Rear axle weight rating?

[J-Ri]

I'm building a trailer using the old rear axle out of my '86 K-20 and need to know the weight rating. The RPO codes are long-gone with the glove box and dashboard, but it's the 14 bolt semi-floater. I'm not sure of the ring gear size, so I guess I'll measure it if the smaller isn't a high enough rating, if ring gear size even makes a difference.

And no, the sticker inside the door isn't readable

[72chevelleOhio]

I believe the gvwr on my old 81 I had was 8400 lbs.
Same axle....if that helps..

[ukrkoz]

GVWR= gross vehicle weight registred, it's the weight of the truck. best i can tell, rear axle load for 2000 1500 silvie is 3300 lbs and pennies.
btw, you can recomposistion your leaf springs and increase payload by adding longer leaves. we, also, used to achieve this by adding spacers made out of tank rubber, between the lieves, to spread them apart. stiffens leaf springs and they can take more load. BUMPY!!

[CrazyHorst]

The payload capacity in a full-floating 14 bolt axle is around 5000 lbs...in other words, this is how much you can put in the bed of the truck.

Not sure how to derate for the semi-floater...I'd guess around 3500-4000 lbs. You could look up payload capacity for a new 3/4t truck...the pickup truck axles are essentially the same proven design repeated over many many years with some modifications for brakes, suspension brackets, etc.

IMHO truck-bed trailers suffer from being high-centered, and with fairly soft springs compared to purpose-built trailer axles which are stiffer, more compact, and lower. This is not to take away from your project but just an observation I've made over time.