How much trailer weight can my tractor tow?

[Indian Territory]

I've got a New Holland PowerStar 75. It's about 8,000 lbs counting the FEL. It's got 16.9R30s on the back. I'm able to add about 2,000 lbs with the front forks carrying a 275 gallon IBC tote for water weight and balance.

My question is, how heavy of a trailer can I tow using either the 3PH (~3,500 lbs capacity) or the draw bar itself. I'm not able to find anything concerning this rating online.

For planting and irrigating purposes, I'd really like to haul a trailer with dual 7,000 lb axles. I might even be able to carry more than one implement to the farm at a time. But I've never tried to pull a trailer with the tractor so I don't really know what I'm doing. Any help appreciated.

Note that I am not trying to tow the tractor ON the trailer, which I have no need for. Rather, I am hoping to tow the trailer WITH the tractor.

 

[WinterDeere]

No answer, but I suspect you're about to be hit with questions about terrain (hills?) and whether or not your tractor has a brake controller.

 

[RjCorazza]

Towing from the drawbar is preferred, as the 3 point can rise up pretty much unrestricted based on negative tongue weight or terrain changes. On FLAT land I move my 7k RV on occasion with my much smaller Kubota L4060 without issue using the 3 point hitch for convenience of hooking up, but it is not without potential problems.
I suspect mfg trailer towing limits are based upon the overall mass of the tractor, brake controllers, and drawbar tongue weight. Whether applicable or not, the trailer towing limits from Kubota for the L6060 (smaller than your machine) are 6600lbs trailer, and 1430lbs drawbar weight (trailer tongue weight). For flat terrain I believe these numbers are overly conservative, and I exceed them on a regular basis with my L4060 (5500lbs trailer, 1430lbs tongue). All bets are off on hills.

 

[Indian Territory]

Ah good point. I was sure I'd miss something.

My region is entirely flat, with only slight grades rarely.

The tractor has a 7-pin trailer connection. 6 around the circle, and one in the middle. The pins themselves are round, not flat blades. Unfortunately, none of this means much to me. I just don't know enough about trailers, but I'm trying to fix that.

 

[5030]

I pull my Kaufman tandem axle Gooseneck loaded with double row 4 x 5 round bales (grossly overloaded) all the time. I use a rear mount (on the 3 point) round bale spear with a 2 5/16" hitch ball welded to the top of the bale spear frame.

Easier to move rounds to the barn from the field that way and I've never had any issue with the front end getting light but then the tractors have the front end loaders mounted though the buckets are off.

 

[oosik]

As has been said - its not so much - how much can your tractor pull on a trailer. It's more about - how will you control the load once its moving.

My M6040 weighs 9000 pounds when in the "trailer pulling" mode. It's more than a "thrill" to pull my fully loaded farm wagon around the property. One of these days I may get smart and put some form of electric brakes on my farm wagon.

 

[5030]

Considering that the speed is slow, brakes are not necessary.

 

[WinterDeere]

towing limits from Kubota for the L6060 (smaller than your machine) are 6600lbs trailer, and 1430lbs drawbar weight (trailer tongue weight).

Most drawbars I'm familiar with can be extended to various lengths, so be sure you know the length at which that tongue weight is spec'd. It might be at minimal extension.

Also, two axles as a farm wagon (front and rear axles, no tongue weight) is going to tow different than dual rear axles in a semi tailer configuration. I assume the OP has the latter, but they didn't specify.

The tractor has a 7-pin trailer connection. 6 around the circle, and one in the middle. The pins themselves are round, not flat blades. Unfortunately, none of this means much to me. I just don't know enough about trailers, but I'm trying to fix that.

To add to the confusion, many vehicles are equipped with a plug socket that can support a brake controller, but do not come equipped with a brake controller. For many years, pickup trucks and SUV's had this wired to a connector or pigtail under the dash, where the owner could connect their own brake controller. Some people would plug in, not really understanding what a brake controller is or how it works, and not know that they did not have a working system.

The good news is, if you're taking this thing on the road and want brakes, brake controllers are not expensive. Last I checked they were mostly $100 - $200, although my last few vehicles have all had them integrated from the factory. Around here, where it's hilly and your ass can get light going downhill, I'd consider brakes mandatory for taking this rig on the road. Where you are, much flatter, I'd say they're still desirable if doing any sort of over-road speed.

 

[5030]

The OP stated 'field work only'

 

[MGP4506]

I've got a New Holland PowerStar 75. It's about 8,000 lbs counting the FEL. It's got 16.9R30s on the back. I'm able to add about 2,000 lbs with the front forks carrying a 275 gallon IBC tote for water weight and balance.

My question is, how heavy of a trailer can I tow using either the 3PH (~3,500 lbs capacity) or the draw bar itself. I'm not able to find anything concerning this rating online.

For planting and irrigating purposes, I'd really like to haul a trailer with dual 7,000 lb axles. I might even be able to carry more than one implement to the farm at a time. But I've never tried to pull a trailer with the tractor so I don't really know what I'm doing. Any help appreciated.

Note that I am not trying to tow the tractor ON the trailer, which I have no need for. Rather, I am hoping to tow the trailer WITH the tractor.

The best answer I can give you is it depends. The tow bar is the best and most preferred way to pull a trailer. A 3 point can rise up uncontrolled. The biggest factor you need to look at is the tongue weight. And like the person earlier said terrain matters not to mention does the trailer have brakes (most when pulled with smaller tractors don't) I think this is why manufactures of tractors don't give a weight rating on the trailer size. Too many factors.

