Trailering question

[jusdande]

I tow a B3030 with FEL and BH around on a 16' 7000# rated utility trailer with my 2005 Nissan Frontier V6. I have a Prodigy brake controller for the brakes on both axles. Trailer weight is about 2300#. While it does tax the truck a bit, it has always towed well as long as I have the proper amount of weight on the tongue. I tow it on the Hwy at about 60 to 65 mph. Mileage is only 9 or 10mpg! I wouldn't want to tow it long distance with this truck but for around town it is just fine.

[swampvol]

Originally Posted by LBrown59

Wish I had such a truck and trailer for my BX23 right now as there is somebody giving away free fill dirt.

If you don't already have the trailer you might look into a dump trailer. They're a couple grand more than your standard 7-10klb equipment trailer, but they can haul your bx and that free dirt.

[SnowRidgeME]

for what it's worth, called State Police to inquire about tie downs, in Maine, carrying a load under 10K# requires two tie-downs, one in front, one in back to prevent movement in any direction, and the sum of the load ratings of the tie downs needs to be at least 1/2 of the load. For example, I'll be using 4 tie down straps, one in each corner, if each strap is rated to be 1000lbs, I can trailer an 8000lb load.

[vicar]

Originally Posted by LBrown59

A half ton was never recommended to me.
It was always nothing less than 3/ ton.

Since vicar plans to trailer his BX24 with a little inport Nissan
would you recomend I do the same and transport my BX23 with one of these pick ups?
Nissan
Toyota
1986 Dodge D50
1989 Dodge D50

Interesting questions. I'm no truck expert, but i think my 06 Frontier V6 is significantly bigger and heavier than the D50. I had a 90 toyota 2WD and this truck weighs at least 1500# more and is significantly larger in every dimension. It also has 16" wheels with much beefier tires. Why would it be rated to tow 6100# unless it could do so? I think the capacity on my little Toyota was well under 2000#, and it wouldn't have been able to get up the slight incline of my driveway if i had put that much behind it.

When I was recently in the UK, I saw contractors pulling all kinds of tractors and loaded trailers behind trucks like mine and smaller, on all kinds of small roads and even superhighways without a problem. I never even saw a fullsize pickup there in 2 weeks. Gas at US$10 + a gallon probably discouraged that, along with narrow roads and very tight parking. I expect that if i were to tow, it would represent 1-2% of my annual mileage. If I have to take it slow and careful, so be it. To me, the 20+ MPG I get on the highway in regular use is a good trade off. If I towed regularly, or over a long distance, I'd get a bigger truck.

Thanks Jusdande. You have answered my question exactly.

[ChrisBWJ]

<flame suit on>

I towed my L3430 with backhoe, loaded tires, etc... including the trailer, it was about 13,000 lb load. I towed it with my Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is rated for 7,000 lbs!!!!

Starting was slow but steady, stopping wasn't too bad with the brake controller for the trailer. Had to have the tractor in the right spot to get the weight distribution on the trailer where it wouldn't be wagging the dog so to speak. Bumps in the road SCARED the crap out of me as I was afraid the springs in the back of the Jeep were going to shatter.

I had a 2 hour drive each way, down all back roads and one short section on the highway. Speeds were definitely kept below the speed limit.

Now I've driven all across this country on just about every terrain, in every weather condition imaginable, once being the designated driver in a 15 person van (with 13 drunk fraternity brothers in the back) driving through lake-effect blizzard conditions on strange roads. I've been off-roading in serious off-camber situations in my Grand Cherokee, and have driven on the Autobahn in Germany. NONE of it compares to the PUCKER factor I experienced while towing my tractor with the Grand Cherokee.

I would NOT recommend to anyone to exceed the rated towing capacity of your vehicle in that manner!

However, one of my buddies is a test driver for Chrysler and I know they regularly drive with loads that exceed the tow rating of a vehicle and do all sorts of tests on transmissions, brakes, vehicle stability, etc.... The ratings the auto makers put on vehicles is prudent and usually a tad conservative.

Is exceeding the tow limit by 900 pounds legal.... Technically I guess you could get in to trouble with local authorities, but I'd be highly surprised if anyone paid attention to you unless you were driving crazy.

Is it safe to exceed the tow limit by 900 pounds in your case? Personally I wouldn't worry too much. Just make sure you are careful... Properly strapped down, weight distributed on the trailer property, a WD hitch, etc.. If you normally look 500 feet ahead of you for trouble/when to stop, I'd be looking 1000 ft ahead....

</flame suit off>

Now I tow my tractor with a GMC 2500HD with the D/A and I don't worry about trailering NEARLY as much!