Plan Has Come Together To keep Me Busy In Retirement.

[WM75Guy]

I put a plan together, now that I have retired from the medical field. Step 1, tractor too small - get bigger tractor. Step 2, now trailer too small, get bigger trailer. Step 3, now truck too small - get bigger truck. So I ended up with the NH Workmaster 75, a Big Tex 14 GN 20+5 trailer, and a 2024 GMC 3500HD Denali. Here it is getting ready to go get some coastal square bales for the horses this morning. I added 5,400# working load limit d-rings in the stake pockets. I use 2" straps with twisted snap hooks to tie the hay down. Makes it easy to strap everything down by myself and even if the strap loosens up it can't come off. If I need a strap in between the d-rings I use an axle strap around the rub rail support. Bought 4 new 14' 5/16" G70 chains to tie the tractors down.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Nice looking rig, It's always nice to upgrade.

 

[Torvy]

Seems you forgot, step 4....get bigger property to play with new toys...and host a TBN BBQ.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Daaaaaaaamn.

 

[WM75Guy]

Seems you forgot, step 4....get bigger property to play with new toys...and host a TBN BBQ.

The 14 acres is enough for me.

 

[Renze]

I remember being in Canada in 2005 when my cousin had a new neighbour fresh out of Holland, "oh, you dont have a pickup truck yet, eh? How are you going to get the fert spreader at the co-op ?"

Well he brought a 40kmh Maxxum 5120 from Holland (its better to bring capital goods when you emigrate, than sell and take cash, for tax reasons) Then later they asked him how he could be back so soon. He explained that he didnt loose any time swapping a pickup truck for a tractor to spread the load in the field, and back when empty, and as long as you dont have long straight stretches of freeway on the route, a tractor isnt really that much slower than a truck.

Last winter i brought my friend away 60km from home to pickup his tractor and selfloading forage wagon at a specialist who rebuilt the cutting rotor. It was a one hour drive by car, it took him only 20 minutes more by tractor. Chaining it down would have cost more time than just hop on and take off

 

[workinonit]

Nice setup. You gotta haul one hell of a lot of hay to pay for those toys.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Trailer is still too small.

Why on earth would you want a 20 foot gooseneck?

 

[WM75Guy]

Trailer is still too small.

Why on earth would you want a 20 foot gooseneck?

It's 25 feet long. There is 20' plus the 5' dovetail with the mega ramps.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

It's 25 feet long. There is 20' plus the 5' dovetail with the mega ramps.

Yes, I get that. But for actually loading equipment (the wheeled, drive up kind), you have to have room for the ramps to fold back up and in on the bed.

For hauling pallets, you have 25'. For hauling tractors + implements, you have 20'.

And I was kind of just "razzing" you a bit.

 

[WM75Guy]

Yes, I get that. But for actually loading equipment (the wheeled, drive up kind), you have to have room for the ramps to fold back up and in on the bed.

For hauling pallets, you have 25'. For hauling tractors + implements, you have 20'.

And I was kind of just "razzing" you a bit.

No problem. When I haul the tractor and 6' Bush Hog cutter in for service, I just pin the ramps in the upright position. No further than I have to go to the dealer the added wind drag is not an issue.

 

[dieselscout80]

Nice setup!

What does your trailer weigh empty? Also what weight rating does it have?

Could you post a picture of your ramps?

 

[ultrarunner]

Retirements are good for the economy…

On a side note I’m seeing $7 gallon range gasoline and diesel trends about 50-75 cents a gallon higher than gasoline in my part of California.

My semi retired friend balances it by having a family fuel economy number… they have tgdd we Ram 3500 for trailer and Miata for everything else.

 

[rockinbbar]

Nice rig, WM75!
Hope it serves you well!

I think I'm fixing to sell my deckover dual trailer. It never have used it much. Bet I don't have a 1000 miles on it. Might as well sell it and get a trailer I will use.

 

[WM75Guy]

Nice setup!

What does your trailer weigh empty? Also what weight rating does it have?

Could you post a picture of your ramps?

Gross weight 15,900#, empty weight is 4,895#, carrying capacity 11,005#. In Texas you are allowed to tow a trailer with farm plates not exceeding 20,000# with a Class C license. With the truck and trailer I am not in CDL country.

Here they are stowed, upright, and deployed. They are spring-loaded, so pretty easy for an old man to put them down and back up. When I get back from an errand, I am going to spray Thompson's Water Seal on the deck boards.

 

[dieselscout80]

Thanks Randy!

 

[scootr]

That's an awesome rig ! Enjoy and thanks for keeping the economy going

 

[wmonroe]

Very nice setup!

 

[WM75Guy]

Thanks. Well worth what I paid for it. Spent the last week getting TPMS sensors put in the tires of my trailers, 3 down, 2 to go. The install and four sensors are $250 at Discount Tire. The sensors show pressure and air temperature. The TPMS, maintenance reminders, and the camera system makes trailering much easier for an old man. The system even remembers what the trailer brake settings are for each individual trailer. The split screen blind spot cameras on the base of the mirror mounts are nice. When you turn on a turn signal it goes to a wide screen shot of that side.

 

[EddieWalker]

Congratulations on your retirement!!!!

You're a few steps ahead of me, but the goal is the same. I got the bigger tractor, now I need the bigger truck and trailer. I'm terrified of all the smog issues on new diesel trucks, but I don't want to deal with wrenching on a pre smog diesel truck either. Eventually I'll have to make a decision, I just don't like any of my options.

Did you license the truck and the trailer as Farm Except so you could haul 20,000 pounds with a Class C?