Just Bought a Tandem Axle Trailer

[HawkinsHollow]

I have been wanting one for a while. WIth the mill I want a way to pickup logs when they come available. Been keep my eye on Marketplace and found this guy. Picked it up for $850, which isn't bad for a stoutly built tandem axle. Needs new wood, some rust remediation and a new coat of paint, some oiling and greasing of jacks but it seems very capable. Need to weld a plate on the front for a winch, box for the front to house batteries and towing gear. Overall pleased with my purchase.

I have access to a scale right next door so I will probably go over there this week to figure out how much it weighs, just so there is no mystery there. Could not find a plate with specs anywhere.

Other than the usual stuff (bearings, lights, etc) what things should I look over. Not much else to it. It does have drums for brakes. Not sure they work as the plug is the old style and I don't have an adapter for that kind yet. Need to see if I can get the brakes working. Any guidance there?

 

[RustyA]

Assuming old style connector is 6 pin small round? If so I would replace it with 7 pin with flat so it can be used with multiple modern tow vehicles. Wife's first horse trailer had old style 6 pin round. Tried using 7 pin to six pin adapter. Due to length of both connectors had a hard time keeping brakes and lights functional on bumpy roads even with a bungee cord. Easy to convert by replacing trailer end. That way you'll also be able to be sure you have nice clean connections at plug end.

 

[dodge man]

How many lugs? Wild guess it’s a 7k trailer, enough you want to get the brakes working. Seeing I paid almost triple that for a new one 15 years ago, and these days I’m sure a new one I closer to $4k than $3k I’d say it’s not a bad buy.

 

[D&D]

I have been wanting one for a while. WIth the mill I want a way to pickup logs when they come available.

This guy made a pretty nice setup for hauling logs

Log Trailer – Matt Cremona

mattcremona.com

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Assuming old style connector is 6 pin small round? If so I would replace it with 7 pin with flat so it can be used with multiple modern tow vehicles. Wife's first horse trailer had old style 6 pin round. Tried using 7 pin to six pin adapter. Due to length of both connectors had a hard time keeping brakes and lights functional on bumpy roads even with a bungee cord. Easy to convert by replacing trailer end. That way you'll also be able to be sure you have nice clean connections at plug end.

I thought it was a 4 pin round, but I just looked at it really quickly. 4 pins wouldn't make sense if it has brakes right? Yeah, I think I will change it to 7 pin. Need to do more digging on all that.

How many lugs? Wild guess it’s a 7k trailer, enough you want to get the brakes working. Seeing I paid almost triple that for a new one 15 years ago, and these days I’m sure a new one I closer to $4k than $3k I’d say it’s not a bad buy.

Good question, didn't look. I will have to take a look at that. But I am assuming a 7k trailer too. As long as I can tow the tractor, that is about the biggest thing I want to tow. Tractor is 5500 pounds with the 1200lb ballast so I think as long as I take that ballast off I will be good.

This guy made a pretty nice setup for hauling logs

Log Trailer – Matt Cremona

mattcremona.com

Matt Cremona! That's his name. I tried to look him Yeah, I don't need to haul anything nearly as big as he does. I think I am going to try the WinterDeere method and see if I can tug the logs up without an arch first. One less thing to fab up.

 

[RobertN]

@HawkinsHollow, your username reminds me of this guy

 

[HawkinsHollow]

@HawkinsHollow, your username reminds me of this guy

Never heard of him!

 

[flyerdan]

He was in the Comanche with Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline.

 

[RobertN]

He was in the Comanche with Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline.

Yes, Patsy Cline, Hankshaw Hawkins and Cowboy Copas all passed in that 1963 plane crash. Terrible day for Country music.

 

[RobertN]

Never heard of him!

Hankshaw was a popular Country singer in the 1950's and early 1960's. He died in a plane crash in 1963, along with Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Terrible day in Country music.

He was a Country great.

 

[Jaybr]

Good question, didn't look. I will have to take a look at that. But I am assuming a 7k trailer too. As long as I can tow the tractor, that is about the biggest thing I want to tow. Tractor is 5500 pounds with the 1200lb ballast so I think as long as I take that ballast off I will be good.

Keep in mind that 7k includes the weight of the trailer. If the trailer weights more than 1500lbs (which I suspect it does) and you load a 5500lb tractor on it, your overloaded.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Keep in mind that 7k includes the weight of the trailer. If the trailer weights more than 1500lbs (which I suspect it does) and you load a 5500lb tractor on it, your overloaded.

I understand that. I said my tractor is 5500 lbs WITH the 1200 lb ballast. So it's actually 4300 lbs. I doubt that trailer is 2700 pounds. But I have a scale at my disposal so there will be no surprises.

 

[RobertN]

I understand that. I said my tractor is 5500 lbs WITH the 1200 lb ballast. So it's actually 4300 lbs. I doubt that trailer is 2700 pounds. But I have a scale at my disposal so there will be no surprises.

My trailer is similar. It was 1600lbs bare. With winch, winch mounting, battery, spare tire, and chains it's probably 1800-1900.

 

[Jaybr]

I understand that. I said my tractor is 5500 lbs WITH the 1200 lb ballast. So it's actually 4300 lbs. I doubt that trailer is 2700 pounds. But I have a scale at my disposal so there will be no surprises.

Sorry if I came across wrong, didn’t catch removing the ballast.

I’m trying to find a trailer that will keep me within limits towing my tractor with implements, and struggling.

 

[kenmac]

Sorry if I came across wrong, didn’t catch removing the ballast.

I’m trying to find a trailer that will keep me within limits towing my tractor with implements, and struggling.

I bought a 14K 24 ft trailer last yr $5500.00 new. Have no idea what they going for these days

 

[Fixastuff]

Lore has it that that tongue weight doesn’t count as trailer weight.

 

[ning]

Lore has it that that tongue weight doesn’t count as trailer weight.

Lore has it that if you piss the cops off enough, they'll put a scale under the tongue and count it... YMMV.

 

[Fixastuff]

Lore has it that if you piss the cops off enough, they'll put a scale under the tongue and count it... YMMV.

It’s something trailer manufacturers advertise. I know a few people in my industry that have gotten tickets. None have been weighed. All have been trailer+ truck tags weights add up to cdl #s.(+26klbs) None actually had that much weight. Modern dually + 12k trailer that’s empty means ticket without cdl.

 

[oldballs]

For a trailer that long, the frame doew not look all that hefty to me.....if that makes any difference....but I am an amateur at this stuff.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Jaybr]

I bought a 14K 24 ft trailer last yr $5500.00 new. Have no idea what they going for these days

I’d like to get a gooseneck since the truck is setup for it. There’s a couple issues, gooseneck trailers are heavier than bumper pull, and upon digging through numbers I found out my tow rating is 1000 lbs less than I thought for gooseneck. Why 20” wheels drop the tow rating 800lbs lower than 17” is beyond me when the tire load ratings are same or higher.

Weight is not an issue with just the tractor, but add the loader and implement and getting close to 8k (my 3pt mower weights 1200lbs).

Truck is rated at 9950 with gooseneck and the lightest gooseneck trailer I’ve found is 12k aluminum at 2900 lbs.

May end up swapping wheel to gain 800 lb capacity, which makes no sense to me.