Towing tractor and implements 1,200 miles: help me be safe please

[newbury]

I believe it is deck over frame. Here is a picture of one. It would suck to order a WDH and find it doesn't fit.

View attachment 479010

YES - Carefully measure everything. I had a problem because most WDH's instructions specifying brackets being place where my battery box was welded on (factory install). The Equal-i-zer was one of the few that fit.

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On the borrowed trailer thing... Make sure the bearings are greased and that the tires are un-damaged and fully inflated. Check bearing and tire temperature at each stop - just like you probably do with your travel trailer. Any sign of problems - check it out more thoroughly. Good luck.

Definitely ensure the trailer in good condition. I had a trailer tire from a vehicle in front of me fly off and hit my roof just above the windsheild. I was also towing a UHaul when a an entire wheel assembly from the axle out broke off and hit a house. I found out rather quickly I was plowing Highway 72 in Northern Alabama.

I try to carry one of those inexpensive Harbor Freight IR thermometers, (just looked up the price, I always got them for $19.99 or less). When I stop I just walk around and take a reading off each hub. Eliminates bending over and dirty hands.

 

[George2615]

If your hitch frame tilts when the bed is tilted, couldn't you disconnect the WDH when load and unloading?

Bruce

Yes, That is what I had to do with that trailer. It was just a hassle to unhook the WD arms every time I wanted to load or unload.
I didn't mean to imply that a WD hitch couldn't be used with that type trailer and should have added the above statement. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Lots of good advise here. I would load it all up for a test run around town before a 1200 mile trip.

My gut says you will be ok without a WD hitch. What does your buddy you are borrowing it from use?


Chris

 

[Egon]

Load it properly and you will do okay without WDH.

Just remember it may be required by law. Many of the trailer brackets are clamp on.

 

[hammick]

Lots of good advise here. I would load it all up for a test run around town before a 1200 mile trip.

My gut says you will be ok without a WD hitch. What does your buddy you are borrowing it from use?


Chris

It's a brand new trailer and hasn't really been used. His family owns a Commercial painting company and it's just around town use. They don't use a WDH. Not sure what they planned to use it for. The have a triple axle for their big Genie Lifts. I'm guessing they use it for scissor lifts maybe.

I learned my lesson last fall when I borrowed a large enclosed trailer from him. He thought all the bearings and brakes had just been redone. I had an entire wheel come off the dual axle trailer. Cost $800 to replace the hub, wheel, new tire and new bearings on the other three. The repair shop said all three bearings were shot. Had both sides failed it could have been lights out for us and other people on the road.

Since this one is brand new I will grease the hubs and re-torque the lugs. Good advice on the IR thermometer. Unfortunately mine is 1,200 miles away.

I'm waiting to hear from the dealer selling me the tractor on the exact model numbers of the implements, especially the back hoe. Also the rear tires are filled probably between 50 - 75% so I need to calculate that weight.

I'm bringing it to our house in Kansas City first which is 200 miles. I'll probably make that trip without a WDH so I can evaluate whether it is needed.

Thanks for all the good advice.

 

[prichard]

I'm curious why you didn't just buy at the destination?

 

[roadhunter]

Sounds like you are good to go with what you have. You can adjust the tongue weight of the trailer by simply adjusting the load. Find a spot to park the tractor where it gives you plenty of tongue weight but doesn't squat the truck.

Your trip should be pretty easy bit there are a few spots over by Bozeman that get winding with pretty good grade. Just take your time and get in the right lane with all the other idiots on vacation pulling campers and driving motorhomes.

 

[hammick]

I looked but used tractors are scarce up there and the dealer's want a fortune for theirs. For example Kubota dealer wanted 14k for a used BX series 24 horse with just a loader. I feel the price I paid for the Branson is worth the transport headache. I'm going up there anyway and borrowing the trailer so just the extra diesel fuel and extra time to get there.

I head South at Laurel, MT, long before Bozeman. Luckily vacation time will be over for most people.

 

[prichard]

Thanks I was just curious. It's interesting to get a glimpse of the tractor market in other areas.

 

[Fallon]

Make sure you load & balance the trailer so 10/15% of the weight is on the hitch.

Because of the tilting mechanism tilting deck trailers are notoriously light on the tongue. My 16' tilting deck pivots between the axles as they all do, which means half the deck is behind the axles. On a normal trailer only 30-40% of the deck is behind the axles. You'll need to pull the machine more forward than usual to compensate.

I can't tow my tilting deck with my Tacoma over 55 unless I add a couple hundred lbs to the front of the deck. Had to shovel snow onto it to make it home from the auction I got it at. F250 will pull it empty. Both pull it properly when I load my tractor on it with proper tongue weight, although the Taco is all tapped out (hence me getting the F250).

A tongue scale is worth its weight in gold figuring out proper balance & tongue weight.