Need trailer guidance for Kubota B3200 TLB

Teikas Dad · May 23, 2014

I want to get a trailer to haul my B3200. From what I can tell, the whole unit would weigh in about 3500ish lbs. I'm looking at a car/equipment hauler with a wood deck. I'm trying to figure out if I can use a 16 foot trailer for it or should I upgrade to an 18 foot trailer. I've found 5000lb 16 foot trailers, but I think the tractor with the loader and backhoe along with the trailer weight would end up a couple hundred pounds more than 5000. To play it safe I'd rather go with a 7000 lb trailer. (I saw that Kaufman has a 6000 lb 16 ft trailer so that might be an option)

Do I need an 18 foot trailer or is that overkill for a B3200 and a 16 foot trailer would be enough to safely transport? Also, what are the Pros/Cons of a beavertail trailer versus a straight trailer?

Thanks

whistlepig · May 23, 2014

Bigger can be better. An 18 foot trailer is harder to back into a tight spot than a 16 footer. If you don't have to worry about backing up the 18 footer would be my choice. Beavertails are little easier to load a tractor on. But if you haul flat stuff like lumber a beavertail maybe not so good. If just hauling a tractors a beavertail is nice. PJ makes some very nice trailers.

jeff9366 · May 24, 2014

Following is a LINK to posts in the T-B-N archive:

LINK:

https://www.google.com/search?clien...#q=B3200+Trailer+site:tractorbynet.com&rls=en

s219 · May 24, 2014

An 18 foot dovetail only gives you a 16' deck, so it may or may not benefit. I think with a hoe on there, it would be fine, as the hoe could hang over the tail if needed. You should be ok with a tandem-axle with two 3500# axles (generally can carry about 5000-5500# of cargo) though it wouldn't have a lot of margin if you ever go with a much bigger tractor in the future. I bought a 7x16 flat bed with tandem 3500# axles for my B2920, and also use it with my L3200. For both of those, I still have a lot of extra capacity.

Really, the main consideration with length is getting proper balance and tongue weight. An 18' gives you much more margin to achieve that. Try to estimate where the tractor and hoe would need to be to balance right. You may find that the extra length/mass of a hoe in back requires an 18' (or longer). For my implements, 16' has been fine. With a hoe, I bet it wouldn't work.

trihounds · May 24, 2014

I use a 16 foot landscape trailer with 2x 3500 pound axles for my B3300 with BH. It has a reinforced mesh gate / ramp so there is no capacity to overhang. It fits inside, with additional room in the front of the bucket for small items, pallet forks, etc, but overall, there isn't much wiggle room. I find the hoe adds quite, a bit of length to the unit. Anything larger than this combo, I'd go with an 18 foot trailer but if this will be your largest haul, a 16 footer will work just fine.

Gary Fowler · May 24, 2014

I bought a 20 foot trailer with 4 foot dovetail to haul my tractors and equipment on. I got the dual 6K axles with brakes on both axles. It will haul all I can legally pull and then some. I like the 20 foot size because it gives me plenty of room to balance my load and not have anything hanging over on either end. One of my tractors is around 10K pounds so I need all of the 12K to haul it. I may be a few hundred over on weight since I loaded the tires though. I haven't weighed it, just going by mfg. weight and added water weight.

I wouldn't buy anything less than 18 foot to haul a TLB on regardless of size unless it was a BX.

newbury · May 24, 2014

s219 said:
An 18 foot dovetail only gives you a 16' deck, so it may or may not benefit. I think with a hoe on there, it would be fine, as the hoe could hang over the tail if needed. You should be ok with a tandem-axle with two 3500# axles (generally can carry about 5000-5500# of cargo) though it wouldn't have a lot of margin if you ever go with a much bigger tractor in the future. I bought a 7x16 flat bed with tandem 3500# axles for my B2920, and also use it with my L3200. For both of those, I still have a lot of extra capacity.

Really, the main consideration with length is getting proper balance and tongue weight. An 18' gives you much more margin to achieve that. Try to estimate where the tractor and hoe would need to be to balance right. You may find that the extra length/mass of a hoe in back requires an 18' (or longer). For my implements, 16' has been fine. With a hoe, I bet it wouldn't work.

Can you look back on 2014 in 2020?
If maneuverability is not critical a few extra feet and extra weight capacity are well worth it.

Tractors are like feet, they grow. Trailers carry the feet.

When I bought my tractor and trailer combo in 2009 it was plenty big, about 2K of tractor and implement and 2K of trailer on a 12K trailer.

By 2014 the tractor has grown and barely fits the trailer. (I fed it well

)

Now as soon as I put my tiller or backhoe on I'm looking at about 8.5K of tractor (w/ FEL and loaded tires) and implement and 2K of trailer on a 12K trailer. Still some leeway, but if I had gotten a 7K trailer I'd be getting another trailer.

I lucked out, because in 2009 I had no idea I was going to be buying a 50HP M4700 in 2014. I had planned on getting a larger tractor in the 40HP size, but not 50HP. Not having to buy a bigger trailer saved me several thousand.

Be sure to get it WIDE, I've only 78" between the fenders and had to reverse my wheels to stuff the M4700 in there. Didn't have the resources (muscles and time) to get them swapped correctly. Just another job to do.

Just be sure to stay within tow vehicle limits and any legal limits. For example if your state require more taxs or a CDL for trailers over 10K capacity be aware. If your driving a truck w/ a 5K tow capacity get a bigger truck

Teikas Dad · May 24, 2014

newbury said:
Tractors are like feet, they grow. Trailers carry the feet.

:laughing: I like that analogy!

George2615 · May 24, 2014

I have a 20' tilt bed 7K trailer made by H&H Trailer. The tilt is power up and gravity down. Longer is better if you want to haul with attachments. Longer is better since you can have more movement forward or backward to adjust tongue weight. All was good till recently when I bought a new tractor. The new tractor is 1K heavier than my previous tractor and is right at the trailer weight limit (7K rating minus 2400 trailer weight = 4600 load capacity). That doesn't account for weight transferred on the tongue. My tractor weighs 4600 so if I loaded my tires I'd be over weight on the trailer. That's not really a problem but I like to have extra capacity. I do have a 16' dump trailer rated for 13,800 (10,500 load capacity) that I can haul my tractor in if needed so I'm casually shopping now for a 20-22' trailer in the 12-14K weight rating. If I find one then I'll sell my 7K tilt.
Just remember, a 7K trailer doesn't mean it can haul 7K, it means that is the total weight of the trailer with load. Same with any trailer.

Teikas Dad · May 25, 2014

Thanks guys, based on what I'm hearing I'm going to go with an 18' beavertail trailer. That will give me plenty of room for the B3200 with the backhoe on it and probably enough room if I wanted to move the tractor with my 5' brush hog in place of the hoe.

I appreciate all the input!