Hauling/Transporting An 8n From NJ to ME

[keegs]

Anyone have any experiences to share with regard to transporting a tractor over long distance? Looking to find out my options for transporting an 8N from NJ to Maine.

Who did you use, what did it cost, about how long did it take to transport?

TIA

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have hauled a 8N and other Ford series tractors for years using a 16' and a 18' car hauler. Both were 7,000# car haulers and it worked great.

On the 16' trailer I backed it on. My current 18' trailer I just pull it on forward. The 8N is not that heavy, right around 2,500# but can weigh about 4,000# with the rears filled. As for securing I used 4 chains and 2 boomers.

I put a tow pin in the draw bar and ran each of my short 10' chains to the corners of the trailer at aprox. 45deg angles. I like to use 2 short chains each independent of each other incase one fails or comes loose. I then idle the tractor up to stake up the slack then from the front brush guard I used 2 more 10' chains to the corners of the trailer again at aprox. 45deg angle and then used my 2 boomers to snug it down good.

If you are hauling any implements make sure you lower them to the trailers deck to take the load of they 3 point and secure them with a strap or chain over the top of them.

Drive a few miles and check everything. A stop about every 100 miles to get a drink, hit the rest room, check the load, check the trailer tires/bearings is a good idea also.

Chris

 

[keegs]

Thanks Chris for the tips. I don't have a vehicle with enough towing capacity to pull the trailer with the tractor on it all the way up to our place in ME. I thought I'd try to find out what it would cost to have one hauled professionally and what the particulars are for doing that. There are some outfits advertizing online that specialize in transporting tractors.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks Chris for the tips. I don't have a vehicle with enough towing capacity to pull the trailer with the tractor on it all the way up to our place in ME. I thought I'd try to find out what it would cost to have one hauled professionally and what the particulars are for doing that. There are some outfits advertizing online that specialize in transporting tractors.

If you cannot move it yourself forget about it. Or should I say fer-ged-boud-it since we are talking Jersey here. lol

You could buy another 8N up there and be money a head in the long run. Transport cost I have found to be right at $3 to $3.50 per mile. Every 100 miles plan on $325 in round numbers. NJ to Maine is about $525 so you are looking at $1700 in round numbers. I can buy decent 8N's any day of the week using local paper, EBAY, or my favorite Craigs List for the $1500 price range. You are looking at about 525 miles for the trip so it just does not make sense to transport it.

Chris

 

[keegs]

If you cannot move it yourself forget about it. Or should I say fer-ged-boud-it since we are talking Jersey here. lol

You could buy another 8N up there and be money a head in the long run. Transport cost I have found to be right at $3 to $3.50 per mile. Every 100 miles plan on $325 in round numbers. NJ to Maine is about $525 so you are looking at $1700 in round numbers. I can buy decent 8N's any day of the week using local paper, EBAY, or my favorite Craigs List for the $1500 price range. You are looking at about 525 miles for the trip so it just does not make sense to transport it.

Chris

If it's going to be that much then I agree....it's time to start looking closer to ME.

I've been relying on craigslist for my search but there aren't nearly as many to choose from up there...not sure why since ag is still a big part of the economy there. I'll have to come up with another plan...but in the mean time I'm having a ball looking at all these nice old tractors for sale :thumbsup:

 

[Diamondpilot]

So I do not understand? Do you have the tractor yet? I took it as you now live in NJ and are moving to Main. I guess not.

I assume now you are looking to buy a tractor and one you found and like is in NJ. If this is true shipping will kill you. It would be different if you were talking about a $25,000 tractor or more, but to spend that much $$$$ to ship a old machine like that is crazy. Its not like a 8N is hard to find tractor. Its a good old machine and there are tons of them out there. Keep your eyes open. Ask around, you will find one within 25 miles of your home for sale.

Chris

 

[keegs]

No.. I haven't purchased one yet.

We own a small farm in a very rural part of Maine where local newspapers/classifieds are not available to me remotely. I was using craigslist for my search. I guess I need to get plugged into how used tractors are marketed up there. Like you implied, there are many of these machines listed locally here in NJ and the surrounding area.

I may have spoken too soon about the towing capacity of my pickup. I have a Chevy Colorado 4 cyl,, manual. Apparently the specs show I can tow 4k lbs. which might be within the margins to do the job.

