How much trailer weight can my tractor tow?

[ptsg]

Unfortunately

Unfortunately trailer braking is a feature not often included on our tractors over here. It is starting to show up on some of the higher hp tractors with the high speed transmissions. Over 150 Hp and capable of up to 35 mph.
Very few farm wagons have brakes, I have never seen brakes on one of these, although I have seen the option listed occasionally.
View attachment 819684

This type of trailer does often have the option, however it is often not used.
View attachment 819685

Also be aware that the 7 pin round connector on your tractor often is not wired to conventional hd trailer configurations. You can get 6 or 7 pin to 7 flat adapters or remove the round pin and install a RV type connector.
On several of the farm tractors some of the implements lights will work correctly some tractors they won't.

EU wiring
View attachment 819687

US wiring
View attachment 819692

and then the 7 flat RV wiring,
View attachment 819693

So lots of potential issues on trailer wiring to tractors.

But as has been mentioned a tractor is designed to pull good amounts of weight, it is entirely up to the owner/operator how safely and competently it is done so.
If towing from the lower fixed drawbar adequate tongue weight needs to be watched, and the stopping ability on the terrain to be encountered is a major consideration. Stopping half of your tractors weight towing shouldn't be a problem, stopping as much weight as your tractor has will be a problem, stopping more weight then your tractor has now your asking for troubles unless adequate brakes are used.

We don't really have electric brakes here, so the trailer plug is only used for lighting purposes.

The more common type of trailer brakes here are hydraulic. Means there is a single acting cylinder with spring return that actuates the brakes.(Pic #1) This cylinder can either be powered via one of the remotes (the operator does have to release the pressure) or a brake valve installed on the tractor (more common on European tractor manufacturers).

Some trailers even have an hydraulic valve (Pic #2) with a 3 position handle for empty, half loaded, fully loaded. This adjust the pressure it applies the brakes. Then, since the trailers already have brakes, it only makes sense to have parking brakes since it's easy to incorporate in the system.

Then there are the air brakes available over a certain gross weight and speed. Don't know the numbers of top of my head.

Not a fan at all of those wagon type trailers, exactly because they don't put any weight on the tractor itself which can make for an interesting ride.

 

[WinterDeere]

I love my wagon type trailer, because it can be loaded and disconnected with minimal fuss. They're not made for road speed use, but they're great under 15 mph!

 

[LouNY]

Between the forage boxes and hay racks there are close to a dozen on the farm of the front steer wagon style. They work good for an operation of our size. We chop haylage and corn silage with a 2-3 row pull type forage harvester.

This is doing haylage with the 7220 IH Magnum, pulling and powering the NH FP230 chopper and a JD self unloading wagon.
When the wagon is unloaded we will pull the drawpin on the wagon and pull away then backup to an empty wagon and get back to chopping. All of the wagons have adjustable tongues so when you back the chopper into position you can stop a few inches short of being the perfect distance, step out walk back and unlatch the tongue line it up with the drawbar of the chopper, drop in the drawpin, walk back to the tractor and backup till the adjustable tongue latchs and then get back to chopping. When full just repeat and repeat and repeat and till finally done. With 2-3 tractors hauling and unloading wagons back at the farm we can cover a fair amount of ground and put up a few hundred tons of feed in a day.

for this type of operation the tandem axle "trailers" would be a royal pain in the *ss.

 

[WinterDeere]

All of the wagons have adjustable tongues so when you back the chopper into position you can stop a few inches short of being the perfect distance...

Now I know my next wagon mod. I use a small wagon like yours for firewood, and it's only 4' x 8', but can weigh over 4000 lb. when loaded full with a cord of oak. I hate dickering around with getting it hooked to the tractor when it's full.

I can fab up my own, but before I invest the time, are these something you bought aftermarket?

 

[LouNY]

Now I know my next wagon mod. I use a small wagon like yours for firewood, and it's only 4' x 8', but can weigh over 4000 lb. when loaded full with a cord of oak. I hate dickering around with getting it hooked to the tractor when it's full.

I can fab up my own, but before I invest the time, are these something you bought aftermarket?

Most of our wagons have come with them, they used to be an option on the running gear. After using one it is difficult to go back to a fixed tongue unless using two people to hitch up a wagon, one backing up and one holding the tongue and dropping in the drawpin.
Here is a photo of one in Killbros running gear, they are several styles around.

