How much can my L4330 pull?

[Stoneseller]

I'm about to buy an onroad dump trailer for hauling dirt, stone, etc. I have a 2500HD GMC with 8.1 gas & Allison to pull from wherever I pick up materials to my yard. Once I get the trailer to my driveway, I want to be able to drag it out back with the Kubota. I'm leaning toward a 10K GVW trailer, which the pickup will handle fine. What I don't know is how will the 4330 control 5 tons going up & down some gradual inclines, etc.

 

[timb]

It's more to do with how much you can control safely than how much of a load you can get started. General rules of thumb posted here and elsewhere on trailers:

1) For trailers without brakes, limit the total weight of trailer + load to the fully ballasted weight of the tractor + operator.

2) A little more lenient, same as above, but limit to 1.5 times the weight of the tractor + operator.

3) Most conservative - limit to a trailer plus load that totals no more than the total weight on your tractor's rear axle including the trailer tongue weight.

If that trailer has electric brakes, and you set up your tractor to use them (or use surge brakes) the load numbers can go a lot higher.

 

[JRobyn]

Make sure to keep it in 4wd and in gear on grades so you have some front wheel "braking"! HST makes this a lot easier and more secire feeling!

 

[ccsial]

I have wondered the same thing. I have a 6 x 12 Dandy Dump, 10000 lbs, I pull with my Cummins/RAM. I use it to keep a 1/2 mile road to my cabin graveled. I thought about putting it on the tractor to get to a few tighter places. I don't know if the tractor would pull it fast enough to spread gravel. I also don't know how the screw jack would work when loaded and trying to move it from the truck to tractor. I load it myself at the pit with a BIG loader. I don't always get it exact so the tongue weight varies. I have decided it is too much hassle and just use the truck. Now that I read the weight limits I will not try it.

I do put it on the tractor for hauling when I cut brush and trees. It is great for that and no trouble pulling it at all. See Pic.

 

[wushaw]

At the RV dealership I have visited uses a L3110 to move around all their trailers...fifthwheels and TT but the lot is fairly level.
I use my 7400lb 3500 dually to pull my 8X16 gooseneck dump trailer that weighs 6100lbs empty. When I am backing it into a spot offroad at any kind of grade it can get heavy real quick.
I would use the truck instead of the tractor just for the saftey factor.

 

[JoeR]

I have always been told you can get anything to roll, but stopping is another story...

I use my 4330 to move my 10K trailer around with no problems with a 7K load, but I am in Florida and do not have anything more than a 1% grade.

 

[Stoneseller]

Thanks all for the feedback. I guess I better not use tractor/trailer combo for much more than 2 tons, unless I figure out a way to use the trailer's brakes while hooked to the tractor

 

[jmc]

I moved a lot of dirt around the property with a 10k gross dump trailer and a Ford 1920 4wd tractor- low 30's HP gross. Pic attached. Had to bring it up maybe a 6% grade and you didn't even know it was back there. Down hill may be another matter, though. This trailer has an emergency braking system that activates if the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle. Thought about rigging up a rope between that system on the trailer and my seating area on the tractor that I could manually pull it if things got tense. Not as good as having the tractor brakes activate the trailer brakes but a lot easier. Best thing you could probably do is load the trailer and try braking on progressively steeper grades or from higher speeds to develop a feel for stability.

 

[ccsial]

I am wondering how much your dirt weighs compared to wet gravel. The owner of the gravel pit told me to figure 2500 lbs per yard. I haul 3 yards at a time.

I have had my trailer pretty full of tree trunks. No trouble handling that. I also have a hole in the loader bucket on my 1910 that accepts a ball. I have been moving the trailer that way. Now that I have the L3400 I can use the 1910 loader to pick up and dump the heavy logs into the trailer without taking it off. I'm really liking being a two tractor man.