Short answer
Most single axle utility trailers ride on one 3,500 lb axle, are rated at 2,990 or 2,995 lb, and carry about 1,600 to 2,300 lb of cargo. Small trailers on a 2,000 lb axle carry about 1,600 lb. The heaviest single axle trailers, on one 7,000 lb axle, carry about 4,700 to 4,900 lb. The exact figure is the GVWR on the trailer’s label minus the trailer’s own weight.
A single axle trailer’s capacity depends on three things: the axle, the rating the maker puts on the label, and how much the trailer itself weighs. Below are real numbers by axle and by deck size, from 4 × 8 to 7 × 14.
Single axle trailer weight capacity by axle rating
| Axle | Trailer rating (GVWR) | Cargo capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 × 2,000 lb Small 4 × 8 and 5 × 8 utility | 2,000 lb | 1,600 to 1,675 lb |
| 1 × 3,500 lb Most 5 × 8 to 7 × 14 utility | 2,990 or 2,995 lb | 1,515 to 2,332 lb |
| 1 × 7,000 lb Single axle tilt, 13 to 16 ft | 7,000 lb | 4,690 to 4,890 lb |
The middle row is the one most people own, and it holds a surprise: a trailer with a 3,500 lb axle is not a 3,500 lb trailer. Both makers rate theirs just under 3,000 lb, and Carry-On’s parts lists for its 6 × 10, 6 × 12 and 7 × 14 show an idler axle, the kind without brakes. You load to the label, not to the axle.
Single axle trailer weight capacity by size
| Deck size | Trailer | Empty | Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 8 ft | Carry-On 4X8G | 325 lb | 1,675 lb |
| 5 × 8 ft | Carry-On 5X8G | 375 lb | 1,625 lb |
| 5 × 8 ft | Big Tex 30SA-8 | 663 lb | 2,332 lb |
| 5 × 8 ft | Big Tex 30SV-08 | 870 lb | 2,125 lb |
| 5 × 10 ft | Carry-On 5X10GW | 755 lb | 2,235 lb |
| 5 × 10 ft | Big Tex 30SA-10 | 723 lb | 2,272 lb |
| 5 × 10 ft | Big Tex 30SV-10 | 970 lb | 2,025 lb |
| 6 × 10 ft | Carry-On 6X10GW | 785 lb | 2,205 lb |
| 6 × 10 ft | Big Tex 35SA-10 | 893 lb | 2,102 lb |
| 6 × 10 ft | Big Tex 35SV-10 | 1,100 lb | 1,895 lb |
| 6 × 12 ft | Carry-On 6X12GW | 900 lb | 2,090 lb |
| 6 × 12 ft | Big Tex 35SA-12 | 983 lb | 2,012 lb |
| 6 × 12 ft | Big Tex 35SV-12 | 1,290 lb | 1,705 lb |
| 7 × 14 ft | Carry-On 7X14GW | 999 lb | 1,991 lb |
| 7 × 14 ft | Big Tex 35SX-14 | 1,093 lb | 1,902 lb |
| 7 × 14 ft | Big Tex 35UT-14 | 1,380 lb | 1,615 lb |
On the same 3,500 lb axle, a bigger deck means a heavier trailer and less cargo. The lightest 5 × 8 carries 2,332 lb. A 7 × 14 with heavier sides carries as little as 1,615 lb.
5×10 single axle trailer weight capacity
About 2,000 to 2,300 lb. Carry-On’s 5X10GW carries 2,235 lb, and Big Tex’s two 5 × 10 models carry 2,272 lb and 2,025 lb.
6×12 single axle trailer weight capacity
About 1,700 to 2,100 lb. Carry-On’s 6X12GW holds 2,090 lb, Big Tex’s 35SA-12 holds 2,012 lb, and the heavier-built 35SV-12 holds 1,705 lb. An enclosed 6 × 12 weighs more empty than an open one, so check its label.
7×14 single axle trailer weight capacity
About 1,600 to 2,000 lb. Carry-On’s 7X14GW holds 1,991 lb, Big Tex’s 35SX-14 holds 1,902 lb and its 35UT-14 holds 1,615 lb. That is less than a 5 × 10, because the larger trailer uses up more of the same 2,990 lb rating.
Can a single axle trailer haul 5,000 lbs?
Not one on a 3,500 lb axle: those carry 2,332 lb at best. A single 7,000 lb axle gets close. Big Tex’s 70ST single axle tilt trailer is rated 7,000 lb and carries 4,890 lb in the 13 ft length and 4,690 lb in the 16 ft, so a 5,000 lb load is still just over.
| Trailer | Rating | Empty | Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Tex 70ST-13 Single 7,000 lb axle, 13 ft | 7,000 lb | 2,110 lb | 4,890 lb |
| Big Tex 70ST-16 Single 7,000 lb axle, 16 ft | 7,000 lb | 2,310 lb | 4,690 lb |
| Big Tex 70CH-14 Two 3,500 lb axles, 14 ft | 7,000 lb | 1,610 lb | 5,390 lb |
In these examples a 5,000 lb load takes two axles. Other makers build single axle trailers differently, so the label on the trailer in front of you is what counts. For tandem trailers, see our double axle trailer weight capacity chart.