An old used one on ebay,

They show them on all of there running gear;
EZ Trail Running gear – 6 Ton

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm on it! Thanks, Lou!

Also found this: Viewing a thread - Extendable wagon tongue

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Great thread! Been wondering the same myself. When I can afford a dump trailer I want to get one to move material on very short road hops and down into my bottom land which has a steep hill. Trailer brakes all the way!

 

[Farmer495]

1) Yes you can do it
2) Drawbar, unless you can "lock" your 3pt so it's not all over the place.
3) Tractor 7 pin is like semi truck. You can buy proper adaptors. I have one for tractor 7 way to RV 7 way for pulling "pickup" trailer behind tractor and one for converting RV 7 way to tractor 7way.
4) I'm approx 8000 lb. This load of haylage is not an issue. Zero tongue weight with wagons too. Don't have extendable tongue on this one either and it's unhitched twice a load.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've got a New Holland PowerStar 75. It's about 8,000 lbs counting the FEL. It's got 16.9R30s on the back.

It will tow a lot more than you think, this tractor is about the same size as yours,

SR

 

[WinterDeere]

It will tow a lot more than you think, this tractor is about the same size as yours,

SR

At what point do you need a conductor, on that train?

 

[milkman636]

Forgive me if this has already been said, but an owner's manual for the tractor should list a maximum towing and vertical weight capacity for the drawbar. My old 5000 series Deere manual had copious charts of weights, capacities, and ballasting combinations.

My little 35hp tractor's manual even lists its drawbar as rated for towing up to 7500 lbs. with a maximum of 1500 lbs. of vertical load on the drawbar. I'd imagine that the PowerStar 75 should be good for doubling these numbers +.

 

[CobyRupert]

I'm on it! Thanks, Lou!

Also found this: Viewing a thread - Extendable wagon tongue

Sliding tongues are great! The way you use them is:
- Back up so drawbar is within a foot or so of the tongue.
- Get off tractor, and slide tongue to met and connect to tractor’s drawbar.
- Get back on tractor, and immediately forget you’ve unlatched the sliding tongue.
- Drive forward with tractor, while wagon stays still until:
1) You reach the end of telescoping range and the tongue slams an end stop and wagon lurches forward. Then you remember to back up and latch tongue. Or
2) Don’t realize your pulling wagon with extended tongue until you apply the brakes and the wagon comes slamming back to the retracted position. Or
3) You pull the extendable piece of the tongue right off the ****ing wagon! Why the **** are we even using that POS wagon! …calm down, then start over.

I can remember pulling those dual axle self-unloading chopper wagons loaded with corn silage with a 1977 F150, 6 cylinder pickup. That was a bit excessive… talk about the tail wagging the dog!

 

[John_Mc]

I see several mentions of using a brake controller. Has anyone found a break controller that is weather-proof? I've searched for something I can mount on my open-station tractor, but not had any luck. (I did find one where the controller mounts remotely, so I could probably find a place somewhere under the hood, but the custom, multi-function control knob is not weather-proof.)

I have a small log forwarding trailer on my NH TC33D. The trailer has electric brakes, which work well when connected to my truck. However, I've yet to find a good controller to mount on my tractor. I would probably just use the controller's manual brake activation lever. The tractor is hydrostatic, so the brakes don't get used a lot. The speeds are slow, so if I were on flat ground, I would not be concerned about it. However, I operate in the woods in a lot of hilly areas. I need something to keep the tractor from getting pushed around when trying to control the speed going down hill.

The previous owner just used a cheap controller intended for use in a truck, and wired it with quick disconnects. He removed it and brought it inside when not in use. I could do the same, but would prefer to be able to leave it on the tractor. (and then there is always the chance of getting caught out in some unexpcted rain.)

 

[WinterDeere]

Have you considered putting either the controller or remote in a weatherproof receptacle box, so you can just flip up or remove the lid when in use?

I'd probably go the cigarette lighter socket-powered route myself, mount the controller when in use and remove it when not. My tractor has a glove box on the left fender, so it'd be kept in there when not in use. No need to take it indoors, and then forget to have it with you when you need it.

Heck, I guess you could mount it in the glove box, which is relatively accessible while driving.

