How big of a Trailer will I need?

[Diamondpilot]

View attachment 226554 2004 heavy/half 6.0gas is what I have been using to pull my View attachment 226557 trailer is a 24ft flattop gooseneck twin 7000lbs axles I just back on the trailer so tractor is over axles,pulls fine(70mph) truck has over 350,000miles:thumbsup:

Your truck and his truck are not in the same class. The GM Heavy Half with the 6.0 is basically the same truck as a 3/4 ton 6.0L GM. Slightly lower GVWR is about it but if I remember right it actually had a slightly higher tow rating then the same year 3/4 ton GM. Had a full floater in the rear, large systems, brakes, ect. Yours is not really a 1/2 ton.

Ford had the same thing. They first called it a Light Duty 3/4 ton and it looked like a F-150, not a F-250. It was later and is still called the F-150 7700. It has 4.10 gears and a 7,700# GVWR. Just like the GM it has a full floater, bigger brakes, larger systems, ect. It would actually tow more than the same year F-250 with the 5.4L and 8,800# GVWR because it was nearly 1,500# lighter of a truck. These trucks were not really a 1/2 ton either. I had one and it was probably my favorite 1/2 ton Ford I had of all them I have owned.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

you can 'get by' with a 16' car hauler.. but an 18' would be nicer.. whether 16' with dovetail, or 18' straight... even better yet.. an 18' dovetail... flat bed will make for low center of gravity and easier loading. wood deck, andle channel fram and box tounge will likely net you the lowest trailer weight.. probably 1700-2200# depending on the size. that takes away from load carrying.. if you have 3.5k tandems.. you be stuck at 5k- payload.. so watch that. might get heavier axles, just to eat more of that trucks 8500 capability. DO get electric brakes.

soundguy

Howdy,

I'm about to purchase either a Kioti DK50SE w/FEL, or a Bobcat CT450 w/FEL (basically the same exact tractor).

How big of a trailer do I need to haul it plus a bush-hog (for example).

Also, I suspect you ill tell me I need to upgrade my 2001 2wd F-150 supercab (I believe it will tow 8500lbs).

I want advice from you guys "living the life" and not from the dealer with $$$ in his eyes...

Unfortunately Money IS an object, so I am likely shopping around for used (spending all I gots on the Tractor).

Thanks in advance and Be well!
David

 

[ovrszd]

Good discussion. I tend to agree with Soundguy's approach. With the truck that's being used it's going to be extremely critical to keep trailer weight at a minimum. If you hook a heavy GN trailer to the 1/2 Ton I think you'll run out of legal GCVW capacity before you get all the equipment loaded.

This is a bit off track, but makes my point. I've got a '00 Super Duty Diesel that weighs 6850 lbs. I've got a 28' w/4' dovetail tandem wheeled GN that weighs 6840 lbs. My truck has a GCVW rating of 20K lbs. I can only legally haul 6310 lbs.

My trailer will haul your tractor w/equipment likes it's nothing. My truck will pull the load like it's not back there. But I'd be legally overloaded.

Consider empty weight very carefully.

 

[LD1]

you can 'get by' with a 16' car hauler.. but an 18' would be nicer.. whether 16' with dovetail, or 18' straight... even better yet.. an 18' dovetail... flat bed will make for low center of gravity and easier loading. wood deck, andle channel fram and box tounge will likely net you the lowest trailer weight.. probably 1700-2200# depending on the size. that takes away from load carrying.. if you have 3.5k tandems.. you be stuck at 5k- payload.. so watch that. might get heavier axles, just to eat more of that trucks 8500 capability. DO get electric brakes.

soundguy

I agree, he needs to keep the trailer weight down or get a bigger truck, but....

You really think he is going to fit that tractor, FEL, and a 6' bushhog on a 16 or 18 foot trailer???

My smaller L3400 with FEL and 6' hog just barley fits on my 20 footer. And thats with the tail-wheel sticking off the back between the ramps.

Just his tractor and FEL is going to push 15'. If he doesnt ever plan on implements going with him, them maybe a 16 or 18 would work. But why limit yourself like that?? I vote a 22' trailer at a MINIMUM.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Was just showing what I used the load I am towing is quite abit more than his would be. With the bumper pull and his half ton it will have alot more tongue weight on truck,rear bumper dragging,front bumper in the air.Atleast with the gooseneck you would mainly just pulling the trailer with the weight mostly on the trailer. We pulled cows for years to the sell barn with an 89 ford longbed half/ton 300 6cyl. trailer used 24ft gooseneck loaded,but had trouble pulling the 16ft bumper pull with square bales rear bumper dragging jack digging in.I tried to put my 50hp tractor on my 18ft carhauler and took it right off ,wasnt anyway I was going to drag it 30miles like that,next day had gooseneck. Im using my father-in-laws truck since mine is in the shop(2000 ford f-350 crew/7.3diesel) it never had a gooseneck in it but he said go ahead. With my truck usually borrowed 36ft gooseneck,desided it was time to buy my own.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Moss,

Congrats on the new tractor. I've been looking at Kioti & Kubota and had spec sheets downloaded already. Don't take my comments on the trailer too seriously, as I'm not an expert. I do think the numbers below are pretty close though - hope this helps.

