Ordered a Lamar equipment trailer yesterday

[RyeThomas]

The one pictured is only 20 foot, of course I wanted the one that had to be special ordered. Well that is because I’m special, lol. I almost went 24 foot but the jump to 24 foot was larger frame members and axles all the way around and more money. It’s main job will be to drag the tractor and cutter around, with the cutter wheel on its 21 foot 6.With the wheel folded up it is down to 20 foot 4. Should have enough wiggle room. I really don’t like committing to such a large purchase before trying it first but that option would have been difficult being they are 2 and a half hours away one way and don’t have the trailer anyway. I only know Jarhead math so I could be in trouble.

I double and triple checked so while I’m confident I’ve been wrong before. The only thing I might be wrong on is how the weight may be distributed, I’m hoping with the wheels that far back on a 22 foot I should be fine. I like to be a little heavy up front is all, in my experience with my other trailers it seems to track and ride better that way.

 

[fried1765]

The one pictured is only 20 foot, of course I wanted the one that had to be special ordered. Well that is because I知 special, lol. I almost went 24 foot but the jump to 24 foot was larger frame members and axles all the way around and more money. It痴 main job will be to drag the tractor and cutter around, with the cutter wheel on its 21 foot 6.With the wheel folded up it is down to 20 foot 4. Should have enough wiggle room. I really don稚 like committing to such a large purchase before trying it first but that option would have been difficult being they are 2 and a half hours away one way and don稚 have the trailer anyway. I only know Jarhead math so I could be in trouble.

I double and triple checked so while I知 confident I致e been wrong before. The only thing I might be wrong on is how the weight may be distributed, I知 hoping with the wheels that far back on a 22 foot I should be fine. I like to be a little heavy up front is all, in my experience with my other trailers it seems to track and ride better that way.

Assuming you can distribute the load properly, the 20' trailer might have worked for you, if part of your attached implement could have hung over the trailer tail.
I carry my newly refurbished Ford 3400 TLB on a 20'- 14K trailer, with the hoe hanging over almost 2'. Works great!

If you are interested in determining the tongue weight when you get your tractor loaded, here is how to do it.
Google: TRAILER TONGUE WEIGHT
You will see a good description of how to do it using a BATHROOM SCALE!
I know....I know....... bathroom scales do not read high enough.
Trust me .....you will see how it is done!

I can use up to 1200 lbs. tongue weight, and I use a 14K Equal-i-zer weight distribution hitch.

Note: A former Naval Aviator is always willing to help with "jarhead math".
"Squids", "Jarheads", and "Coasties".......we all went through Pensacola.
We have a LONG history of mutual support ...... (mostly in bar disputes).

 

[4570Man]

The only way to measure the tongue weight with a bathroom scale is with a lever arrangement. Then you need steel pins to make the pressure point somewhat accurate. Assuming you actually get that setup to work with some degree of accuracy what percentage of what weight are we trying to get??? You need a truck scale to figure out the total weight. If you just google the weight of the tractor you're going to be wrong. This whole ordeal is stupid anyway. Drive the tractor all the way to the front and chain it down. He's got a 3500 DRW truck that's good for about 3 times the weight he's trying to pull. I can haul equivalent weight of his tractor in the bed of my 3500 DRW.

 

[fried1765]

The only way to measure the tongue weight with a bathroom scale is with a lever arrangement. Then you need steel pins to make the pressure point somewhat accurate. Assuming you actually get that setup to work with some degree of accuracy what percentage of what weight are we trying to get??? You need a truck scale to figure out the total weight. If you just google the weight of the tractor you're going to be wrong. This whole ordeal is stupid anyway. Drive the tractor all the way to the front and chain it down. He's got a 3500 DRW truck that's good for about 3 times the weight he's trying to pull. I can haul equivalent weight of his tractor in the bed of my 3500 DRW.

Well...here is how it CAN be done!
Go to a local (free) scale with tractor loaded, as you THINK it should be.
Get total weight!
Take truck alone to same scale, and get truck weight.
Subtract truck weight from total weight, which will be loaded trailer weight.
" what (tongue) weight are we trying to get"?
That number is widely accepted as being: 9% to 15% of loaded trailer weight.
Unhook the trailer, and use bathroom scale method to determine loaded trailer tongue weight.
The "drive the tractor all the way to the front and chain it down" method certainly may work for you and the OP.
You and the OP both have 3500 series trucks.

Few of us tow the exact same size/weight tractor, or with that same size/weight heavy duty truck.

Towing is all about safety, and........
Setting a proper tongue weight is SAFER, rather than "stupid", with a less capable tow vehicle!

 

[RyeThomas]

I’m going to keep it simple. My truck can handle more than I have to throw at her. I will load up and just pull forward till I feel the trailer is a little front heavy then go. My tractor and 14k rated lightweight trailer won’t be near my trucks max rating. I just am hoping I have enough room to pull forward some and get some weight up front. That’s all.
Thanks fellas, I’ll make sure to post picks of her loaded up once I get her. Who needs math, 2+2= chair

 

[4570Man]

You left out that fairly important part of getting a total weight. And it seems that we agree on needing a truck scale not a bathroom scale to accomplish that. When you're getting the loaded weight note the weight of the truck before the trailer axels hit the scale. Subtract the truck weight from that and you have the tongue weight. I'm not sure why you'd bother with the inaccurate bathroom scale when you have to have a truck scale anyway.

 

[Reb954]

I tend to keep it simple. I measure the tongue height before loading the tractor. Drive the tractor on until the tongue is 1 to 2 inches lower. Chain down the load and drive.

 

[RyeThomas]

That’s pretty much what I do by look and feel but measuring is a much better and accurate way to do it. Great idea, thanks.

 

[RyeThomas]

Ok so I want to make sure we are all on the same page, I truly appreciate everyones opinion, thoughts and in-site. That said my truck is way overkill for what I haul (that is why I purchased it) , so for me and my set up alone it is all about being able to get some tongue weight. I think we all can agree tractors (especially with loaded tires) are heaviest over the rear tire area of the machine, add 6 foot Cutter and you have a lot of the weight out back. Now the issues is do I have a long enough trailer where I can have the loader up front and still have the tractor pulled forward enough to put a decent amount of pin weight on the truck vs having it on the trailer and it swaying.
I’ve estimated my trailer at 3600lbs, tractor and loader at 5k, cutter at 1k, lets round up to 10k.
Ok well my toing rating on my truck per a dealer/Ram print out by my vin is 17.7k.
I think it’s safe to say I have plenty of room for error.
My truck is fat, I see the Ew on my registration and I’ve rolled her across the scale at the local dump and she’s at 9600lbs with me, full fuel and tool box. Lol. So I get how off EW of vehicles can be.

 

[4570Man]

Your truck is only rated 17k towing? I thought the Rams were rated around 30k. And 9600 empty? My 1 ton dump is only 7000 empty. My F350 SRW with my 20+5 22k trailer is 13k.