BX25 Trailering question

MarkI · Oct 25, 2010

Hi there ... new member here from the Niagara Region of Ontario.

My wife and I recently purchased a 76 acre farm. We rent out most of it to a pro-farmer and we are slowly taming the 6-10 acres that is the 20 year derelict jungle that will someday be our homestead. We are hoping the BX25 will help with the job and be small enough for my wife to enjoy; and easy enough for me to trailer each time (as we do not have a secure barn at the moment).

I have recently ruled out a 6X10 Miska dump trailer with awesome folding ramps. The idea was to back on, put the BH boom to one side and have the FEL arms resting on folded ramps (on a piece of wood of course). However, most people I talked to advised this may be a little too tight and hard on the hydraulics for regular trips.

My second idea for a trailer (that I can also use as my only utility trailer ...) would be a tandem 6X12 landscape utility (7,000 GVWR) with high sides (mesh or wood) and two ramps on the rear. The ramps would have a 24" gap between them which would in theory allow the BH boom and bucket to fit between and be 'outside' of the trailer. From what I understand the BX25 is 11'4" from the FEL bucket to the rear of the BH operating station ... this much should fit inside the 6X12 trailer ... Anyone trailering like this? I know the BH is pretty heavy ... I wonder if A) it would work ... and B) whether there would be enough tounge weight with the BH boom hanging out the back??

My last thought that in lieu of a dump trailer ... would be to have jacks installed on the back corners of the trailer so that I could put them down and potentially use the BX FEL to off load any fill, mulch, stone etc directly from the trailer. Any thoughts? Bad idea?

timswi · Oct 25, 2010

Welcome to TBN Mark...

I'm about to find out the same thing. I've never towed my BX, but I going to have to shortly. My neighbor has a 14' car trailer (14' isn't really a car trailer, but its all the same, just 2' shorter).

I'm curious how it will fit, My RTV1100 almost chews up the entire trailer and the BX is longer overall.

One thing that I would make sure of : The BX is heavy and I'd make certain that there are brakes on the trailer and also a dual axle would almost be manditory. My RTV weighs 2500# and that thing is a presence on the trailer, the BX is certainly heavier.

BruceWard · Oct 26, 2010

I would be concerned about tongue weight with the backhoe off the back of the trailer. If the tonque weight is too low your trailer will start swerving from side to side behind your truck.

I use a 20' trailer for my B21. With a 16' trailer I needed to have the FEL bucket on top and forward of the front rail to get enough tongue weight. You may be able to do the same with your BX but I think a 16' trailer would be a better option.

MarkI · Oct 26, 2010

Thanks guys ... Tim let me know how you make out with tounge weight with the 14' car trailer. Bruce ... I agree a 16' trailer would solve much of my problems ... however, my father uses my trailer to cart around his little riding mower as well ... and I want to keep it as small as possible to make it easier for his use. We also don't have room for a 16' trailer in the driveway. What do you think about me adding some weight (sand bags etc) to the FEL bucket to counter the extra weight hanging out the back of the trailer. I figure tractor with MMM is about 1,800lbs right over the axels ... BH is around 400lbs with boom elbow and bucket only outside the trailer. Loader is arond 400lbs ... perhaps an extra 200lbs in the FEL bucket might help fight trailer sway. Its a concern Bruce that I share with you because much of the commute to our country property is at hiway speeds.

DickS · Oct 26, 2010

Look here for some ideas.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/85999-bx-24-transporter.html

Krewz · Oct 26, 2010

I have a BX25 and it is about 14' from tip to stern.

With the back hoe lowered to the deck, it just fits on a 16' trailer with a few inches on each end to spare. I have a mesh gate in the back.

I take the SMV sign off when transporting as it came off once and thankfully landed on the deck and stayed there.

I pulled it a short distance with the back hoe raised and the back hoe bounced around and swayed a bit even with the transport pins installed. I like to have the BH bucket resting on the deck and strapped down.

Bill

rlsmith · Oct 26, 2010

I have no problem and I use an old double axle bobcat trailer. My BX23 BH hangs out past the trailer rear when I have the FEL on. Just make sure you pin the BH so it will not drop and or swing.

Krewz · Oct 26, 2010

MarkI said:
Thanks guys ... BH is around 400lbs with boom elbow and bucket only outside the trailer. Loader is arond 400lbs ... perhaps an extra 200lbs in the FEL bucket might help fight trailer sway. Its a concern Bruce that I share with you because much of the commute to our country property is at hiway speeds.

I think the FEL is about 550# and the BH is around 700#? My 60" MMM is about 200#.

On my 16' trailer, if I don't have the FEL within an inch or so from the front of the deck, the whole rig sways quite a bit when braking. I also tip the FEL bucket down so that the blade rests on a couple of 2x4's. That seems to get the weight a bit further forward.

dodge man · Oct 26, 2010

I have a BX2350, and I have a 16' car trailer with a 2' beaver tail. With just the tractor on there, the trailer is way to big. With the tractor, endloader and brush hog, it get long in a hurry, and the trailer is just the right length. I would want at least a 16 foot trailer with your setup. Just about any tandem axle trailer with brakes on at least one axle will handle the weight just fine, length is more of an issue than weight.

