How to size a trailer to haul a JD 3320 tractor ?

[Diamondpilot]

If you are going to be a trucker there are some terms you need to be familiar with.

First is GVWR (gross vehicle wheel rating) This is simply the max weight something with wheels can weigh. This could be your truck or trailer. This is always on the sticker in the door jamb on the drivers door of a truck. On a trailer its usually on the data plate or if that is not present its the sum of its axles. Take my car hauler for example. It has two 3,500# axles so its GVWR is 7,000# Its sometimes called (max gross vehicle wheel rating). Take my F-350 for example. Its 11,500# and the truck weighs in at 7,600# with me in it and 2/3rds fuel verified at the scales at a truck stop. This means I could legally add 3,900# to the truck. This weight could be stuff in the bed, tongue weight off a trailer, people in the cab, ect. Going back to my trailer its GVWR is 7,000# and it weighs 1,400# so it can legally carry 5,600#. This has also been verified at the scales.

The next one is GCWR (gross combined wheel rating). This is the combined total weight of truck and trailer as I described above in the previous post. Lets use my Nissan Titan as an example. Its GCWR is 15,000# and the truck weighs 5,680# with me in it and 2/3rds tank of fuel once again verified at the scales. This means my trailer can weigh 9,320# max. The published max trailer tow rating is 9,500# but my truck because so loaded with every option can not tow that much and is reduced by 180#. As you add weight to the truck, may it be options, people, junk in the bed, ect, it takes away from your tow rating per say.

Hope this helps you.

Chris

 

[schmism]

To add one more to what chris said.

GAWR or gross axle weight rating. this is also listed on the door jam with GVWR and GCWR. This is important because if (if you look at chris first F350 example) if he packs all 3900lbs of stuff in the rear, he might exceed the GAWR of the rear axle. You can often bump into this with light duty 1/2 ton trucks with short rear gears (ment for highway cruiseing, not towing)

 

[Diamondpilot]

To add one more to what chris said.

GAWR or gross axle weight rating. this is also listed on the door jam with GVWR and GCWR. This is important because if (if you look at chris first F350 example) if he packs all 3900lbs of stuff in the rear, he might exceed the GAWR of the rear axle. You can often bump into this with light duty 1/2 ton trucks with short rear gears (ment for highway cruiseing, not towing)

Very good point. And to add to this the sum of thr axle ratings on a tow vehicle do not always add up to the GVWR. They just about always exceed it. This gives you flexibility in loading. My F350 is a great example because it has two packages for axle ratings. First is it has the snow plow prep package which gives it a stouter ftont axle to handle the additional weight along with other goodies like bigger batteries and dual alternators.

I also have the slide in camper package which gives me the heaviest rear axle springs plus a larger sway bar to control roll and sway.

These two packages give each of the trucks axle ratings that exceed the GVWR of the truck. The important thing to remember is to never exceed the GCWR as a total weight of truck and trailer. Never exceed the GVWR of either the truck or trailer while not exceeding a single axle rating.

Lots to ponder over.

Chris

 

[pokerboy57]

so what you are saying is that trailer weight plus the payload can't be more the 4400 lbs ?

 

[Diamondpilot]

so what you are saying is that trailer weight plus the payload can't be more the 4400 lbs ?

Correct. That is your max tow rating. Then additionally your truck and trailer combined with its load can not weigh more than 9,000#. Thats the GCWR listed in your manual.

Chris

 

[JIGBUILDER]

Nit picking here but when dealing with dot and legal terms and definitions, ........

GVWR = gross vehicle weight rating ...... which is on the trucks drivers side door post certification placard per the FMVSS's. Has nothing to do with wheel ratings.

GCWR = "gross combined weight rating".
Still has nothing to do with wheels. The truck manufacturers GCWR Isn't required nor is it used in any legal sense nor is it placarded on the truck, however with a small under powered engine its a good number to use.

Wheels are part of the trucks GAWR (fawr/RAWR) which is on the trucks door post certification placard.

 

[Beltzington]

I have a 3720 which is basically your tractor. Before I bought my truck I pulled it with my jeep grand cherokee which is very close to the same capabilities as your truck. A couple points for you to consider. The total weight you are towing includes both the weight of the tractor and attachments and the trailer. Heavy duty trailers can easily push you over the comfortable towing capability of your ride. I bought an all-aluminum 16' car hauler which weighs just over a thousand pounds and rated at 7500 gross. This combo towed very well and with trailer brakes was very safe. Also with the low deck it is very easy to load and unload. The ONLY thing I do not like about this setup is my 72" Rotary cutter hangs over the end of the trailer about 2' with my FEL mounted on the tractor. A 16-foot trailer also severely limits your ability to balance the tractor on the trailer. Good luck in your search. Error on the side of longer than shorter within your towing limits.

 

[joe t]

You can probably do it, just find a light weight 16ft utility trailer. That will get you around your limit.


On my 16 ft trailer I just put the fel bucket up on the front rail and let the mower hang off the back a foot or so. If it hangs off a little put a flag on it or whatever the law requires in your area. No worse than letting a tailgate hang open in my opinion.


The biggest thing you need to worry about is the transmission. It will be searching a lot because lack of power. I'd drop it out of overdrive and just let the rpms run a little high, won't hurt anything. Slow down if the auto starts shifting a lot, that will cause it to get hot and put a lot of load on it.

 

[joe t]

I had an 18 foot trailer built last year with 3500# axles for my Mahindra 3616. It weighs right at 3000 alone and I figure total weight loaded with BH and FEL is around 6000#'s. i pull this with an 08 chevy with a 5.3. The tongue weight on my trailer isn't bad because my built an extended tongue for making sharp turns without cramming in a fender and I will never own another trailer without an extended tongue. Makes hooking up, working on tailgate and backing up a breeze. It also helped in balancing the trailer when loading. A 2@ foot trailer which is what I wanted would dragged the rocks in my driveway as there is a small dip and a gooseneck drug every time I pulled it.

Extended tounge is a good idea, I'll have to remember that.


He could maybe even go down to a 14ft trailer to save weight because he could put the tractor more forward. It is an option.

 

[PhilY]

You can probably do it, just find a light weight 16ft utility trailer. That will get you around your limit.


On my 16 ft trailer I just put the fel bucket up on the front rail and let the mower hang off the back a foot or so. If it hangs off a little put a flag on it or whatever the law requires in your area. No worse than letting a tailgate hang open in my opinion.


The biggest thing you need to worry about is the transmission. It will be searching a lot because lack of power. I'd drop it out of overdrive and just let the rpms run a little high, won't hurt anything. Slow down if the auto starts shifting a lot, that will cause it to get hot and put a lot of load on it.

I agree with joe t, you can probably do it. Back in the day, my dad had to use his old '86 S10 once to pull the boat when the 2500 wasn't available. Boat weighed about 2200lbs with no trailer brakes, and the S10 had a 2.8L V6. While it was able to, stopping distance literally doubled, at least! It also could barely hit 40mph or so going up small hills. Luckily, we only had to go a few miles. Wouldn't want to try it over any long distance. With a V6 1/2 Silverado and good trailer brakes this shouldn't be an issue, but you might want to watch your engine and (if you have it) trans temp gauge because heat is going to be the killer for you. As joe t said, either the trans is going to be shifting too much and overheating, or you may also have this and an over heated engine. If you're not traveling in hilly country, you should be fine, but keep it out of OD and maybe in 3rd and don't try cruising like you normally would on the highway.