 

[roaf3x]

Depending on where you are in ME, check Union Farm Equipment.

Uncle Henry my have something. For the money to go to NJ I would recommend something local.

They have a website with the used tractors.

Or give them a call.

Nice folks been there a long time.

Good luck !

RD

 

[keegs]

thanks roaf...Uncle Henry's looks like a keeper. :thumbsup:

 

[Diamondpilot]

There is no way that Colorado will tow it without killing it. Remember you are towing the tractor at aprox 3,500# to 4,000# and the trailer at aprox 1,700# to 2,000#. You will be way over weight.

Do you have other stuff to take up? Rent a Uhaul and trailer to do the trip or rent a pickup. My customer just rented a brand new, less than 2000 miles, 2011 F-250 long bed extended cab 4x4 diesel to transport his 15,000# boat about 800 miles. Got it for 5 days for $300 which I though was very reasonable.

Chris

 

[keegs]

Just did another tow capacity check with my owner's manual this time and it says:

Vehicle* Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**

Manual Transmission,
2.8L Engine 4.10 1,900 lbs (861 kg) 6,000 lbs (2 722 kg)

**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the
total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle
and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment
and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should
not be exceeded.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at the address listed in your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.

Need to verify the axle ratio.

Weekly rentals on a full size pickup are in the $350 range which is doable...then there's the cost of the car trailer rental.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Tell me everything you can about your vehicle, look at my first response, and I will tell you the tow rating of your vehicle. I have a towing guide that covers all vehicles for the last 15 years or so.

Its really pointless though. No way a 4 cylinder Colorado can handle this load.

We know its a Colorado. What year? Bed length? Cab style? Motor? Tranny type? 4x4 or not?


Chris

 

[whodat526]

Tell me everything you can about your vehicle, look at my first response, and I will tell you the tow rating of your vehicle. I have a towing guide that covers all vehicles for the last 15 years or so.

Its really pointless though. No way a 4 cylinder Colorado can handle this load.

We know its a Colorado. What year? Bed length? Cab style? Motor? Tranny type? 4x4 or not?


Chris

i would have to agree to an extent that the colorado is to small to haul the load as far as you are wonting to go but if it was just local it would pull it fine i hauled a 8n and bushhog around on a 16ft pipe top trailer with my 1994 s10 i had with no trouble but wish the brakes where a little better but then again the trailer had breaks that worked so that helped alot

 

[keegs]

Tell me everything you can about your vehicle, look at my first response, and I will tell you the tow rating of your vehicle. I have a towing guide that covers all vehicles for the last 15 years or so.

Its really pointless though. No way a 4 cylinder Colorado can handle this load.

We know its a Colorado. What year? Bed length? Cab style? Motor? Tranny type? 4x4 or not?


Chris

Thanks Chris,

My Colorado is a stock, 2006, extended cab, 6 ft. bed, 4 cyl, 4x4 w/ manual 5 speed trans.

I have a Draw-Tite hitch installed on it with 600 lb tongue weight and 6000 lb towing weight rating. The Draw-Tite ball mount has a 3/4 inch rise/2 inch drop and a 6,000 lb weight rating. I think I have a 1 3/4" ball on there now. I use it to tow a small 4x8 utility trailer.

I've been looking at the U-Haul car trailers. They're about a ton.

I'm going to run this all by my dealer service guy as well to see what he says.

As an aside I'll say that with little (or no really) prior experience with tractors, this shopping around I'm doing isn't a waste of time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks Chris,

My Colorado is a stock, 2006, extended cab, 6 ft. bed, 4 cyl, 4x4 w/ manual 5 speed trans.

I have a Draw-Tite hitch installed on it with 600 lb tongue weight and 6000 lb towing weight rating. The Draw-Tite ball mount has a 3/4 inch rise/2 inch drop and a 6,000 lb weight rating. I think I have a 1 3/4" ball on there now. I use it to tow a small 4x8 utility trailer.

I've been looking at the U-Haul car trailers. They're about a ton.

I'm going to run this all by my dealer service guy as well to see what he says.

As an aside I'll say that with little (or no really) prior experience with tractors, this shopping around I'm doing isn't a waste of time.

