Need Help choosing Equip. trailer

[Bob_Young]

In the process of purchasing a Kubota L4300 (3000# & 119" long) with FEL(???#) and Woods Med. Duty 6' Bush Hog (1100#). Have got two pieces of property to maintain about 12 miles apart. Want to purchase a trailer capable of moving tractor, FEL, and rear blade or tractor and bush hog between the two locations. Rear tires on tractor will be filled (250#??).

Local trailer dealer has a 7000#GVWR 18' dual axle Car Hauler on the lot that I had convinced myself would be adequate, so I put some money down on it late yesterday. Am beginning to have second thoughts as someday I may want to get a Back Hoe (???#) for the L4300. Trailer guy also has a 10000#GVWR 18' Pipe Trailer and a 10000#GVWR 20' Pipe Trailer on the lot and prices didn't seem too bad. He's also got some bigger stuff. The CTD Ram 2500 I will tow with has a 10000# max towing capacity....I believe.

Length and weight figures for backhoes and FELs are hard to come by, so doing this from the specs alone is a challenge.

Before it's too late, I'd like to know what others are using to haul their equipment around (length and weight rating) and what combinations work on their trailers. Also somewhat concerned that towing tractor and brush cutter together will make 18' trailer either very tongue heavy or very tongue light.

 

[MMM]

You'll probably be overweight on 7k trailer by the time you figure in trailer weight. Check your wheel width also. It's real fun trying to get an 81" wide tractor on an 82.5 deck. You'll probably find you'll have to set loader on front rail to transport tractor and cutter on 18 footer without hanging over.

 

[Bob_Young]

Thanks for the reponse Triple M. Tractor overall width at minimum tread setting is 62.5"; trailer is 83" wide so don't think there's a width problem. Empty weight of trailer is 1960#, so I've got about 5000# to play with on the 7000# trailer if I understand this GVWR thing. It's a Big Tex 70CH.
Bob

 

[johnday]

Bob, Big Tex makes a nice trailer. One other thing to consider is being able to move the tractor on the trailer to get the proper tongue weight. Would that trailer be long enough for that? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[ronjhall]

Bob
I have a 16' 70CH to haul my B2910 with FEL and BH. I believe I am at about the limit for this trailer.
A L4300 weighs #2976 plus the FEL.With a HD box blade you would be pushing if not exceeding the #5000 load of a #7000 trailer. If your pocket book will handle the extra expense go for the #10000 trailer.

 

[MMM]

I get
3000
1960
1500
250= 6710 That leaves a 290lb loader?

My skiploader and cutter overload my 18X7 10k trailer by 1000lbs and the few times I've transported it have slightly bowed the axles. Look for that, and inner tire wear if you're looking at used trailers. Brakes are nice to have also.

 

[BarryinMN]

I agree with others 10K is a stronger better trailer be sure the tires are new. The longer the length the better for moving & balancing the load. 18 is minimum 24 better 30 better yet... Going to 12K causes DOT safety inspections, CDL medicals, definitely not worth it if you can avoid it. I bought a bobcat style 18 2 years ago. If I buy another it'll be a 24 or 30 deck over (no fenders on sides) Once you get the trailer, friends & relatives want "stuff" hauled. Cars, broken concrete slabs, etc. If you buy an enclosed then you get household goods requests.

How popular do you want to be?

Check your pick up hitch rating - it may be less than vehicle tow rating unless used with load levelling hardware.

Sometimes those local trips stretch into cross county runs.!

 

[Egon]

If it's gona be a bumper hitch I'd suggest a lowboy min. of 20 feet and 10000 Lb. rating with electric brakes all around. Load equalizer hitch should be used and an extra leaf or air bags on the truck will help. Also shocks upgraded from the original are a good idea.

I have a 10000 rated 20 ft. lowboy with home built cargo box and bumper hitch with air bags that was used to move our goods from Alt. To Nova Scotia. The trailer did go over the scales just a touch over the rated loading.

Egon

 

[GATC35]

I would not go any shorter than a 20 footer. A backhoe or a brush cutter can really eat up the space. Also stay above the 10K weight rating with a tractor the size of yours. I have a 20 foot Anderson equipment trailer than hauls a New Holland TC-35D with 16LA front loader and a 757-C backhoe. The extra trailer lenght really helps in adjusting the tounge weight. Here is a link to where I bought my trailer, good folks to deal with. I have no vested interest, financially, or otherwise to this organization.
http://www.trailersforless.com/and_dump_EQ7185T_trailers.html I went with the 20 footer with 7K axles and "E" rated tires. This set up tows like a dream behind my F-250.

Good luck..

Mark

 

[RickB]

The answer is real simple. If your Ram is rated for towing 10K, buy a 10K trailer if you can swing it. You won't overload one component, and probably will think twice before overloading both. 18' will be marginal for tractor, loader and cutter. The backhoe will be shorter.