3968 = DK50SE - Overall L = 134"
1100 = Loader (est) - Addt'l L (est) = 40
1046 = Land Pride 72" RCR2672 - Overall L = 126
634 = Fluid (est) 13.6-24 tires 317 lb ea
200 = Chain, hardware (est)
------
6948 = est weight
25' = est overall L (this seems long to me, maybe I'm missing some overlap?)

Thanks Chef!

 

[ovrszd]

Was just showing what I used the load I am towing is quite abit more than his would be. With the bumper pull and his half ton it will have alot more tongue weight on truck,rear bumper dragging,front bumper in the air.Atleast with the gooseneck you would mainly just pulling the trailer with the weight mostly on the trailer. We pulled cows for years to the sell barn with an 89 ford longbed half/ton 300 6cyl. trailer used 24ft gooseneck loaded,but had trouble pulling the 16ft bumper pull with square bales rear bumper dragging jack digging in.I tried to put my 50hp tractor on my 18ft carhauler and took it right off ,wasnt anyway I was going to drag it 30miles like that,next day had gooseneck. Im using my father-in-laws truck since mine is in the shop(2000 ford f-350 crew/7.3diesel) it never had a gooseneck in it but he said go ahead. With my truck usually borrowed 36ft gooseneck,desided it was time to buy my own.

Yep, I totally agree with you. I bought my first GN this Summer. I RARELY hook onto my bumper hitch trailer.

I used to haul my L4400 w/FEL and 6' Rhino brushcutter on my 16' bumper pull cargo trailer. I'd sit the back of the loader bucket on my front rail and the tail wheel of the cutter was hanging about 18" off the back of the trailer. The trailer was WAY overloaded but it got me by for short hauls.

If you are gonna sit the loader bucket on the trailer deck and have the cutter wheel on the deck, you'll need a 20' or maybe a 22'.

Just as the OP has too small of truck for his goals, so do I. I recently hauled two Jeeps on a 200 mile trip. The trailer and truck handled the load very, very well. But I was 1000 lbs over my GCVW.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Very good info so far.

Let me start with the truck. I am a big F-150 fan, own 6, but you are going to kill it. I am a trailer dealer and and can tell you a trailer to pull this load is in the range of 2,500# so using the calculations of other here at aprox 7,000# for your load you are pushing 10,000# for the total load by the time you add the extras like chains, tools, ect.

2001 F-150 2x4 Super crew had 3 engines available according to my trailer towing guide and each have a different tow rating.

4.2L V-6 has a rating of 5,500#
4.6L V-8 has a rating of 6,900#
5.4L V-8 has a rating of 8,600#

I have towed 10,000# with my 2001 F-150 4x4 Super Crew 5.4L back in 2003. It was not fun and actually would not pull the load up a hill I encountered on a road on a 100deg August day. I had to drive it in 4 Wheel Low for 3 miles to crest it. If it were not for that low gearing I would still be there. I bought a brand new 2004 Powerstroke 4x4 the next day.

I am also in the drive the tractor camp for shorter distances. I find it way less stressful and gives me a time to relax after some work.


Chris

Chris,

I have the 5.4. I just rolled over 97,000 and this truck has been awesome, plus it is in really great shape. I thought I'd keep it forever, but now I'm thinking it simplyt will not handle this tractor/trailer idea at all, so...

I just replace the wife's car with a new Flex, and I'm buying this tractor, not sure I can afford another truck and a trailer...

I have a 5x12 flatbed single axle with a ramp/tailgate that I haul my Harley or JD Mower etc. on and it has been great, but it is WAY TOO SMALL now!

This is like a snowball, it just keeps on growing...

Hmmm...

 

[mmorisoli]

Here is the setup I use that has proven to be a very flexible setup.

Kubota L3940 with third function, grapple bucket, loader bucket, box blade, 6 shredder with water/sealant in the tires

GMC 2500HD with Duramax Diesel and 6 speed Allison transmission (AMAZING) and a high end electric brake controller

Maxey 16 Gooseneck dump trailer with 2 7,500 lb axles with electric brakes on both axles

Here is a picture with a the setup. The loader bucket is actually on the bottom of the trailer in front of the tractor and I let the grapple lay on the gooseneck as you can see. The box is on the tractor in this shot, but when I do load the 6 shredder it just hangs out the back a bit.

This setup tows fantastic and most importantly it stops on a dime!!!

The dump trailer has proven itself time and time again with 100 uses I never intended it for. The 2 sides prevent you from overloading it with anything too heavy.

Good luck, Mike

 

[LD1]

Chris,

I have the 5.4. I just rolled over 97,000 and this truck has been awesome, plus it is in really great shape. I thought I'd keep it forever, but now I'm thinking it simplyt will not handle this tractor/trailer idea at all, so...

I just replace the wife's car with a new Flex, and I'm buying this tractor, not sure I can afford another truck and a trailer...

I have a 5x12 flatbed single axle with a ramp/tailgate that I haul my Harley or JD Mower etc. on and it has been great, but it is WAY TOO SMALL now!

This is like a snowball, it just keeps on growing...

Hmmm...

You never answered my earlier question.

How far and how often do you plan on towing this thing????

Before I'd drop som serious $$$ on a new trailer and truck, I would seriously consider the answer to these questions.

Because if not that often or not that far, just drive the darn thing. Or possibly, for the once in a great while long trip, rent a trailer. Unless you plan on dragging this thing all over the countryside weekly.