The right trailer makes the job easier.
Whether you’re moving equipment, growing a business, or hauling on the weekend, I’ll help you figure out what actually fits your needs. No pressure, no guesswork, just a real conversation.
Jim Bumgardner · Silverline Trailers · Harrison, Arkansas
What are you hauling?
A trailer is a tool, not a trophy. Let’s match the equipment to your job before we worry about the extras.
Landscaping crews, tractors, skid steers, construction equipment, jobsite tools.
Cars, ATVs, motorcycles, weekend toys, and the gear that goes along with them.
Furniture, merchandise, business deliveries, or valuable items needing protection.
Find your starting point.
Answer a few questions and get a preliminary trailer category to discuss with me. Nothing here is sent or saved unless you choose to email your results.
* Name and phone number are required to email your answers to Jim. They are not automatically saved by this website.
Let’s find the right fit.
Make your selections above, then choose “Show my trailer match.”
Preliminary educational guide only. Actual payload, GVWR, loaded tongue weight, hitch ratings, braking requirements and tow vehicle capacity must all be verified before purchase or use.
Can my truck pull this trailer?
Don’t know your truck’s capacity? That’s common. The answer depends on the exact truck configuration, the loaded trailer, the hitch and the actual load. Use this as a starting point, then let Jim help verify the details.
Open the driver’s door and photograph the manufacturer’s certification sticker. Look for GVWR (maximum loaded truck weight) and GAWR (front and rear axle ratings). The separate tire-and-loading label generally lists occupant-and-cargo capacity.
GCWR (maximum combined truck-and-trailer weight) and maximum trailer rating usually come from the manufacturer’s year-specific towing guide or vehicle-specific documentation, not the door sticker. Match engine, drive type, cab, axle ratio and towing equipment.
Determine the loaded trailer weight, actual loaded truck weight, hitch/receiver rating, tongue weight, axle loads and trailer GVWR. A certified scale may be needed. One rating alone never approves a towing combination.
GVWR: the maximum permissible loaded weight of the truck (or of the trailer when referring to its own GVWR). It is a manufacturer’s rating, not the trailer’s cargo capacity.
GCWR: the manufacturer’s maximum rated weight of the fully loaded truck and trailer together.
Payload: how much weight may be added to the truck within its ratings, including occupants, tools and trailer tongue weight. Check the vehicle-specific label and actual axle loads.
Example: a trailer rated at 7,000 lb GVWR does not necessarily carry 7,000 lb of cargo; its empty weight reduces its available payload.
Preliminary towing-weight calculator
Enter manufacturer-confirmed ratings and actual or estimated loaded weights. No data is stored or submitted by this calculator.
Enter all four values or choose “Try an example” to see how the calculation works.
Safety note: This tool compares only GCWR-based combined weight and the manufacturer’s maximum trailer rating. It does not independently verify truck GVWR, truck payload, front/rear GAWR, receiver/hitch rating, actual tongue weight, weight distribution, trailer GVWR, tire ratings, braking requirements or secure loading. Always follow the vehicle and trailer manufacturers’ ratings and instructions. A result below these limits is not confirmation the combination is safe or legal.
What should I have ready when I contact Jim?
If possible, have your truck’s year, make, model, engine, cab style, two- or four-wheel drive, axle ratio (if known), and hitch setup ready. A photo of the driver’s-door certification label and tire/loading label can help. Also note the trailer and cargo weight, passengers, tools, and any other load in your truck. Don’t know every detail? That’s fine. Jim can help you locate the manufacturer’s ratings before you choose a trailer.
Why can’t I calculate the truck’s GCWR from its GVWR?
GVWR limits the weight of the loaded truck itself. GCWR is a separate manufacturer-assigned rating for the truck and trailer combined. You cannot reliably derive GCWR by adding GVWR to a guessed towing capacity. Use the exact vehicle’s published towing information.
Does the tongue weight count twice?
No. If you start with the truck weighed before hitching, then add the entire loaded trailer weight, you’re calculating the combined total once. When checking the truck’s own GVWR and axle loads, however, the hitch’s imposed weight must be accounted for on the truck. Weight-distributing setups need manufacturer-specific verification.
Useful answers. No guesswork required.
The more you know, the easier it is to choose the right equipment.
Utility trailer vs. equipment trailer: what’s the difference?
Utility trailers are versatile for lighter general cargo, lawn equipment and common chores. Equipment trailers are built for heavier machinery and demanding loads. Compare the particular trailer’s actual ratings, deck, ramps, brakes and tie-down provisions—not just the label.
Single axle or tandem axle?
Axle count affects load capacity, towing behavior, maneuverability, maintenance and cost, but two axles do not automatically mean a trailer is suitable for your load. Verify the whole trailer’s manufacturer ratings and your tow vehicle’s limits.
What do GVWR and payload mean?
GVWR is the trailer manufacturer’s maximum rated loaded trailer weight. Available payload is generally GVWR minus the trailer’s empty weight, subject to component and load distribution limits. A heavy cargo load may require a higher-rated trailer even if it physically fits.
Should I buy open or enclosed?
Open trailers can be convenient for loading, inspecting and hauling many types of equipment. Enclosed trailers help protect cargo from weather and provide secure storage, but add weight, height, wind resistance and cost.
Can my truck tow this trailer?
Your vehicle’s tow rating alone does not tell the whole story. Confirm the exact vehicle configuration, gross combined weight rating where applicable, hitch/receiver rating, payload, tongue weight, trailer brakes and loading. When uncertain, consult the vehicle and trailer manufacturers.
What should I bring when I call Jim?
Describe your load, estimated loaded weight, cargo dimensions, how often you’ll tow, tow vehicle year/make/model/configuration, your ZIP code, and whether you need open or enclosed protection. If you don’t know something, that’s what the conversation is for.
Your trailer buying checklist
□ Weight including attachments and gear
□ Largest length, width and height
□ How you’ll load and secure it
□ Vehicle-specific tow rating
□ Hitch and receiver capacities
□ Payload and tongue-weight limits
□ Ramps, gates and tie-downs
□ Brake requirements and tires
□ Storage, security and future uses
I’m Jim. Let’s get you hauling.
I’m Jim, your Silverline Trailers sales representative in Harrison, Arkansas. Finding the right trailer starts with understanding what you need to haul. Tell me about the job and I’ll help you explore suitable trailer options, including inventory at other Silverline locations where available and permitted.
jbumgardner@silverlinetrailer.com
Independent sales resource created by Jim Bumgardner through AMP Multi Media LLC. Jim is a sales representative for Silverline Trailers. This page is not the official corporate website. Inventory, prices, financing, availability and inter-lot transfers are subject to independent confirmation. No customer information is collected or stored by the trailer guide.