I checked my guide. Realize its only a trailer sales guide and not the bible. Its a guide only but according to the guide for your truck with both the 3.73 and 4.10 gear ratios the tow rating is 1,900# for the 2.8L I4 4x4 with manual tranny. That is about enough to tow the trailer only. No way you are going to tow that tractor. There is a max GCVWR (gross combined vehicle wheel rating) or max of truck/cargo/trailer/load of 6,000#. This is not your tow rating but instead the max weight it can lug down the road total.

I was not implying it was a waste of time to shop around but the fact is there is no way you could tow that load that many miles without taking major life out of your truck...

One other thing I see alot is guys get hung up on tractors or trailer prices in their area. They are what they are. For example I can buy a trailer for 2/3 the cost you guys can on the East Coast. Its a matter of where its made. Being made in the Mid-West means little or no shipping cost. Same is true with tractors. In a highly populated agriculture area tractors will be cheaper than they are in say the suburbs of a major city. It all has to do with supply and demand. What I am getting at is do your research but prices in you area are just what they are.

Chris

 

[clemsonfor]

My wife was in a wreck and we got a rental, they did not have our bubble car they were going to rent us so our choice was a smaller bubble or a silverado 2011. We had that thing for like 17 days. The insurance from the other driver only paid enterprise like $25/day unlimited mileage. Go by your local enterprise and see if they have trucks and then make sure there no cars and then rent a car and get upgraded like we did! :laughing::laughing:

Seriously we/insurance got a deal on that thing. Extended cab we put over 1400 miles on it in that time. Had to go out of town twice while we had it. Think they only paid less than $500 for it that time.

Yea im just kidding i know this will never work out.

But if you want to haul it yourself. I would rent a Uhaul with unlimited miles or something. They can usually be had cheap and can tow that 4000lbs easy, but slow. But make sure to get the fine print on these type things as those mileages can add up if you go over them. Id pick up a uhaul in the town near tractor and a trailer from then and drive home and drop tractor then return truck near your home.

 

[clemsonfor]

Thanks Chris,

I think I have a 1 3/4" ball on there now. I use it to tow a small 4x8 utility trailer.

Not to nit pic, but this size dosent exist. At least in this current times.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Not to nit pic, but this size dosent exist. At least in this current times.

Yea, common sizes are:

1 7/8" rated at 2000# for the ball. All I have seen have a 3/4" shank.

2" rated at 3,500# with a 3/4" shank, 5,000# or 7,500# with a 1" shank, and 7,500# with a 1 1/4" shank for the ball.

2 5/16" rated at 6,000# with a 1" shank, and upto 25,000# with a 1 1/4" shank for the ball.

There are others but these are common sizes.

Chris

 

[keegs]

I checked my guide. Realize its only a trailer sales guide and not the bible. Its a guide only but according to the guide for your truck with both the 3.73 and 4.10 gear ratios the tow rating is 1,900# for the 2.8L I4 4x4 with manual tranny. That is about enough to tow the trailer only. No way you are going to tow that tractor. There is a max GCVWR (gross combined vehicle wheel rating) or max of truck/cargo/trailer/load of 6,000#. This is not your tow rating but instead the max weight it can lug down the road total.

I was not implying it was a waste of time to shop around but the fact is there is no way you could tow that load that many miles without taking major life out of your truck...

One other thing I see alot is guys get hung up on tractors or trailer prices in their area. They are what they are. For example I can buy a trailer for 2/3 the cost you guys can on the East Coast. Its a matter of where its made. Being made in the Mid-West means little or no shipping cost. Same is true with tractors. In a highly populated agriculture area tractors will be cheaper than they are in say the suburbs of a major city. It all has to do with supply and demand. What I am getting at is do your research but prices in you area are just what they are.

Chris

Your guide is pretty much on the money Chris. I called the Chevy dealer to get a clarification on the The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) that I mentioned earlier and the 6k lb rating includes the weight of the truck, me, my passenger, whatever gas is in the gas tank, the lunch pail on the front seat ..etc. etc..

So I guess my original thought...that my vehicle didn't have adequate towing capacity was correct...probably some wishful thinking slipped in there ...

I'm going to get an idea what it would cost to rent an adequately sized rig to do the job and consider it in my calculations.

Thanks again for keeping with me on this.

Cheers... Chris K.

 

[keegs]

Not to nit pic, but this size dosent exist. At least in this current times.

no..you're right ...it's a 1 7/8 " ball on there now.