PT Delivery vs pickup?

[jbman]

Well folks, I have been reading and reading and reading, and reading some more here. While I see that the PT is not perfect, and there are advantages and disadvantages, but I am
convinced the PT is what I am after. Sooo, I am in NC about 4 hours away from Tazewell. My question is for those of you that have trailered the PT around, or for anyone that knows anything about trailers etc. We have just a regular ole Ford F150 half ton. I am going with either the 422 or 425, decision still to come. Can I just rent an open trailer from U-haul and haul one of these guys home, putting the implements in the truck bed? I am not trailer savvy. Do I need a car trailer, or is just one of their moving trailers ok. Looking at the U-haul web site, the 5x9 ramp trailer has a max load of 1650 lbs.. which seems like it would be fine, but I dunno for sure. I will check to see what having it delivered would cost, but I am pretty confident renting a trailer would significantly cheaper. For implements I am planning on the grapple bucket, the forks, the mini hoe, and a blade. Any advice on trailering, or even an alternative idea, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim Manwaring

 

[farm23]

I also live in NC and picked my 1430 up at the factory. Tazewell advised what I needed to get everything home. The 5% discount plus tax saving helped me to justify buying a tralier. Having the tralier has proved to be more useful than I would have thought.

 

[ddonnell]

I was told by Power Trac that if I pick up a pt at their factory, I would have to pay Virginia sales tax. Being out of state, you might find that the delivery costs would be close to the sales tax you'd pay if you pick it up.

 

[KentT]

I suggest you try to find somewhere to rent a utility-type trailer, instead of going with a UHaul. Some of the local tool rental stores here have trailers for rent. Home Depot does also...

Get AT LEAST a 12-ft one, so you'll have plenty of room for the implements. Both the snow/dirt blade and the grapple bucket take up a bit of room. The blade because of its angle-mounting and caster wheels, and the grapple bucket because of the grapple. The minihoe or forks will fit inside the grapple bucket.

Your 150 should pull it without a problem. I've towed mine almost 1,000 miles with a v8 Dakota QuadCab, on a 14' HD landscape/utility trailer. This pic shows how much space is left with a 425 on a 14' trailer. The front wheels are against the front crossbar, with the lift arms out over the trailer tongue.

I had a friend pick up some implements for me. I paid over the phone with a credit card. I didn't have to pay the sales tax...

 

[jbman]

Aha, as usual, some good advice coming in.. thanks everyone so far for the suggestions. I very much appreciate the help. Looks like I need to be careful on the sales tax, looks like I should go for a bit larger utilility trailer than I was thinking.... I certailnly do learn alot from all you folks.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[SELKIRK]

Spend the money and buy a trailer. You will wonder how you ever lived without one.


Rule #1-You will get new friends when you get a tractor. Having a trailer will make them love you even more!

Selkirk

 

[jbman]

Hmm, ok that's two folks that have suggested I actually buy a trailer. I hadn't considered this. I dunno, they cost money and all that ya know..... I'll have to look into this suggestion a bit....

Jim

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Hmm, ok that's two folks that have suggested I actually buy a trailer. I hadn't considered this. I dunno, they cost money and all that ya know..... I'll have to look into this suggestion a bit....

Jim

Of course you can go really nuts and buy a trailer package from PT. They're proud of their trailers, but the quality is high.

Incidentally, I've pulled my 1845 with a couple of implements easily with a 1500 Chev half ton 4 x 4. No problem at all, but with any trailer carrying a PT you'll want brakes. You may be a bit below your state's requirement for trailer brakes, or you may be over it, but you'll be a lot more comfortable if you have good working trailer brakes. If a rental, surge brakes will be fine and don't require a controller in the truck. If you buy, you can choose between electric and surge, depending on State regs, etc. (And, you can start a heated debate here, since each type has adherents.)

 

[jbman]

Uh-oh, whole new ballgame here.... I hadn't even considered that the trailer should have brakes......... Oh boy.

Jim


Of course you can go really nuts and buy a trailer package from PT. They're proud of their trailers, but the quality is high.

Incidentally, I've pulled my 1845 with a couple of implements easily with a 1500 Chev half ton 4 x 4. No problem at all, but with any trailer carrying a PT you'll want brakes. You may be a bit below you're state's requirement for trailer brakes, or you may be over it, but you'll be a lot more comfortable if you have good working trailer brakes. If a rental, surge brakes will be fine and don't require a controller in the tuck. If you buy, you can choose between electric and surge, depending on State regs, etc. (And, you can start a heated debate here, since each type has adherents.)[/QUOTE]

 

[KentT]

The PT site had a used T-8 class trailer for sale in South Carolina (as I recall) at one time, but I'm not sure if it is still listed there or not...

 

[MossRoad]

Uh-oh, whole new ballgame here.... I hadn't even considered that the trailer should have brakes......... Oh boy.

As mentioned, check to see if the rental trailer has surge brakes. If it does, your worries are over. They require no additional connections to the tow vehicle.

As for towing, go slow, stay in the right lane. If things feel fine, and your confidence level is boosted, DON'T be tempted to go faster. Just stay slow and steady in the right lane and let everyone pass you if they want. You will get home less stressed and in one piece.

 

[ddonnell]

Exactly!

 

[BobRip]

Two other points. If you pick it up then you can take the 1/2 day class on maintenance. You can test drive the actual machine that you are going to buy and actually take the class using it as an example. I found two minor things wrong with it during the class. They fixed them on the spot.
If you ever have to take it back for repairs, you will have a way to do that.
If friends want to borrow it you can take it to them. Oh, that may be a bad thing.
That's 3 things minus one, or two. Drive slow and easy. Think well ahead as braking distance increase.

 

[jbman]

OK, thanks all very much for the advice. Ok, surge brakes, sloooow and easy, maintenance class. OK, now to make some phone calls.... deep breathes.....

Thanks again very much... although I doubt you've heard the last from this rookie...

Jim