need trailer advice

[boomer4snow]

You might try load trail, they were just a touch over $3400 but it is a 14k model 22' long with a 2' tail, ton of extras like e rated radials, matching spare, rub rail, 10 extra Drings, Painted to match the truck top and bottom, running boards, removable alum. fenders, adjustable bulldog hitch, 10k side crank jack with a quick release /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif grade 70 chain/hooks for safety chains, lighting is all led, battery included, brakes on both axles, 8" heavy wall channel with 3" heavy wall channel stringers every 16" Price included an installed Jordan Ultima brake controller and it took about 45 minutes in a 04 Dodge 3/4 ton diesel. Trailer weighs 3250 #'s and it took 3 weeks from ordering to delivery from texas to wisconsin. And they had a lot more options that I didn't want/get.

 

[boomer4snow]

couple more so you can see the axle spacing, they do have a 24' model also.

 

[George2615]

No problem with the axles. I have hauled my tractor several times on it. It tows perfectly. I do used a WD hitch with 1500# bars loose enough to almost put on by hand. I havent weighed the tongue weight yet but its got to be about 300-400# with no load because I can't lift the drop leg jack off the ground by hand. When loaded, the majority of tractor weight is ahead of axles. Deck is 83"W x 20' long plus a 5' tongue. Just using the deck measurements, the center pivot point between the 2 axles is back 10'4" from front of deck and 9'9" from the rear of the deck. In other words, the center pivot point is 3 1/2" back from dead center of the deck size. The extra 5' tongue makes the difference plus I added extra steel, a box and an 8000# winch which added another 200# in front of the axles for tongue weight. They are probably designed to pivot somewhat close to center because its a tilt bed with no ramps.

 

[RedRocker]

Thanks George, looks like a nice rig.

 

[chipski]

Today I was trailering my jd110tlb its wt is 8000 lbs. i had it on a trailer rated at 12k lbs. drove to the job fine on the highway doing 55-60 mph. on the way home this thing started swaying back and forth. I was not breaking when this happened. It started pulling my 3/4 chevy HD diesel back and forth. I was able to slow down and pull over. I was very concerned and can't figure why this happened. Some say the wind did it others ask about the loading. I checked the chains and they were tight. I drove home on the back roads which provided shelter from the wind and it also kept the speed down to less than 40mph.
This is a new machine for me and I am not comfortable on the high way now. I have a new trailer coming and that is 20' and 14k rated. Todays trailer was a 18' and 12k rated. Will the new unit solve my problem?














Any advice or similar happenings?

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Will the new unit solve my problem? )</font>

No, unless you're changing to a gooseneck trailer. Crosswinds have caused many a trailer wreck. I'll assume that you have trailer brakes and a brake controller in the truck. If so, when you feel the trailer try to sway or fishtail, one of the worst things you can do is to step on the brake pedal. However, you can use the manual button or lever on the brake controller to apply the trailer brakes a bit, while continuing, or even slightly increasing, your foot's pressure on the accelerator. That will pull the rig back straight.

 

[KentT]

Chipski, IMO it could have been caused by either of the things you mention -- wind or load placement. Insufficient tongue weight from having the load too far to the rear of the trailer will cause this to happen...

Were you using a weight-distributing hitch? In my experience they'll usually prevent this sway with any trailer that isn't "slab-sided" to catch the wind, like a travel trailer or enclosed box trailer... Those types of trailers usually require a separate sway control on the hitch.

 

[Highbeam]

Yikes! Was that 8000 lb trailer far enough forward on the trailer to give the tongue a good amount of weight, like better than 1200 lbs? A lot of guys actually center the load over the axles of the trailer and this will cause fishtail if the resulting tongue weight is not enough.

Wow, you could have had a huge wreck. My advice is move that tractor forward some more.

 

[btb]

I would definately agree with HighBeam. I loaded a pontoon boat onto a borrowed pontoon boat trailer (trailer owners boat was same width and length) and the extra weight of my larger 130HP four-stroke outboard really messed up the tounge weight on the trailer. I had to load up the front of the boat with gear and extra "stuff" to get it to tow properly. Not an ideal situation, but we took it slow. When the weight was too far back, the trailer would sway from side to side starting around 45-50MPH. After the weight adjustment 65MPH was fine.

Brian

 

[Highbeam]

"Was that 8000 lb trailer far enough forward"

Whoops, I meant -Was that 8000 lb trACTOR far enough forward- hope it was still clear enough.