Towing my tractor

Professor Marvel · Aug 16, 2011

I have a 2004 F250 crew with a 5.4. My tractor is a NH TC45D w/FEL and a very heavy 5' bushog. I think I want to get a 20' Kauffman tilt bed trailer with 2 7k# axels with brakes on both axels. Will this setup work for occasionally towing my tractor? Normally I would only tow it around my local area but might need to take it up to 2 hrs when I want to get it serviced.

Thanks for input. I do not plan on much towing, I just want it to be safe and do not have much experience besides just pulling it with my 16' car trailer which I do not feel too comfortable with.

farmboy12 · Aug 16, 2011

Sounds just about right. Maybe opt for a 22' but 20' should do okay, but you'll soon realize that 2' makes a big difference in adjusting tongue weight or throwing a little something extra on the trailer.

Kyle

Rancher Ed · Aug 16, 2011

I agree an extra couple feet would be nice but a 20' trailer should work. Other than that, you should be good to go.:thumbsup:

Ed

Diamondpilot · Aug 16, 2011

Biggest problem I see is your trucks tow rating. You did not say 4x4 or not but if its a 4x4 your tow rating is only 8,300# and if its 2 wheel drive its 8,700#. If it were the V-10 or Diesel you would have about twice that tow rating. This is the issue with most 3/4 ton gas trucks.

Your tractor weighs 3,740# with no weight or loaded tires. Your FEL is around 1,200# and your BH is going to be right at 800# give or take. That puts you at 5,740# then a trailer is going to be right around 3,000# so you will be right on the edge of what your truck can do.

If you are not comfortable towing what you have now you should not be towing twice the load, especially with this truck.

Chris

farmboy12 · Aug 16, 2011

Diamondpilot said:
Biggest problem I see is your trucks tow rating. You did not say 4x4 or not but if its a 4x4 your tow rating is only 8,300# and if its 2 wheel drive its 8,700#. If it were the V-10 or Diesel you would have about twice that tow rating. This is the issue with most 3/4 ton gas trucks.

Your tractor weighs 3,740# with no weight or loaded tires. Your FEL is around 1,200# and your BH is going to be right at 800# give or take. That puts you at 5,740# then a trailer is going to be right around 3,000# so you will be right on the edge of what your truck can do.

If you are not comfortable towing what you have now you should not be towing twice the load, especially with this truck.

Chris

Chris, I did think about that but another thing that should be rememebered is he is not towing too often. So I assume he doesnt need tons of power to move this load all up and down hills for miles and miles day after day.

His truck doesn't weigh too much less than a diesel, and still has the same brakes, so stopping his load should be the same or easier than with a diesel.

He may be over on his legal weights, but taking it easy his truck will handle it just fine IMHO

Kyle

Professor Marvel · Aug 21, 2011

Thanks guys
I appreciate the responses. Chris I especially appreciate your detailed answer so I know exactly what I am dealing with. Farmboy is correct though and I absolutely only intend to tow my tractor maybe a few times a year and even more rarely more than about 5 to 10 rural miles. My concern is more safety than towing performance.
I knew I could count on the folks at this forum for legitimate advice.

mjncad · Aug 21, 2011

Do you have the limited slip rear end? If so, that should boost your towing capacity by about 1,000 pounds. That was the main reason I got the LS rear end on mine.

The V8 gasser will be a bit wheezy for the load I suspect, which is why I got the V-10. I couldn't justify the diesel when I bought mine.

Dmace · Aug 21, 2011

If Chris is right on the tractor weight then a trailer with two 7k lb axles is overkill and only adding weight. A good tandem axle 10k trailer with two 5200lb axles would be more than enough plus lighter and cheaper.

arsenix2001 · Aug 21, 2011

Dmace said:
If Chris is right on the tractor weight then a trailer with two 7k lb axles is overkill and only adding weight. A good tandem axle 10k trailer with two 5200lb axles would be more than enough plus lighter and cheaper.

Plus one on that, my 24 foot 14k deckover wieghs 4250 dry!

Diamondpilot · Aug 21, 2011

5 to 10 miles you should just drive the tractor. I can beat you every time just driving my tractor versus you hitching up the trailer, loading the tractor, chaining it down, driving it there, unchaining it, the unloading it. I will take you 30 minutes min.

I can drive my tractor at 15mph comfortably, faster if I want my ribs beat out.

Chris