Fish Tailing

[aczlan]

As to how much weight that specific truck in the pictures can handle, its probably a topic for another very long thread. :laughing:

Like this (VERY LONG) one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../284456-share-pics-people-hauling-towing.html

Aaron Z

 

[MikePA]

These new Super Duty, Extreme Edition and super HP work trucks are warping everyone's perception of what is necessary. They are being pushed on the public by the auto industry that is doing whatever it can to milk money out of your pocket.

I agree!

Why, just the other day, I was driving past the Chevy dealer in my dependable, 35 year old Chevy Luv, towing my Cat D3 on my landscape trailer when the salesman threw spike strips in front of me, forcing me to slam on the brakes. He dragged me out of the truck and forced me, I tell ya he forced me, to buy a brand new, Duramax dually, crew cab. What's the world coming to. :laughing:

EDIT: Come on. No one is 'forced' to buy a new truck with all the options, nor do they have one 'pushed' on them. What is necessary is a matter of numbers, not marketing. As has been mentioned in almost every towing thread, the important issue is not what you can tow, it's what you can stop. People can claim they 'only' tow with an overloaded trailer and overloaded tow vehicle 'a few times' a year and 'only' on back roads, going 40 mph or less. Tell that to the kid, vehicle, animal that darts in front of you and forces you to brake hard or your reflexes cause you to try and avoid it.

 

[zing]

A little extra tongue wait seems to be what fixes the issue.

That last trailer pic was from a borrowed trailer.

I bought one in November that was custom made with brakes so the truck could stop faster with these loads.

In February it was stolen. Thief cut the lock to my front gate, then smashed the trailer tongue lock, and drove off with it from the side of my house.

Cops said if it ever turns up, they'll let me know.

Like that'll ever happen.

FYI: This little Kubota L4400 is about 2000 lbs lighter than the tractor I had before that.

That is an International 784.

As long as you use your head and don't exceed a safe speed (about 40 MPH in my case), you will be able to stay in control of the load.

These new Super Duty, Extreme Edition and super HP work trucks are warping everyone's perception of what is necessary. They are being pushed on the public by the auto industry that is doing whatever it can to milk money out of your pocket.

I haul this truck once or twice a year. I don't try to drag race with it like you see many of these Mega Cab, 4x4, power diesel trucks doing around here.

The rest of the year, I drive my 1-owner 20 year old truck with no payments and no problems.

Hey, not sure I am following.
- The bottom picture is your old tractor on your old trailer.
- The middle picture is the new tractor on the new trailer with brakes that got stolen.
- The top picture is the new tractor on the old trailer, since the new trailer got stolen.
Is that correct?

Based on that, I can see why you want to keep the old reliable truck that is paid for, instead of paying big bucks for a heavy duty truck that will be used to tow once or twice a year. If the load is balanced properly, you are pushing it legally, but if you travel seldom, slow and on a known route you are probably safe. Just barely though, and based on your being very careful of load balance and speed. Also keep the bushhog flat on the deck because when it is up in the air it will bounce and lift on the tongue.

My primary question is that you pointed out the brakes on the new (stolen) trailer. Does that mean your older trailer doesn't have brakes? If so, then there is no way you should be on the road towing that load on that trailer with that truck.

BTW, sorry to hear about your trailer. Thieves suck and should be shot.

 

[MossRoad]

Like this (VERY LONG) one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../284456-share-pics-people-hauling-towing.html

Aaron Z

Oohhh.... that's about as long as they get! :laughing:

 

[jp2code]

zing, you are correct on all accounts.

The old trailer is my dad's that he had built in the 80s. It does not have brakes, lights, tags, registration, or even decent tires.

It was a big step for me getting a trailer with brakes custom made so I could pull my tractor once a year. You'd think a trailer with brakes wouldn't be a big deal, but finding a trailer with brakes around here is like finding hen's teeth.

What's more, there aren't even any places in this town of 70,000 people that will rent a trailer except U-Haul, and they will not rent one to someone pulling a tractor. I tried.

I'll get another trailer with brakes soon. I've got some equipment on Craigslist that I'm trying to sell, but no interest yet. I'm even offering my items as trade for a trailer with brakes. Unless someone comes forward with something to trade, I'm going to be stuck having to save up for another one - for some thief to come and take. I'm sure he'll be excited when he sees I got another trailer.

 

[buickanddeere]

Pump the trailer tires up to max rated. What kind of tires on the trailer, old truck or car tires? radial or bias trailer tires ?
As previously stated, roll the center of gravity forward.

 

[jp2code]

You don't want to know what the tires are like. My dad should be shot for letting anyone borrow a trailer in that sort of condition. Mix and match tires from the junk pile.

 

[Raspy]

Trailer brakes are a must for that load!!! Without trailer brakes, if you try to stop fast on a curve, it's crash time. And if you start to get fishtailing, apply the trailer brakes with the button on the controller. That will immediately straighten it out.

You probably won't get a full 10% tongue weight on that Nissan without overloading it. With a total gross trailer weight of around 7-8,000 lbs you'll be looking at 7-800 lbs on the hitch. By the time you get that much, the hitch weight will start causing handling problems. But I bet you can find a compromise that will do OK at low speeds and with trailer brakes. Just don't try to make an emergency maneuver at speed.

 

[NorEaster]

Just FYI there is a Big Tex dealer in Minden, LA, 70 miles from Longview. Hope you didn't pay out too much for the trailer.

 

[jp2code]

I think the basic trailer was $1700. After adding electric brakes, ramps, taxes and registration, it jumped all the way up to $2200 out the door.

I can get another one. I just need to figure out how to store it so someone doesn't take it away like the last one.