have something to add value to your next trip!