Flat Tow Backhoe -- no trailer

[Diamondpilot]

I agree. Last time we had something moved it was either $3 or $3.50 per load mile.

Look at what it cost the transport company to do this. Truck, trailer, driver, fuel, insurance, profit. Its a fair price. I do some transport work and I charge by the hour. If I am not at $60 a hour I am losing money. $75 is more comfortable.

Chris

 

[56FordGuy]

I would not want to flat tow that. Like the others have said, none of the drivetrain components (tires, transmission, etc) are designed to go that fast. You could easily do enough damage to outweigh any cost savings.

That said, it weighs 9,000 lbs? A diesel, crewcab pickup truck can weigh 8,000+ lbs. Most wrecker companies should have a rollback truck big enough to move it with. I'd rent a trailer or hire someone to move it.

 

[Duffster]

I recently purchased an old Case 310B backhoe, it is basically a tractor with a loader and backhoe, it weighs in about 9000 lbs. It has the big 24" tractor tires. I'm wondering if I can flat-tow it, i.e. let it roll on its wheels when I tow it. I'd go slow. It is a bit far to drive it, about 75 miles, at 10mph that would take 7.5 hours. I'm thinking 30-40mph, so only 2-3 hours..

Can the tractor tires/wheels/transmission handle going that fast?

Alternatively, can it be towed by a wrecker tow-truck, i.e. with the big rear wheels on the ground, same kind of issue if it can handle the speed.

Thanks, Jack

Just drive it.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Just drive it.

If you can't or don't want to pay for hauling it this is the best option. I bet it will do 15mph or so which puts you down to 5hrs. Have someone follow you, stop for lunch along the way, etc and it wouldn't be too bad.


With that said, I have seen an older backhoe being flat towed. It was by a contractor who didn't have a trailer and towed it with a 2-ton truck. Just locally though, not over the distance you are talking. Also another guy, fencing contractor, flat tows his 45hp Ford tractor behind a 3/4 ton pickup. Again, no more than 10-15mi probably. He's been doing it for years so I guess everything has held up. Regardless, I think your only two options should be drive it or have it hauled by someone.

 

[chopped]

could you explain flat tow?

 

[tcartwri]

Just drive it. The geometry on the front axle will not let you flat tow it anyways.

 

[56FordGuy]

could you explain flat tow?

Flat towing is generally having all four wheels of the towed vehicle on the road. Usually connected to the towing vehicle by an A frame type tow bar. No trailer, the vehicle being towed just rolls along. A lot of people with big motorhomes tow a small vehicle that way.

 

[chopped]

ahh thanks. i checked u tibe and thought that was it.Ive heard of people who set the front bucket in the truck bed and use down pressure to lift it off the ground and then tow it like that. short distances..

 

[nimblemotors]

My concern driving it isn't just the time, but it is not very safe to drive 15mph when everyone else is going 55mpg behind you, and there is really only one road, undivided two-lane (one each way) highway to where I'm going for 35 of the miles, so I can't avoid this highway.
At least towing it a little faster the impact won't be as large, and I won't be on it when it is crashed into.. it is mostly flat, but there are some dipty-dos and such that you can't see ahead of you, in the worse case someone flys over a hump and there I am.

If a flatbed tow truck will work, that might be an option.

If you can't or don't want to pay for hauling it this is the best option. I bet it will do 15mph or so which puts you down to 5hrs. Have someone follow you, stop for lunch along the way, etc and it wouldn't be too bad.


With that said, I have seen an older backhoe being flat towed. It was by a contractor who didn't have a trailer and towed it with a 2-ton truck. Just locally though, not over the distance you are talking. Also another guy, fencing contractor, flat tows his 45hp Ford tractor behind a 3/4 ton pickup. Again, no more than 10-15mi probably. He's been doing it for years so I guess everything has held up. Regardless, I think your only two options should be drive it or have it hauled by someone.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Id rent a trailer or hire some one. Some transmissions wont oil with the ring driving the pinion. It would really wear the pinion and ring gear to. I wont even roa my old TLB over a mile be fore I load it on a trailer. I have a friend that has a 540 Landscap loader just a tlb with a bucket and a box blade. He cut a hole in the bucket floor ane hoked it over his trucks GN ball. dragging it around locally then it got to being 45 and 50 mph. He fried both planetaries, ring gear and pinion, and killed a few bearings and did some gear damage. Old combines and cotton pickers had knock out axles for this reason to tow them.