The weight rated can be based on the axles or tires or a combination. It is really up to the manufacturer how to calculate it. Also in the industry the wight rating minus the trailer weight does not equal payload capacity . There is no set amount allowed for the hitch to transfer the weight to the truck ,but it is generally 25% on a bumper pull and 30% on a goose neck.
I watched a 'trailer selection video' where the guy buying a trailer had it downrated 'so the truck and trailer max would be under the CDL license requirements'. It seems to me the rating doesn't matter to the safety patrol, it's whether you're driving a combination that exceeds the limits of your license. He said down rating was common...y'all ever heard of such a thing? Is he correct in his rationale?
His trailer with dual 7K axles was originally rated at 15.6k-ish and he had it knocked down to 14.4k-ish.
Has anyone other than you Clark ever even been pulled over for a trailer violation?
I haven't
And never will if I didn't get pulled over last weekend with a super sketch pallet of bagged mulch on my trailer. Idiot HD guy couldn't load it right, broke the pallet which made it lean back and my strapping was somewhat lackluster. Had two LEO's pass me on Hwy 92 and never even turned their heads at me. I wasn't over-weight, not even close, but the whole thing just looked awful.
http://cheapatlantamulch.com/
Much cheaper than buying the bags at home depot even with the delivery fee
I go to Site One in Kennesaw (near the county airport) for any bulk purchases of hardscapes...about 1/3 the price if I pick it up compared to bagged stuff at a box store.
Lazy tip: have the mulch, topsoil (e.g., lighter stuff) dumped into buckets or rubbermaid-like storage containers on the trailer...makes moving and dumping it so much easier than a shovel or pitchfork. They are very accomodating at Site One, but the first time there can be intimidating because there aren't very many instructions posted to tell you the process or place to be to get stuff.