How to regularly move 12,000 of equipment?

[john_bud]

Hi, thought I'd tap the brain trust and see what options people have to move a 12,000 piece of equipment around.

14' long 6' tall 70" wide and 12,000#.


Options? Opinions?

jb

[Egon]

Low boy gooseneck/fifth wheel rated at about 15K+ with three axles and a 3500 series in front.

Ramp of your choice.

[RobS]

Loading and unloading may have some bearing on your decision. Wheeled? Tracked? Other? Do you want it enclosed or open? How often are you moving it? Already have a suitable tow vehicle or not?

[Kahuna]

I bought a goose neck trailer last year, a similar one would fit your needs. It is a 25 foot flatbed with a 5 foot dove tail and three fold down ramps (commonly called a 25 and 5). The trailer has two 10,000 pound axles for a 20,000 gross weight. The trailer is 6000 empty so that would give you a net load of 14,000 pounds. If height is a concern (legal height in IL is 13.5 feet) a low boy version is available but will only lower the deck by about 6 inches and cost you a bit more. The standard height trailer would be in the $6500 range.

I am in south central Illinois and if you are looking for a good buy on a trailer, people go to Sikeston, MO (about 120 miles south of St. Louis on I 55) where there are several manufacturers. I paid $6500 for my trailer and similar one at a local dealer was over $10,000. They will do custom orders too, we had a few more supports added to ours and upgraded to the LED lights.

[RobS]

Here ya go, up to 15,000 pounds:

Lift-a-Load Elevating Platform Trailers and Lo Riser Inclining Platform Trailers by The Advance Metalworking Co., Inc.

[Diamondpilot]

John

Like the others have said. I have a 3 axle trailer with 8,000 pounders under it and a 1 ton diesel truck that I would not be afraid to do this job with. I pull it loaded to the max a few times a year. The folks at Sikston have the best prices period. I got mine from there and live 6 hours away. They brought it all but the last 75 miles for $75. I could not drive down and back for that. Bought it over the internet and phone and they set up the delivery with only a deposit. I meet the driver at a truck stop and hitched it up to my truck, gave him a Cashiers Check for the balance, and we did the paperwork. Smooth transaction and good people. The trailer was about 40% more back home, same brand and everything, just cut out the middle man buying from the factory.

Chris

[hosejockey2002]

Depends on how often and how far. Occaisonal short moves, a 1 ton dually with gooseneck trailer. Every day and longer distances, I'd go for a single axle day cab Class 7 truck with trailer or a 26K or better GVWR ramp truck. Better yet, for construction work a 5 yard single axle dump. IMO it would get too expensive wearing out pickup trucks towing that kind of weight all the time.

[hudr]

Getting a trailer to haul that regularly is no big deal. I wouldn't put a 1 ton under that every day. Something like a 4500 Chevy would certainly last a lot longer. A 1 ton truck is still considered light duty. Remember all the hot shot rigs in the 80's? Those trucks (yes, I know improvements have been made) were not designed for that kind of duty cycle. It really wasn't so much a power issue. The trannies, rear ends and wheel bearings just weren't designed for that kind of stress over that kind of mileage.
But once again, are we talking every day? Or maybe just once a month?

[Builder]

Originally Posted by john_bud

Hi, thought I'd tap the brain trust and see what options people have to move a 12,000 piece of equipment around.

14' long 6' tall 70" wide and 12,000#.


Options? Opinions?

jb

With only that information, there's lots of options.

Need to know frequency it will be moved, how far the trip will be and what the piece of equipment actually is to narrow the choices down.

[john_bud]

Guess I was too scant in the information areas.

I am investigating getting into some land clearing, to go along with food plot development and pasture renovations. The "problem" is that any decent equipment for clearing is heavy. 12,000# is about the practical minimum. It would be for short (10-50 mile) day hauls.

Right now I have a 12k trailer (18') and a 3/4 ton duramax to pull with. That won't do. So, a much larger larger truck and trailer is needed.

It's probably just going to remain a pie in the sky idea as the equipment cost is way out there and the support equipment (truck, trailer, fuel hauling, etc) adds a major layer to it.