 

[John_Mc]

I'm considering a weatherproof box, if I can find a good place to mount it. I also need to find the right box, so the manual activation leaver easily accessible when the box is open. I was a bit concerned about heat/ventilation, but I guess it won't be getting used continually or frequently, so maybe that's not a big deal.

With some tractors having the brake controller available as a factory option, I wonder how they have addressed this.

 

[WinterDeere]

With some tractors having the brake controller available as a factory option, I wonder how they have addressed this.

You've seen it available on open-station tractors? I guess I should've asked about this when configuring my Deere, as I often move a loaded trailer with that, and my back yard is one big grassy hillside. I never worry if my tractor can pull my trailer, of course it can pull much more, but I do worry if it can stop my trailer on a hill.

 

[John_Mc]

You've seen it available on open-station tractors? I guess I should've asked about this when configuring my Deere, as I often move a loaded trailer with that, and my back yard is one big grassy hillside. I never worry if my tractor can pull my trailer, of course it can pull much more, but I do worry if it can stop my trailer on a hill.

I've not looked. My tractor is 22 year old, and I'm not currently in the market for another. I've read about brake controllers being available on tractors.

 

[jwmorris]

My question is, how heavy of a trailer can I tow using either the 3PH (~3,500 lbs capacity) or the draw bar itself. I'm not able to find anything concerning this rating online.

Probably because total weight you are dragging doesn’t matter much unless you need to stop it from shoving you into something. Tongue weight could be a concern at some point but even that can be eliminated…

You might like this one. FWIW 1 full rail car can have a 285,000+Lbs gross weight.

If you are pulling something too heavy and get stuck don’t try and pull the tractor out though, take it out of the equation and pull the too heavy of a load out instead.

 

[LouNY]

I'm considering a weatherproof box, if I can find a good place to mount it. I also need to find the right box, so the manual activation leaver easily accessible when the box is open. I was a bit concerned about heat/ventilation, but I guess it won't be getting used continually or frequently, so maybe that's not a big deal.

With some tractors having the brake controller available as a factory option, I wonder how they have addressed this.

You've seen it available on open-station tractors? I guess I should've asked about this when configuring my Deere, as I often move a loaded trailer with that, and my back yard is one big grassy hillside. I never worry if my tractor can pull my trailer, of course it can pull much more, but I do worry if it can stop my trailer on a hill.

I've not looked. My tractor is 22 year old, and I'm not currently in the market for another. I've read about brake controllers being available on tractors.

The only tractor brake options that I have ever seen listed are the European options offered by the majors.
They have been mostly hydraulic with some having an air brake option, they are all tied in with the service brakes.
Looking at the service manual for my NH 8160 it had 3 different hydraulic brake controls depending upon which country it was for in Europe.

 

[steveharington]

It's great to hear about your New Holland PowerStar 75 and your plans to use it for hauling purposes. To determine the maximum trailer weight you can safely tow with your tractor, it's important to consider a few factors:

1. Tractor Capacity: Your tractor's 3-point hitch (3PH) has a capacity of approximately 3,500 lbs, and you can use this as a reference for the maximum trailer tongue weight. However, this doesn't necessarily dictate the maximum trailer weight since it also depends on your tractor's overall stability and power.
2. Draw Bar: The drawbar is another option for towing, but its capacity may not be explicitly stated. In most cases, the drawbar capacity is lower than the 3PH capacity. You should check your tractor's manual or contact the manufacturer for specific drawbar weight ratings.
3. Tractor Stability: When towing a heavy trailer, it's crucial to ensure that your tractor remains stable. Factors such as the tractor's wheelbase myers, tire size, and overall weight distribution play a significant role in maintaining stability.
4. Legal Requirements: Be sure to check local regulations regarding trailer weight limits for agricultural equipment on public roads. Compliance with these regulations is essential for safety and legality.

Given your tractor's specifications and your desire to haul a trailer with dual 7,000 lb axles, it's advisable to consult your tractor's manual or contact the manufacturer directly for guidance on the maximum trailer weight you can safely tow. They can provide you with specific information tailored to your tractor model, which will help you make informed decisions for your planting and irrigating tasks. Additionally, consider working with a local agricultural equipment dealer or a professional to ensure safe towing practices.