Hi guys, I am taking delivery this week on my new b3030hsdc (yee haawww) and wanted some input from forum members. If my calculations are right, my loaded trailer weight will be as follows 2271 lbs for the tractor, about 900 lbs for FEL, box blade at 525 lbs and tiller at about 500 lbs. This brings my total weight without the trailer to about 4200 lbs. I am guessing the weight of a 14 ft trailer to be about 1000 lbs. My tacoma is rated at 5000 lbs. This puts it right at the towing limit. Outside of buying a new truck since I will be paying for the tractor for a few years, what can I do to make the ride as smooth and as safe as possible. I also put inflatable air lift bags on the rear springs that increase tongue weight capacity to 2500 lbs and even out the load. Any input or tips on producing as smoth of a ride as possible would be appreciated. Thanks.
Towing weight capacity with new 3030hsdc and tacoma
- Thread starter soxfan
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DVR
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- Columbia, SC
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- Kubota MX5400 cab, Kubota L3560LE cab, Kubota L3301
you need trailer brakes.
i would find a friend with a 3/4 ton or larger truck and ask them to tow it for me.
i would find a friend with a 3/4 ton or larger truck and ask them to tow it for me.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I'll assume you have a frame mounted hitch receiver, and if so, and you want the best ride and safest handling, then get the hitch head, lift bars, and sway control; i.e., load distributing hitch with sway control. Of course, I'm assuming something not in evidence
and if I'm wrong, then you need to start with getting a proper hitch on the truck. You didn't really give us enough information for anyone to make a really reliable recommendation; i.e., is the trailer a dual axle or single axle (I would assume two 3500 pound axles), does the trailer have brakes (sure hope so), and does the truck have a brake controller (if not, it's needed)?
and if I'm wrong, then you need to start with getting a proper hitch on the truck. You didn't really give us enough information for anyone to make a really reliable recommendation; i.e., is the trailer a dual axle or single axle (I would assume two 3500 pound axles), does the trailer have brakes (sure hope so), and does the truck have a brake controller (if not, it's needed)?
lawn_king
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As an owner of a B3030 HSDC, my advise to you is to tow the toyota home with the tractor. Mid range at 1900 rpm should do fine, ac on low, stereo on progressive rock, belt on, flashers on, ice cold coca cola in the cup holder and you are good to go!
George2615
Super Member
If your 14' trailer is a double axle it probably weighs about 16-1800# not 1000 (My old 16' trailer weighed 1990#) which puts you close to 6000# and over your truck limit. If you are still going to tow with it make sure the trailer has brakes and you have a brake controller and be careful.
Bird
Rest in Peace
No one is going to recommend you exceed your truck's rated towing capacity, for liability reasons. So I won't recommend it either, but I always figured a substantial percentage of the travel trailers you see on the road are over the rated weight capacity. When the manufacturer sets those ratings, they don't know when or where you're going to be towing, how smooth or rough the roads will be, how steep any hills will be, how hot or cold, wet or dry the weather will be, how fast you'll be driving, how far you'll be driving, or how experienced the driver is. So, in my opnion, they have to be a bit conservative in their ratings and I don't blame them. But if you're a reasonably experienced and safe driver (think defensive driving), I see no problem.
biker128pedal
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Do some searching and see if anybody has tried to tow 6,000 pounds with a Tacoma. Strip the truck down to reduce weight. Heck runthe gas down to half a tank.
Also some of the new trucks will tell you they are overloaded. Even on level ground. Lights will flash on the dash. The fuel gauge may go to empty when it is full. The engine light will stay on. Of course this won't happen until you get down the road.
Go rent a Uhaul.
Also some of the new trucks will tell you they are overloaded. Even on level ground. Lights will flash on the dash. The fuel gauge may go to empty when it is full. The engine light will stay on. Of course this won't happen until you get down the road.
Go rent a Uhaul.
Bob_Skurka
Super Member
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You are clearly over the capacity of your truck.soxfan said:
I think you are also underestimating the weight of a 14' trailer by 400 to 500 pounds. I'd estimate it at roughly 1400# if it is a dual axle trailer. I've owned 2 16' trailers, one lightly built and one heavily built. The lightly built one was probably 1500# and there really is not much difference between a 14' and a 16' trailer.
Bird recommended a weight distributing hitch but I would suggest you check with Toyota if you can use a WD hitch, some of the foreign trucks specifically recommend you do not use those. I have a truck that recommends against it, but I don't own a Tacoma. Just something to check. WD hitches are also heavy, figure an extra 50#.
If you are towing the tractor with a full tank a fuel realize that 10 gallons of diesel fuel weighs about 90#.
My questions to you are these:
- How often will you be trailering the tractor & implements?
- How far will you be trailering them?
- What is the terrain (flat, gently rolling, or very hilly)?
- Can you tow the tractor on one trip and make another trip with just the implements and other gear?
- How well do you know the guys at the local transmission shop? -OR- Do you have a cute sister who is willing to date one of the guys at the local transmission shop? Because I think you will get to know them very well if you try to tow this load any real distance on a regular basis. I think you will get away with it for a short distance on flat ground if only done once or twice a year. Beyond that, I'd consider renting a truck.
gordon21
Veteran Member
Two more things.
1-Make sure to not use overdrive in order to keep the revs up in the powerband and don't lug the engine.
2-Can you put one of the implements in the bed of the truck? That would move 500# ahead of the rear axles and off from the trailer and put the towed load very close to your capacity.
Your trailer will definitely weight 1400# minimum, especially if it has two 3500 axles and brakes. Keep the trailer exactly level or just slighly tongue heavy by 2-4 degrees. Use a 3-5' carpenter level along the top rail of the trailer to check after everything is loaded. Check at several places along the trailer. Center the tractor left to right. You don't want the load off center by 1000#
You can plan on riding alone with minimal gasoline and diesel. You don't want to make the problem worse by hauling 3 buddies with you and full tanks on the tractor and truck. 3 buddies, gas and diesel would add another 600-800#
1-Make sure to not use overdrive in order to keep the revs up in the powerband and don't lug the engine.
2-Can you put one of the implements in the bed of the truck? That would move 500# ahead of the rear axles and off from the trailer and put the towed load very close to your capacity.
Your trailer will definitely weight 1400# minimum, especially if it has two 3500 axles and brakes. Keep the trailer exactly level or just slighly tongue heavy by 2-4 degrees. Use a 3-5' carpenter level along the top rail of the trailer to check after everything is loaded. Check at several places along the trailer. Center the tractor left to right. You don't want the load off center by 1000#
You can plan on riding alone with minimal gasoline and diesel. You don't want to make the problem worse by hauling 3 buddies with you and full tanks on the tractor and truck. 3 buddies, gas and diesel would add another 600-800#