BruceWard · Oct 26, 2010

I think you might be able to solve the balance issue by having the trailer build with the axles further to the rear. A landscape trailer typically has the axles a little rear of center. Moving a few feet further to the rear would shift weight forward to the ball.

What are you towing with?

zoltanthegypsy · Oct 26, 2010

dodge man said:
I have a BX2350, and I have a 16' car trailer with a 2' beaver tail. With just the tractor on there, the trailer is way to big. With the tractor, endloader and brush hog, it get long in a hurry, and the trailer is just the right length. I would want at least a 16 foot trailer with your setup. Just about any tandem axle trailer with brakes on at least one axle will handle the weight just fine, length is more of an issue than weight.

+1 for the 16 footer. I use a 16' ramp trailer for my BX24. The ramps are too short and steep for much else, but the BX climbs on just fine. W/the hog attached, the hog idler wheel just meets the back of the trailer. An inch shorter would be too short.

It's a tandem axle trailer, and I had it built with disk brakes. Trailers behind a 1/2 ton Chevy PU very well.

Pics @ left and here:

Z.

timswi · Oct 26, 2010

BruceWard said:
I think you might be able to solve the balance issue by having the trailer build with the axles further to the rear. A landscape trailer typically has the axles a little rear of center. Moving a few feet further to the rear would shift weight forward to the ball.

What are you towing with?

That's the upside to the trailer I'm going to borrow until I buy one. The axles are shifted off center to the rear. That should help in my case. Good thing I'm not going far.

I'm using a GMC 1500 5.3 4x4 xcab with 3.73's. It pulls my RTV1100 fine, the BX is a little heavier, don't see a problem there.

BruceWard · Oct 26, 2010

I think your tow vehicle is fine. If it was something small it would likely make the swaying worse. On a 16 foot trailer my B21 caused my 2007 GMC 1500 4 door to sway around 55 mph. I had to pull off the road and move the tractor forward with the FEL bucket over the front rail. I switched to a 2 inch drop hitch to lower the front of the trailer but still needed to have the FEL bucket over the front rail. Eventually I added 4' to the trailer in front the axles and it tows great now.

Previously I was towing the B21 with the 16' trailer and a 4.7 Dodge Dakota with factory upgraded rear suspension and tow package. The trailer and tractor were at or a little over the trucks tow rating. On the 16' trailer the B21 put enough tongue weight on the Dakota and I did not have any sway issues.

The GMC is a Sierra Denali with tow package and a on road performance suspension which is stiffer than Z71. It needs a lot more tongue weight to avoid swaying than the Dakota did.

BruceWard · Oct 26, 2010

This is my trailer at 16'

And at 20'

ToolDad · Oct 26, 2010

I have a BX2200 with FEL, but no backhoe. I have used a 6x12 trailer and could not get enough tongue weight. I now own a 6x16 which I consider a minimum to have weight centering ability. When I add a rear implement such as box scrape in addition to FEL, the trailer is pretty full legnthwise. Also, the smaller trailer did not have brakes whereas the longer one does; HIGHLY recommended to have brakes; pulls much better/safer.

timswi · Oct 26, 2010

ToolDad said:
I have a BX2200 with FEL, but no backhoe. I have used a 6x12 trailer and could not get enough tongue weight. I now own a 6x16 which I consider a minimum to have weight centering ability. When I add a rear implement such as box scrape in addition to FEL, the trailer is pretty full legnthwise. Also, the smaller trailer did not have brakes whereas the longer one does; HIGHLY recommended to have brakes; pulls much better/safer.

Got brakes, just not the length.

keyman1808 · Oct 27, 2010

I have a 10' landscape trailer and do tow my BX24 with it, BUT I am only going 1-2 miles down slow country roads with it. I just move it twice a year form home to my dads and back. If I were towing it further I would not even think of using anything less than a 16'. I back the BX24 on an let the BH overhang the front. Then I raise the FEL all the way up and close the mess tailgate and lower carefully the FEL and curl the bucket over the top. It works but if I were going more than 1 or 2 miles I wouldnt try it. By the way the speed is no more than 10MPH when doing this. OK now everyone can call the safety police on me

BrianR · Oct 27, 2010

I pull my BX2200 with front loader and a 400# 1 bottom House plow on the 3ph with a 16' x 6' 7000# rated tandem axle (brakes on 1) landscape trailer. I have never had an issue with tongue weight. In fact, I actually park it with the loader about 2 and half feet back from the front rail most of the time.

I looked at 12' trailers and I would consider 16' tandem to be the minimum length to safely haul a BX tractor very far with. Especially if you haul with loader and attachments. Without the 3point plow on the back, I can actually put the tractor even further back on the trailer.

Usually I run the tractor forward and watch for the truck to squat about 3 to 4" at the hitch and strap it down there.

MarkI · Oct 27, 2010

Thanks all for your input ... from what I've learned I see that it might be beneficial to figure out a trailer design that leaves room for me to back the BX25 on to the trailer leaving the backhoe boom hanging over the A frame and not the back end of the trailer. As an experiment I think I will throw it on a uhaul 6X12 tandem open trailer and see how that handles ... also see where I would need to make openings (for the BH) on my (front) "hi-side" design. Possibly look into slide out or carry on ramps instead of the typical landscape design ... so the FEL is resting on something a little more solid. If all else fails ... I will buy a 16' trailer and trade in the driveway!