How much trailer do I need?

[Gary Fowler]

When I bought my B26 and needed a trailer to haul it from over 500 miles away, I went with a 20 footer with dual 6K axles with brakes on each axle. Never regretted the purchase. It cost a bit more than a typical 7K rated one but is much stronger and pulls like a dream. I can load my LS with FEL on it (nothing on the 3 PH) with plenty of room to balance the load so I don't overload my truck's hitch. IF I recall correctly the trailer weighs a bit over 2500# which leaves me with 9500 useful load which is more than my truck is rated to pull but it does pull the full load very well.

 

[sdef]

Similar circumstance here with my Kioti, bucket and various 3PH implements. My 20' 10.4k is as small as I want (wish I had a 12k) and allows me a smidgen of room to adjust load balancing. My trailer weighs ~ 3200 empty (I carry a lot of stuff in the front trailer boxes) and has ~ 450# - 500# measured tongue weight empty of tractor. I setup my Blue Ox trailer hitch with a measured 15% on the tongue, adjusting the tractor position to get to this point. I then spray painted a white line across the trailer, side - side at the tractor front and rear axles center lines for this balance point. I adjust tractor position depending upon implements mounted.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I would go with a longer trailer so you have some options in placing the tractor on the trailer for weight distribution purposes. With a 16' trailer, your options will be severely limited. A 18' or 20' trailer will give you more leeway on where you position the weight for a better ride and more stable towing.

 

[clemsonfor]

Get the 20 ft. I have a 16 foot and don't have a loader and I always wish I had at least an 18ft trailer. I carry the tractor and usually something else up front, like an ATV and or a mower and the tractor or tractor BH and an ATV. The BH hangs off the trailer like 3 foot in the latter situation

 

[Turbys_1700]

I just bought a three axle heavy duty deck over 16 foot with 4 foot dovetail and I would suggest like others here to go with 20 foot and 12K rating. My tractor and bush hog will fit but I will have to let the bush hog hang over the rear a little bit. It is not an issue since the ramps fold back over the trailer. If I was buying brand new I would go with a 22 or 24 foot unit. I would have preferred a 2 axle trailer but this one came available and was close so I bought it.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I have a new holland 1925 , and a bx 24 . And I have a 16 foot trailer that I have had since 91 . The 16 ft is great for the BX . And I can get the new holland on it with a bush hog , if I roll the bucket towards the hitch , and raise the cutter up and support it with a pallet underneath . A 18 or 20 ft 10K trailer is coming up soon .

 

[lostfoundfarm]

Bigger the better you never have enough room keep it under 10k

 

[bdog]

OP is in Texas and Texas does not have any of that 10k trailer nonsense. As long as his combined truck and trailer rating is under 26k he does not need to worry about a CDL. Other states are different I know.

I would get a 14k trailer with two 7,000lb axles and at least a 20'. It is very rare to hear someone say they bought a trailer too big or rated too heavy. You never know what you will need to haul someday and having a trailer rated significantly higher than the load puts much less stress on the axles, bearings, tires, etc. Trailers loaded near their max capacity have things fail more frequently than trailers with a lot of margin left.

We had a 12k rated trailer with two 6,000 axles. it had 15" wheels. It was loaded to around 11,800 if I recall correctly. It was always blowing tires in the summer heat which I attribute to the tires being loaded at near max capacity. Now we carry the same load on a 14k rated trailer with heavier larger tires and we haven't had a blowout in years.

An extra 4-5' on a trailer isn't a big deal in maneuvering it and the cost isn't a huge difference if you look at it over the time you plan to own the trailer.

 

[Turbys_1700]

OP is in Texas and Texas does not have any of that 10k trailer nonsense. As long as his combined truck and trailer rating is under 26k he does not need to worry about a CDL. Other states are different I know.

I would get a 14k trailer with two 7,000lb axles and at least a 20'. It is very rare to hear someone say they bought a trailer too big or rated too heavy. You never know what you will need to haul someday and having a trailer rated significantly higher than the load puts much less stress on the axles, bearings, tires, etc. Trailers loaded near their max capacity have things fail more frequently than trailers with a lot of margin left.

We had a 12k rated trailer with two 6,000 axles. it had 15" wheels. It was loaded to around 11,800 if I recall correctly. It was always blowing tires in the summer heat which I attribute to the tires being loaded at near max capacity. Now we carry the same load on a 14k rated trailer with heavier larger tires and we haven't had a blowout in years.

An extra 4-5' on a trailer isn't a big deal in maneuvering it and the cost isn't a huge difference if you look at it over the time you plan to own the trailer.

I wish licensing was that simple here in NC but it is not. I called up the DMV the other day and the lady told me I didn't need CDL's or class A's if I was under 26K. My Class C CDL clearly states trailers under 10K. I may just go ahead and buy an older 1 ton dump and put farm tags on it. Won't be cheaper but less headache. Gives me another excuse to get another toy from the wife.

 

[sdef]

Gives me another excuse to get another toy from the wife.

Tool, TOOL- not toy