How do you transport your tractor & batwing bush hog?
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Rancher Ed
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- 2008 Kubota M7040 4WD w/loader, 1979? Mitsubishi D2600 4WD w/loader
Builder, do you know how tall International 4400s are? I can't find anywhere that says, but from the pictures I have seen they look much shorter than your dump truck, and if it fits in a 10' door I would think they would fit in a 9' door. If that is the case:
What about finding a used (I'm thinking you don't want to pay what a new one would cost
)4x4 International 4400 with an Alison auto that has a 5th wheel on it, and take it off and put a flatbed on. Something like this, or this, but 4x4. That should work for picking up stuff or whatever, for snowplowing, and you could get a 24 or even 30k gooseneck with with air brakes to go with it.
Finding one like that might be too hard/they might cost too much, I don't know. I would think a 550 would do fine with a dual-tandem trailer if that is the way you go, however.
Ed
What about finding a used (I'm thinking you don't want to pay what a new one would cost
)4x4 International 4400 with an Alison auto that has a 5th wheel on it, and take it off and put a flatbed on. Something like this, or this, but 4x4. That should work for picking up stuff or whatever, for snowplowing, and you could get a 24 or even 30k gooseneck with with air brakes to go with it.Finding one like that might be too hard/they might cost too much, I don't know. I would think a 550 would do fine with a dual-tandem trailer if that is the way you go, however.
Ed
Builder, do you know how tall International 4400s are? I can't find anywhere that says, but from the pictures I have seen they look much shorter than your dump truck, and if it fits in a 10' door I would think they would fit in a 9' door. If that is the case:
What about finding a used (I'm thinking you don't want to pay what a new one would cost
Finding one like that might be too hard/they might cost too much, I don't know. I would think a 550 would do fine with a dual-tandem trailer if that is the way you go, however.
Ed
A 4400 will fit in a 9' door as long as it doesn't have a cab shield. I did look at one. Even found a crewcab 4x4 with Allison, but it was $15,000 over my budget. I don't like some of the IH diesels, either. Especially in a medium duty. The 6L is a boat anchor and the 7.3L V-8 doesn't do anything for me. 6.4L is an improvement. Those are the diesels that were available in my price range. DT-466 is the one to own, narrowing the field even more.
The big problem is there's very few available at a reasonable price. Financing is also VERY costly. If I buy a 550 from a Ford dealer, I can get 5% financing. Maybe when times get better, I will be able to afford the truck you describe. That really is the best choice, just out of reach on budget and practicality right now.
Someday Ed......
Rancher Ed
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- 2008 Kubota M7040 4WD w/loader, 1979? Mitsubishi D2600 4WD w/loader
Ok. I kinda figured it would be too hard to find one that was 4x4, Allison, with either the DT-466 or the bigger DT-570, and if you could find one, it would more than likely cost too much. Sounds like a 550 is going to be your best bet for now.
Ed
Update:
New (used) truck on the way. I settled on a '08 F-550 4x4 crewcab XL with a 9' Omaha flatbed. Has 24K gooseneck hitch hidden under the bed.
It has the high cap tow package (33K GCWR), PW/PDL/PM, snowplow package, XHD alternator. Dealer added keyless remote entry and 6 max traction tires from a 2010 they also had on the lot to replace the chinese junk tires that were installed on the truck.
It was a long search. In the end, I had to go with the F-550 because it's the only small truck that comes with the high cap tow package allowing me to tow a dual tandem gooseneck. It'll fit in my smaller barn and I can use it for everyday running around or light-medium towing. Ford really has the only choice in this niche.
Very nervous about 6.4L engine, but it's a step up from the 6L that preceeded it. Thing that scared me is that it's already been in for a 10hr engine repair job and the cab's been off, but dealer assures me it was repaired 100% (turbo, turbo gaskets, etc.). Truck still has 1.5 yrs left on engine warranty. Let's hope I don't have to use it.
Almost every 6L/6.4L truck I looked at was in for significant engine repairs. Lots of rocker arm, turbo, head or other top-half issues. Really surprised me. $3,000 to extend engine warranty. :laughing:
New (used) truck on the way. I settled on a '08 F-550 4x4 crewcab XL with a 9' Omaha flatbed. Has 24K gooseneck hitch hidden under the bed.
