No trailer - How do you guys haul your toys?

[rbtjr]

I own a few proprieties between a few different towns. My trucks and trailers are part of my "infrastructure" to insure I can move equipment and materials between locations. Having enough trailers to insure I can still move stuff even if one or two are down for maintenance. Also have to keep a 2nd truck, in case my main one is down. This way, I can move loads when needed.

I keep different styles of trailers, not just flat beds.

Custom built Half-Breed. Is part enclosed for tools and misc, and open deck. Open deck to haul a dirty tractor example.
Couple of flat bed trailers
Custom Dump trailer
I'm getting ready to build a ~1200 to 1500 Gallon water hauling trailer too.


The smaller trailers have permanent tags. No yearly reg fees.
The larger trailers don't cost much per year in fees.
Most auto insurance covers your trailer when connected to your truck.

I do have a few of my trailers insured. Its VERY Cheap, about ~$20 to $30 yr. Covers theft, or damage if parked. I have the value greater then the replacement cost. Example, dump trailer cost me $7000, its insured for $10,000. So, if it gets stolen, I wont be upset. I tend to insure most my crap for greater then its worth.


Kinda surprised so many here don't have a trailer. Seems like I'd want a truck before a trailer, and I'd want a trailer before a Tractor. I'm a firm believer in owning my infrastructure. Knowing I can deal with what needs done on my own, with no out side support. I would think that would be the mind set of most tractor owners.

I wish I had insured our 18' trailer that was stolen in March of 2017. We then had a L3800 that I could comfortably haul with that trailer. After we traded in the L3800 and bought our MX5800, I thought about buying a replacement trailer and thus far have opted not to. Our dealer, which is 25 miles away, picks up the tractor for servicing, etc., and returns it for $100. Since the cost of a replacement trailer would be close to $4,000, I can't justify the purchase because I very likely wouldn't use the trailer to haul the tractor anywhere except for getting the tractor serviced. Still, I'd like to have the trailer. Interestingly, I have missed most having the trailer to use as a large work bench (the trailer was kept under a 20' wide roof-only extension of the metal building in which we keep the tractor, some attachments, a work shop, etc.).

 

[herm0016]

I needed to haul a jeep wagoner from Wyoming to Michigan about 8 years ago. I bought a 10k flat deck in Salt Lake for less than what a Uhaul rental would have been. Still have it and it gets used 3 or 4 times a year, usually by someone else borrowing it!

 

[LD48750]

I wish I had insured our 18' trailer that was stolen in March of 2017. We then had a L3800 that I could comfortably haul with that trailer. After we traded in the L3800 and bought our MX5800, I thought about buying a replacement trailer and thus far have opted not to. Our dealer, which is 25 miles away, picks up the tractor for servicing, etc., and returns it for $100. Since the cost of a replacement trailer would be close to $4,000, I can't justify the purchase because I very likely wouldn't use the trailer to haul the tractor anywhere except for getting the tractor serviced. Still, I'd like to have the trailer. Interestingly, I have missed most having the trailer to use as a large work bench (the trailer was kept under a 20' wide roof-only extension of the metal building in which we keep the tractor, some attachments, a work shop, etc.).

How do you justify the cost of transport AND the cost of servicing when it is SOOOOO much cheaper to service it yourself?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I haul my toys on a flatbed car trailer, and pull them with a 3/4 ton truck.

Seems to work for me.



I like being self sufficient. I feel I have to be able to take care of my own property/stuff with minimal outside help needed. Hard to explain I guess. My dealer is more than happy to pick up my tractor anytime I need anything done (so far just 50 hr service), but even then, I'd hate the idea of not being to transport my own tractor to X location if I had the need or desire.

As it is, I'm starting to get serious about buying a new equipment trailer, so I can haul ALL my tractor stuff, tractor plus implements, in one trip, in case I ever need to. Looking at 28'-30' gooseneck deckovers now. Will still keep the car trailer, for moving low clearance stuff like cars, and other random "stuff". But I've never liked the idea of not being able to "take care of my own", when needed.

Not the same for everyone, I know. Plus, I'm fortunate to have space out here to park several trailers with no problem.

 

[rbtjr]

How do you justify the cost of transport AND the cost of servicing when it is SOOOOO much cheaper to service it yourself?

I don't need to justify it to anyone but myself, and I simply prefer to do it that way. To each his or her own.

