Understanding the weight plate on a trailer....

[Trikster]

ok, not to sure where to put this, so lets see if it gets moved or not

Looking at starting to use a trailer - various reasons but including transporting a car to track days

Fully understand the weight plate on the car, but struggling to find something to clearly explain the plate on the trailer (looking at buying a used one), especially the empty weight, if it's on there at all.

Google has not been my friend, probably using the wrong search terms, so any help much appreciated, in simple terms to ensure load + trailer does not exceed tow capacity

TIA

[scorcher]

A decent manufacturer will have an unladen and gross weight.maybe axle weights if more than one. Carrying capacity obviously gross minus unladen weight

[deadtom]

unladen mass won't be on the main section of the stat plate, but can be included elsewhere at manufacturer's discretion.

IME most won't have it, so often the only way to know how much it weighs is to weigh it, check if it's in the paperwork it comes with or ask the manufacturer.

The numbers on the stat plate (aside from VIN and manufacturer's name) are, from top to bottom: max GVW, max weight on the coupling, then max weight on the axles in order from front to rear.