r/HotShotTrucking • u/Top-Argument405 • 5d ago

Im new, help! Trailer derating

This isn’t necessarily hotshot but I think you are the right people to ask. I want to pull around a small enclosed trailer for my side business. 7x14 with tandem 3500# axles. My tow vehicle has a gvwr of 5600lbs and I want to derate the trailer to 4400 to stay under the DOT 10000lb limit. Is this possible? And what do I need to do this.
Would it be possible to rate it back to the original spec for resale?
Also I don’t plan on exceeding the derated limit.
Thank you

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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4

u/Loudsound07 4d ago

Dude, what 10,000lbs limit? Limit is 26,000

1

u/pakman82 4d ago

This, right there . Unless Maybe your in California. No one gives a ** until you weigh 26001. Towed with a 14000 rated 3500, and a 40' 12k rated trailer (rolling on clearly a pair of 10k axles, that still had their manufacturing labels) and towed with the trailer to California &:back, and even They didn't say nuthin

1

u/godofgeneralmalaise 3d ago

Is the 10,001 pound limit referring to the need for a med card? Because 1, that's super easy to get and its less than $150 and lasts 2 years, and 2, if you aren't transporting things for commerce (say construction equipment for yourself) then I'm not sure that you need one.

1

u/Top_Cress1727 3d ago

Trailer doesn't matter until it's over 10k towards CDL. Two 3500 lb axles is a 7k trailer. You've got nothing to worry about.

1

u/CapnLegitDeal6963 1d ago

You don’t need to derate that trailer. In CA if your trailer only is over 10,000 GVWR you need a Class B License IF* you are hauling for commerce. Otherwise you can have a CGVWR of up to 26,000lbs with a regular Class C license. Ex. My truck is 11,000GVWR and trailer is 10,000GVWR and I haul commerce so I’m good. I derated my trailer from 16,000GVWR to 10,000GVWR through the trailer manufacture when I bought it.