How Much Would This Thing Weigh

[RS16017]

Hi,

I'm eyeing an old '40s Power Wagon that was a water truck for a local fire department. I guess it's a 1 ton because it has dual wheels in the back. It has a water tank in the bed and what I wondered is how much would this thing weigh. If I get it I have to haul it and all I have is a 16' trailer with twin 3500lbs axles. It measures 7'2" to the outside duels so I think if I take the outside wheels off I can get it on my trailer since my trailer is 6'10" wide between the fenders. Any ideas of approximate weight would be much appreciated.

[inFALable]

I'm pretty sure an express bodied PW weighs about 5700 lbs. That should give you a starting point for a guestimate.

[712edf]

Whatever you do, make sure the water tank is completely empty. Not just the issue of the added weight, but the "sloshing" effect of a partially filled tank can be a hassle to handle.

Bucky

[gmharris]

A trailer with two 3500 lb axles (7,000 lb GVW) won't be enough. Don't forget you have to subtract the weight of the trailer from the carrying capacity of the trailer. A 10,000 lb trailer is just adequate for hauling a standard Power Wagon, let alone one with a tank (and maybe a pump). The dual rear wheels tell you that this rig is going to be heavier than usual, even without water in the tank. Yeah, I know people have hauled Power Wagons on smaller trailers, but they're taking a chance. A 7000 lb GVW trailer strains under a 4,500 lb vehicle. Anyway, a Power Wagon on a 16 foot trailer is going to look like a gorilla on a tricycle. Sure, looks don't count, but it may earn you a trip to the weigh station from the highway patrol.

I had my Power Wagon hauled for a dollar a mile. Seems like it was well worth the money. They did all the work and had a heavy duty rig.

[Charles Talbert]

Good advice

A trailer with two 3500 lb axles (7,000 lb GVW) won't be enough. Don't forget you have to subtract the weight of the trailer from the carrying capacity of the trailer. A 10,000 lb trailer is just adequate for hauling a standard Power Wagon, let alone one with a tank (and maybe a pump). The dual rear wheels tell you that this rig is going to be heavier than usual, even without water in the tank. Yeah, I know people have hauled Power Wagons on smaller trailers, but they're taking a chance. A 7000 lb GVW trailer strains under a 4,500 lb vehicle. Anyway, a Power Wagon on a 16 foot trailer is going to look like a gorilla on a tricycle. Sure, looks don't count, but it may earn you a trip to the weigh station from the highway patrol.

I had my Power Wagon hauled for a dollar a mile. Seems like it was well worth the money. They did all the work and had a heavy duty rig.

This gentleman is offering some really good advice. Don't forget to take into consideration your towing vehicle also, is it of proper weight to handle this load, and what about brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer. An over-sized and over loaded trailer is NOT a smart move and will get you an extremely high $$$$ ticket from DMV and a lot worse should you become involved in an accident or worse still if you became involved in a law suit as a result. All this makes a commercial move sound real reasonable. I expect I've opened the door now to be scolded by all those who claim to have moved more with less, and that's ok. I can take the heat, been there and done that; have a hat and a Tshirt. Also learned better with age I guess. Since I was in the grading business and transported heavy equipment for many years, doing many "not to smart" moves when in a pinch got to be somewhat of a norm. I could elaborate more, but won't go into all that now.

Best policy, if you don't have the proper equipment beyond any shadow of doubt; either obtain the proper equipment or hire a transporter who is equipped for the job. It simply isn't worth the risk.