Towing Tractor

[Lineman North Florida]

It's to easy to put a tractor on a trailer that can be towed at highway speeds for me to jury rig up a tow dolly to then get out on the highway and drag it around at 10-15 MPH, but to each his own I reckon.

 

[oldnslo]

Lineman,
I suspect but don’t know for a fact that the Illinois trailer laws influence some of the decisions on towing vs hauling.

Figure a tractor the size of a John Deere 50 or 60 or Farmall M at around 5000 - 6000 lbs depending on how they are weighted plus 2 or 3 bottom plow is another 700 - 1000 lbs. This weight would require minimum of 10K trailer and 3/4 or 1 ton tow vehicle and most likely gooseneck or 5 th wheel.

In this area there has been a significant increase in roaming road side scale an inspection stations targeting over weight trailers, I uninspected trailers, etc.

In Illinois any trailer over 5K required yearly inspection or at that was the rules a few years ago. Plus license plates, registration, insurance, etc.

Towing could be accomplished with 1/2 ton pickup so significantly less cost and hassle for something you do a couple of times a year.

Not saying one way is better than the other but I can certainly understand why it is being done by old timers that know what they are doing.

I cringe more at people pulling tandem anhydrous nurse tanks behind a pickup at 20 plus MPH and that is done here every spring and fall.

 

[wolc123]

This is easier and safer.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Lineman,
I suspect but don’t know for a fact that the Illinois trailer laws influence some of the decisions on towing vs hauling.

Figure a tractor the size of a John Deere 50 or 60 or Farmall M at around 5000 - 6000 lbs depending on how they are weighted plus 2 or 3 bottom plow is another 700 - 1000 lbs. This weight would require minimum of 10K trailer and 3/4 or 1 ton tow vehicle and most likely gooseneck or 5 th wheel.

In this area there has been a significant increase in roaming road side scale an inspection stations targeting over weight trailers, I uninspected trailers, etc.

In Illinois any trailer over 5K required yearly inspection or at that was the rules a few years ago. Plus license plates, registration, insurance, etc.

Towing could be accomplished with 1/2 ton pickup so significantly less cost and hassle for something you do a couple of times a year.

Not saying one way is better than the other but I can certainly understand why it is being done by old timers that know what they are doing.

I cringe more at people pulling tandem anhydrous nurse tanks behind a pickup at 20 plus MPH and that is done here every spring and fall.

I guess were pretty fortunate down here, if it's farm related you rarely get messed with by the state man, but them poor old boys trying to scratch out a living hauling logs get wore out everywhere they go, I would have figured up there in big farm country everybody would have a deckover trailer and a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. I can't remember the last time I saw an anhydrous rig or tank around here.

 

[jyoutz]

I guess were pretty fortunate down here, if it's farm related you rarely get messed with by the state man, but them poor old boys trying to scratch out a living hauling logs get wore out everywhere they go, I would have figured up there in big farm country everybody would have a deckover trailer and a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. I can't remember the last time I saw an anhydrous rig or tank around here.

The issue with log trucks is that it easy and common to exceed 80k pounds with log loads. Most log trucks bunks will easily handle 100k log loads, but 80k is all that’s permitted on public roads.

 

[eddieirvine]

NO!. But, if you do, please post video!

I have already posted no way i have a tandem axle trailer i just wanted to see the responses And figured it would end up like it did thanks for everyone that responded

 

[Flogger]

Had a partner in a hay business who was always in a hurry. He would throw a tow strap on his 2 cyl 820 and round baler and have his sister pull him at 40 - 45mph from field to field. His sister this day has PTSD like issues. LOL

 

[mllud]

I have already posted no way i have a tandem axle trailer i just wanted to see the responses And figured it would end up like it did thanks for everyone that responded

eddieirvin has already decided not to try.

One thing not mentioned, or I missed is high center of gravity. The dolly would widen the front wheel stance, but the tractor would still shift more weight to the outside dolly wheel on corners causing control issues.

If kept at 18 mph as stated for a short run maybe ok but,,,,

I also think it may feel fine at low speeds and give a false sense of security to speed up. All that rear axle weight Back there pulling hard around corners.
There are all the good reason mentioned on here o why it's not common practice.

It would tow more like a towbar pushing on corners instead of pivoting like a trailer.
It was a good subject.

 

[rvds]

It would only be OK if you have an old fashioned manual transmission in my opinion

 

[blehmann]

You can buy a tire for the trailer cheaper than a tow dolly. Fix the trailer.