It has the high cap tow package (33K GCWR), PW/PDL/PM, snowplow package, XHD alternator. Dealer added keyless remote entry and 6 max traction tires from a 2010 they also had on the lot to replace the chinese junk tires that were installed on the truck.
It was a long search. In the end, I had to go with the F-550 because it's the only small truck that comes with the high cap tow package allowing me to tow a dual tandem gooseneck. It'll fit in my smaller barn and I can use it for everyday running around or light-medium towing. Ford really has the only choice in this niche.
Very nervous about 6.4L engine, but it's a step up from the 6L that preceeded it. Thing that scared me is that it's already been in for a 10hr engine repair job and the cab's been off, but dealer assures me it was repaired 100% (turbo, turbo gaskets, etc.). Truck still has 1.5 yrs left on engine warranty. Let's hope I don't have to use it.
Almost every 6L/6.4L truck I looked at was in for significant engine repairs. Lots of rocker arm, turbo, head or other top-half issues. Really surprised me. $3,000 to extend engine warranty. :laughing:
Smallplot
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just wondering what kind of chain you are using. When I drove for a well known trucking company we would put that many chains on a 40,000 pound steel coil and be within DOT regulations. You may need to buy bigger chain.
aczlan
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There is more than just weight to consider. Being as you are chaining down 2 pieces of wheeled equipment and a bucket, you will need 4 chains on the tractor, one on the bucket (if equipped) and 4 on the bushhog for a total of 8 or 9 chains.
Aaron Z
Smallplot
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Weight is weight. You are just keeping the two units on the trailer. 4 chains and I would be done and have the 9000 pound payload secured to 40,000 pounds. Why would you chain down a loader that is already attached to the tractor?
Soundguy
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Because the DOT in most states says you need a seperate chain on each implement, and one at each corner of the tractor, and still moust deal with the minimum of 1+1 per 10' of load.
thus.. 4 chains on a tractor with a loader and batwing would get you grounded and pulled over by FDOT, a ticket, and if you didn't have enough chains and binders to reset your load.. you'd SET there till you had chains and binders brought to ya.
I work for a GC, and our office is 1.5m from an interstate exit.
DOT stakes that road out... they LOVE to spot check trucks and trailers that look commercial, and check for proper load tie downs...
some states may be more lax.. some less.. YMMV
I'm not commercial, but when I haul anything, I have more than the minimum load binders, and my tool box usually carries 2x the binders I could possibly use on my trailer.. just because it's easier to have them and not need them.. than need them and not have them...
soundguy
thus.. 4 chains on a tractor with a loader and batwing would get you grounded and pulled over by FDOT, a ticket, and if you didn't have enough chains and binders to reset your load.. you'd SET there till you had chains and binders brought to ya.
I work for a GC, and our office is 1.5m from an interstate exit.
DOT stakes that road out... they LOVE to spot check trucks and trailers that look commercial, and check for proper load tie downs...
some states may be more lax.. some less.. YMMV
I'm not commercial, but when I haul anything, I have more than the minimum load binders, and my tool box usually carries 2x the binders I could possibly use on my trailer.. just because it's easier to have them and not need them.. than need them and not have them...
soundguy
We usually chain the loader down seperately, but this chain/binder/cdl/logbook/medcard/registration/ crap is so out of hand it's ridiculous. It takes 1/2 a day just to get ready to transport the equipment. Not making any money that way.....
I just went through buying a small size truck (combination is 33K, just barely CDL) and put apportioned tags on it. I swear you'd a thought I was trying to become an FBI agent. There's no way I'm going to do everything right and they know it, too. They'll find something wrong with my truck, my papers, etc.
It's all a complex system designed to catch the "dumb truckers" violating some small section of some ridiculous law so they can TAKE YOUR MONEY.
In the end, that's what it's all about, taking our money, not safety.
--------->Sorry for the rant<----------
Anymore, I'm considering trailering the tractor and then making a second trip towing the bush hog. If I can be convinced that the B/H's bearings, wheels & tires will survive highway speeds and the bushog wont start wildly fistailing down the road, I might just buy a shorter gooseneck trailer.