What a single axle trailer can actually carry
Take a typical trailer with 2,000 lb of cargo capacity. In loose material, that is less than one cubic yard of anything heavy:
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | A 2,000 lb load is |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel, dry | 2,835 lb | 0.71 yd³ |
| #57 stone, loose | 2,430 lb | 0.82 yd³ |
| Topsoil (loam) | 2,160 lb | 0.93 yd³ |
| Loose dirt, dry | 2,052 lb | 0.97 yd³ |
So a full cubic yard of any of these weighs more than 2,000 lb: gravel by about 800 lb, topsoil and dry dirt by 50 to 160 lb. A trailer with 2,300 lb of capacity takes a yard of topsoil or dirt, but not a yard of gravel or stone. Work out your volume with the cubic yard calculator and your tons with the gravel calculator before you drive to the yard.
For machines, even the smallest skid steer on our list, the 2,892 lb Bobcat S70, is too heavy for a 3,500 lb axle trailer. It fits the 7,000 lb single axle tilt with 1,800 to 2,000 lb to spare. Check any combination with the trailer weight calculator.
Single axle vs. tandem axle capacity
| Single axle | Tandem axle | |
|---|---|---|
| Axles | 1 × 3,500 lb | 2 × 3,500 lb |
| Trailer rating | 2,995 lb | 7,000 lb |
| Empty weight | 663 to 1,073 lb | 1,780 to 2,020 lb |
| Cargo capacity | 1,922 to 2,332 lb | 4,980 to 5,220 lb |
A second 3,500 lb axle more than doubles the cargo capacity, because the tandem trailer is rated at the full 7,000 lb while the single is held to 2,995 lb.
Single axle trailer weight limit: rating vs. road law
The limit that applies to your trailer is its own rating. Road law is far higher: on the Interstate system the federal cap is 20,000 lb on any one axle (23 CFR 658.17). That number is for heavy trucks. A single axle utility trailer reaches its 2,990 lb label limit long before it matters.
How to find and use your trailer’s capacity
- Read the GVWR on the trailer’s label. Federal rules put it on the forward half of the left side (49 CFR 567.4).
- Find the empty weight on the maker’s spec sheet, or weigh the empty trailer.
- Subtract. GVWR minus empty weight is the most you can load.
- Mind the hitch as well. Ford’s 2026 towing guide says tongue weight should not exceed 200 lb on trailers up to 2,000 lb, and should be 10 percent of the loaded weight on heavier conventional trailers.
- Remember that sides, a ramp gate, a spare tire and toolboxes all count as part of the load if they were added after the trailer was weighed.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a single axle trailer hold?
Most carry about 1,600 to 2,300 lb. A typical single axle utility trailer has one 3,500 lb axle, is rated 2,990 or 2,995 lb, and weighs 660 to 1,480 lb empty. Subtract the empty weight from the GVWR on the label.
How much weight will a 6×12 single axle trailer hold?
About 1,700 to 2,100 lb for an open utility trailer. Carry-On’s 6X12GW holds 2,090 lb and Big Tex’s 35SA-12 holds 2,012 lb. Heavier-built and enclosed trailers hold less.
Can a single axle trailer haul 5000 lbs?
Not on a 3,500 lb axle, which carries about 2,300 lb at most. A single 7,000 lb axle trailer comes close: Big Tex’s 70ST carries 4,690 to 4,890 lb. For a full 5,000 lb, a tandem axle trailer is the safer choice.
How much weight can a 5×10 single axle trailer carry?
About 2,000 to 2,300 lb. Carry-On’s 5X10GW carries 2,235 lb, and Big Tex’s 5 × 10 models carry 2,025 and 2,272 lb.
How much weight can a 7×14 single axle trailer hold?
About 1,600 to 2,000 lb. Carry-On’s 7X14GW holds 1,991 lb, and Big Tex’s 7 × 14 models hold 1,615 and 1,902 lb. The larger trailer weighs more, which leaves less of the 2,990 lb rating for cargo.
How much weight can a 3,500 lb axle trailer carry?
Less than 3,500 lb. Single axle trailers with a 3,500 lb axle are usually rated 2,990 or 2,995 lb, and the trailer weighs 660 to 1,480 lb, so cargo capacity is about 1,500 to 2,300 lb.
How much does a single axle trailer weigh?
Empty, about 325 to 400 lb for a small 4 × 8 or 5 × 8 on a 2,000 lb axle, 660 to 1,480 lb for a 5 × 8 to 7 × 14 utility trailer on a 3,500 lb axle, and 2,110 to 2,310 lb for a 7,000 lb single axle tilt trailer.
What is the weight limit for a single axle trailer?
The trailer’s GVWR, usually 2,000 lb, 2,990 lb or 7,000 lb depending on the axle. The federal Interstate limit of 20,000 lb per axle applies to heavy trucks and is far above any utility trailer’s rating.
Sources
- Big Tex Trailers spec tables: 30SA, 30SV, 35SA, 35SV, 35SX, 35UT, 70ST, 70CH and 70PI, checked October 9, 2026.
- Carry-On Trailer model pages: 4X8G, 5X8G, 5X10GW, 6X10GW, 6X12GW and 7X14GW, checked October 9, 2026.
- Ford, 2026 RV and Trailer Towing Guide, for tongue weight.
- 49 CFR 567.4 (certification label) and 23 CFR 658.17 (Interstate axle limits), via Cornell Legal Information Institute.
- Material weights from Engineering ToolBox and the Rohrer’s Quarry figures used in our calculators. Bobcat S70 weight from our skid steer weight guide.
Big Tex, Carry-On, Ford and Bobcat are trademarks of their owners. BucketMath is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Ratings vary by maker and model, so go by the label on your own trailer; see our disclaimer.