How to load 4 car/Kaufman?

Just had a 2014 Ram 3500 Longhorn willed to me. It only has 52k on it, and only pulled a 7500lb RV. Even with air bags on it, I know it's really too small over the long haul for a 4 car drop deck or stacker. I'd really like to get a 4500, but I figure I can put another 50k on it, and still have good resale value. So I'm looking at the Appalachian as a 2-3 car for now, but ultimately I want to have at least a 4 or 5 car. In particular the Appalachian Micro 4, the Infinity, and the Kaufman ez loader. After reading here, and looking at the Infinity which is 5 miles south of me, the Infinity is a no brainer, but that's going to take saving some money first and having a good solid clientele. The Appalachian doesn't sound very solid, and the Kaufman has a load height restriction on the #3 spot.

My question is.....per my math......how did you guys not be overloaded on the GVWR for the truck? In particular putting a 4-5k vehicle in the #1 and 2 spot? I know having the heaviest vehicle in the #4 spot helps offset, but the payload on this truck is only 5-6k for the 14k GVWR. On the 4500 the payload is 6-7k for a total of 16500k GVWR, which makes the math there questionable as well(same question/issue). Now the GAWR is fine which is like 9k and 11k on the 4500. No problem there or the GAWR and GVWR for the trailer. Not completely worried about the GCWR either. What does DOT actually measure? I see lots of trucks on the road, and lots of pics here and there from you guys using the Kaufman in particular. So is my math off? On the farm we just made sure the load was balanced with about 15-20% tongue weight, making sure the truck didn't squat too bad(no air bags in those days). We weren't totalling anything over 20-25k though. How do you load without being overloaded? Thanks, Chris

 

Brian, thanks for that info, it's exactly what I was looking for. Terry, thanks as well, however, thanks to these forums, I knew this truck is a bit too small for a 4 car, which is why I'm looking at some 2-3 car haulers, and some of the shorter drop decks, to haul freight as well maybe. The business plan right now is easy since its free! The business plan in the future however will depend on the performance of this truck, and how I feel about how the 4500 will do better. It gets an upgrade in 2019, and the 5500's are geared too low, for fuel, as well as too rough of a ride by itself. I'd look into the single axle semi's mentioned on here. I've got some cash to ride around for a few months, plus it's all tax deductible, and the truck will hold it's value for a few more years and 50k+ as most of these used trucks have some miles. So thanks again guys! Chris

 

Brian, so a little further for clarity......The GVWR for the truck,is the real problem here right? The tire rating, and GAWR is fine. Like I said, in the old days, we went by how far the truck squatted, and the approximate weight of the load. This truck has air bags, and the 4500 as far as people say, won't squat hardly at all, but you'll be over the GVWR. Chris

 

Terry, I don't understand how the rear axle rating is too low, it's about 9K. However the payload is about 6k, depending on how much the truck weighs with fuel, people, etc. Either way it can only total up to 14k, and the published weight of that truck is 7800-8600 depending on what you trust, but the scales don't lie, and it can only add up to 14k. The rear axle rating along with tires, tell how much they are supposed to be able to handle, and not be destroyed. At 9k that's a lot and doesn't make sense, because with the GVWR at 14k, you'll never come close to that 9k, but they make these parts this strong, because weight can be re-distributed when you stop hard, or take off hard, so it does make sense. I just thought they'd put that GVWR up another 1k or so. It's a legal thing, to protect the manufacturer and dealers. I used to be a sales manager selling cars and I had to know a lot of this, but never knew what DOT would measure, and how GVWR, GAWR, tire ratings and such would figure in. I knew that the truck had to be able to handle things, the tires had to be able to handle things, because we put about 20k behind a 96 Ram 3500 pulling that around the farm with rough roads, and down the road 10 miles or less between farms. This is why I actually believe there should be a different license for anything under 30k total including RV's and farmers, because there are a lot of bad drivers out there, and they are getting by scott free. But then again there are semi's, as well as all cars getting by scott free. Why do we even have a license or law enforcement, when so many laws aren't enforced? Sorry got on a rant. Commercial licenses should start at just being for hire, but there should be a license for anything over 50ft total, then 70ft or more, and 30k or less, and 30k or more. I just think the regulations for the lower weights/lengths should be a lot less regulation, but then again we're talking about government here huh. Sorry for the rant. Chris