 

[timswi]

make sure your truck has enough rear weight for your load. use wheel chocks and always load and unload your tractor on flat land.
this is a little tractor loading on a 20ft dual axle

View attachment 560561

LOL--I did that once when I took my 8N to our new house--Loaded tires and an FEL--Picked the back tires of my truck completely off the ground. That got my attention.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I’ll be honest, once you get a trailer you will prob use it all the time.

I grew up with a trailer available, my dad had both a 6x12 landscape trailer and little 4x6 trailer.

I got a house, got animals, got tractors and recently got into hay. I’m now on the road all the time with a trailer.

Used to have a F150, outgrew it and bought a 2wd 1995 F350 XL flatbed.

My first trailer was a 8k tandem axle trailer, outgrew it and now have a 10k deck over with mobile home axles under it, will prob swap axles for 7k axles with brakes on both axles ($1500-$2500 including 5 wheels and tires).

So now I have a 10k GVWR truck and a 10k trailer soon to be dexter axle 14k deck over.

So my trailer has saved me a lot of money, I had my truck break down-ish about an hour and 15 mins from home. Got it arranged for my buddy to tow my truck back on my trailer (no tow bills, just paid him some diesel), his truck broke down, had a brake hold on so we towed it back on my trailer. He has his own 2500hd duramax and 10k equipment trailer but we borrow each other’s stuff as needed, that was we are never down even when something breaks, there isn’t anything we can’t haul home so no tow fees ever. It’s really nice.

My buddy and I are both the type of guys that don’t care about loaning stuff out, my dad is the same way with his trailers, all the trailers see a good amount of use per year.

I find also I like to hook a trailer up and load it up vs hauling stuff in the bed, trailer deck is lower and it’s more convenient as odd as that sounds.

Also when someone moves we have some serious rigs there lol, and can move a whole house in a day no matter the distance really because of how many trucks and trailers available. Mine is 20ft, my buddies is 18ft, my dads is 12ft, my BIL has a 18ft trailer also. 1-2 trips and house is moved lol.

I couldn’t live without a trailer, it would hold me back, cost me so much money.

Now on the flip side of that my second cousin and that side of the Fam are Farmers of about 600 acres. They have huge tractors, tons of equipment, combines etc. they don’t really have trailers, they have one trailer and it’s something like 14-20k prob behind a dump truck but they hardly use it, they pay to have things hauled or drive the equipment. My cousin bought a case anteater from a case dealer about 40 miles from his house, I asked him, how did they get it there and he said they drive it, I laughed and said that would take at least two hours to drive it there lol, but that’s what they do on all the bigger stuff or pay a semi to haul it. All their smaller tractors never leave the farm or can be drove down the road as well.



Those pics represent a fraction of what was hauled this last year, a few are a little older than that. Most of the garden tractors I flipped for a nice profit thanks to trailers.

 

[dragoneggs]

Not to change the subject too much but what I have found (the hard way) is that when I loan tools, and such to friends/family it never comes back the way it left. Most likely because of the lack of experience with the tool (why they are borrowing in the first place) and it gets abused and they never seem to bother even to cleaned it up. That irks me... lack of respect for the tool and me. I guess I like to take care of my things. I do want a trailer though. Still think I need a dumper that can haul my BX on a rare occasion.

 

[ultrarunner]

I loaned out my PJ to the son of my neighbor... the Grandfather and Grandmother were very good to me...

Of course it came back screwed up... the pin dropped out for the tongue jack and did a number.

Can't say much except now I don't have to loan anything to anyone... the Grandfather let me have free reign of his shop for 15 years and after he passed... his widow said consider it mine to use until she passed.

I always have a trailered hitched to something... mostly my 4 by 6 box trailer which will carry 1-yard of rock or just about anything else I need to do.

 

[Fallon]

Not to change the subject too much but what I have found (the hard way) is that when I loan tools, and such to friends/family it never comes back the way it left. Most likely because of the lack of experience with the tool (why they are borrowing in the first place) and it gets abused and they never seem to bother even to cleaned it up. That irks me... lack of respect for the tool and me. I guess I like to take care of my things. I do want a trailer though. Still think I need a dumper that can haul my BX on a rare occasion.

I generally dont loan out my gear. My tractor, truck & trailer still roll out to help friends, but I'm behind the wheel unless it's a very select group with a track record of taking care of equipment & operating it properly.