 

[Thunder chicken]

My M7060 is about the same size as your NH. I pull a 7000# dump trailer on the highway. Near griss weigh. 5-7 mile trips. A few slight hills.
I changed out the 7 pin on the tractor to the RV style to match my trailer. Tractors generally don't have brake lights. So there's no wiring or switch. There is also a weird thing with the 12v constant power.... I can't recall now what it does but it's not like a truck, it won't charge the battery.
I thought about adding a brake controller, it would require adding a wire to the trailer harness. There would be no brake switch so you'd have to add one on your brake pedal, or just use the manual hand spike on the controller. I've never felt the need for it except when the roads are icy, so I avoid that like the plague now.
I had an adapter made up to pin a 2" receiver to my drawbar. I tried the 3pt hitch but chained it down. I didn't care to do it that way.
Biggest issues here is I'm not in farm country so people don't know how to drive around a SMV. This rig will do 25mph. Down to 15 up the slight grades. People will try to pass in the worst spots. Defensive driving is required!

 

[newbury]

Until the OP weighs in again we don't know if he is hauling an equipment trailer or a "farm trailer" (picture grabbed from the net)

If the latter tongue weight would not matter as much.

 

[2manyrocks]

My cousin was pulling a trailer mounted spray rig to spray his hillside when the axle on the trailer failed. The water in the sprayer tank then shifted enough to overturn the trailer and the tractor. The tractor was also a former highway department tractor that came with extra wide axles for stability.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I've got a New Holland PowerStar 75. It's about 8,000 lbs counting the FEL. It's got 16.9R30s on the back. I'm able to add about 2,000 lbs with the front forks carrying a 275 gallon IBC tote for water weight and balance.

My question is, how heavy of a trailer can I tow using either the 3PH (~3,500 lbs capacity) or the draw bar itself. I'm not able to find anything concerning this rating online.

For planting and irrigating purposes, I'd really like to haul a trailer with dual 7,000 lb axles. I might even be able to carry more than one implement to the farm at a time. But I've never tried to pull a trailer with the tractor so I don't really know what I'm doing. Any help appreciated.

Note that I am not trying to tow the tractor ON the trailer, which I have no need for. Rather, I am hoping to tow the trailer WITH the tractor.

Ive pulled 30,000 # of logs on a trailer with a tractor that size. Done it regularly. I had tandem dual axles but that don't matter. If I were you, I'd just be worried that the trailer will handle it, not the tractor.

 

[WinterDeere]

Ive pulled 30,000 # of logs on a trailer with a tractor that size. Done it regularly. I had tandem dual axles but that don't matter. If I were you, I'd just be worried that the trailer will handle it, not the tractor.

That must be nearly 3x the rated payload of a 14,000 lb. GTWR trailer. Maybe okay on flat land at low speed, but my God, not sure I'd want to be sitting on that rig at the top of a hill when something broke!

 

[ptsg]

Being part of a few US based forums, I always find interesting how afraid a lot of people are of using their tractors to pull stuff, specially trailers. But have no issue on constantly pushing their loaders to the max which is far worse and harder on a tractor than pulling an over loaded trailer using the drawbar. Tractors were made to pull after all.

My little 35hp tractor gets 7700 lbs towing capacity for a trailer with brakes, which any road legal trailer in Europe has to have some sort of brakes (surge, hydraulic or air) and parking brake with a gross weight over 1600 lbs.

The OP's tractor would get easily 16000 lbs towing capacity in Europe for a braked trailer. I tried to find the exact numbers for a similar tractor here but they don't really list it on the brochures.

 

[Kioti Dave]

I was pulling a small dump trailer with 200 gallons of water on my property. Dew on ground and I forgot to put in 4WD. Started going down a 'gentle' hill and the rig decided to have a mind of its own and took me for a ride. Obviously in 2WD, you have no brakes in the front tires. I was very fortunate that the rig didn't jack knife and potentially flip me over. Be very careful on slopes!!

 

[WinterDeere]

I was pulling a small dump trailer with 200 gallons of water on my property. Dew on ground and I forgot to put in 4WD. Started going down a 'gentle' hill and the rig decided to have a mind of its own and took me for a ride. Obviously in 2WD, you have no brakes in the front tires. I was very fortunate that the rig didn't jack knife and potentially flip me over. Be very careful on slopes!!

Been there, done that, but with a load hanging from the bucket. Same result, I was lucky. People don't realize that you don't need to lift the rear to lose your brakes, just shifting a little bit of weight off that rear axle really affects stopping power in 2wd, especially offroad or if it's wet.

I think it's one of those "once in a lifetime" mistakes though, as I've never repeated it since it happened more than 10 years ago. Now, if I have any load on the bucket, I either back down the hill or put it in 4wd. No more being careless, or assuming it will be fine, after that wild ride.

 

[Kioti Dave]

Been there, done that, but with a load hanging from the bucket. Same result, I was lucky. People don't realize that you don't need to lift the rear to lose your brakes, just shifting a little bit of weight off that rear axle really affects stopping power in 2wd, especially offroad or if it's wet.

I think it's one of those "once in a lifetime" mistakes though, as I've never repeated it since it happened more than 10 years ago. Now, if I have any load on the bucket, I either back down the hill or put it in 4wd. No more being careless, or assuming it will be fine, after that wild ride.

Yes, once in a lifetime!!

 

[Omega Woods]

Without slopes, you should be able to tow a reasonably loaded 14k trailer with the drawbar. I have a 16k gooseneck that weighs 4k empty that I tow around my place with logs, woodchips, dirt, etc without issue and my tractor is smaller and lighter than yours by quite a bit.

If you have any hills at all, you MUST get a brake controller setup to help you stop as other have said.