Trailer Size/Mower Weight

[drivadesl]

Hey all. I found a used trailer for sale. Looks pretty new, 6'X10' deck, fold down gate, Dexter 3500lb axel, tires look new, has spare with lock, small aluminum tool box mounted to tongue. Rated to carry a 2150lb load. Guy will take $700 for it, sounds like a decent deal. I want it mainly for utility usage, and to move my Scag Wildcat ZTR (52" deck, 25HP Kawi). Machine is about 60" wide X almost 7' long not sure what this weighs any ideas? I've been toying with starting a side lawn cutting business, so wondering if this would be to small to start, or should I look bigger. The price seems good, and seems anything bigger is 2x the cost. Thanks for any input/suggestions.

[Diamondpilot]

Sounds like it will work fine. Your mower weighs 1,120#. I do all the maintenance for a small mowing company here in my area and have a Wildcat brochure in front of me. They run Ferris IS2000Z ZTR's with 25 Kaw's and 61" decks. The trailers he uses are 5x8 and have 1,500# axles and have a load limit of 1,150#. The mowers run right at 1,200# so there is no room to add other items to the trailer and he is actually over by 50#. By the way he uses aluminum ramps, no fold down gates. Anyway these trailer with little 8" wheels have done fine for him for 5 years now. The only thing I have ever done to the trailers is re-wire them, put new deck boards on, and repack the bearings after both trailers were completely covered for 2 days in a flood last spring.

By the way the reason your trailer has a 2150# limit is the tires. The trailer probably weighs 600# so with the right tires you could haul 2,900#. This would probally require new fenders because the wheels and tires would have to be a larger size than is on there now. They went with the small tires on the large axle when building the trailer because the only other option from a 3,500# axle is a 1,500# axle which on that trailer would only leave 900# limit, much too little.


Chris

[drivadesl]

Thanks Diamond. Don't understand why they didn't list the weight of the machine in the owners manual. A good point on the tires, these are 15" but I missed the load rating on them. Do you think the fold down gate will hold the weight of the mower? I suppose I can beef them up if needed or replace them with ramps. Anyway I'm thinking I'm gonna call the seller back tomorrow. I've been looking for a utility trailer, and for the money and the conditon, I think this is a good deal. I'd be kicking myself come spring if I don't. I think it will be a good size and capacity for what I'll use it.

[Diamondpilot]

The gate should be ok but check the break over angle between the gate and the trailer deck. On the guys equipment I take care of the trailers came with 12" tires but we had to change them to 8" tires so the ramps did not have to be 8' long.

Pay close attention to the deck if its wood check and make sure its not in need of replacement. With lumber prices it will cost you $100 to $150 for a good treated deck if you do the work. Also look at the gate and make sure it has not been bent or welded on, these are signs of overloading.

I would not recommend beefing up the gate, you will never be able to lift it and when nothing is on it the back will out weigh the tongue and it will be strait in the air. This will make the trailer tow poorly because it will be tail heavy.

Chris

[drivadesl]

Well it turned out to be a lousy day. It started fine, used my tractor to clear the 5" of snow we got overnight. Nice sunny day. Things were looking up. I called the guy for the trailer.....SOLD yesterday!! Some things weren't meant to be....Including the Giants repeating a SB season after getting whupped by the Eagles....Just not meant to be....

[Diamondpilot]

Well hopefully with the input you got by asking this question you know what to look for when another on comes around.

Chris

[deereguy]

I would look into a 12' trailer with a 4' gate ramp. Your mower on a 10' doesn't leave much room for all the extra stuff you will add when you start your maintenance business. I looked into a 10' for a few years and ended up with a 12' and it still seemed small, but it was a nice compliment to the 16' I already had. The right one is out there, be patient!!