Tractor and implements- I need to move from WV to AZ

[WinterDeere]

This might make you Gin drinkers cringe but I use Grey Goose or Tito's vodka and the olive juice from my spicy blue cheese olives...I take the vermouth out of the cabinet, look at it then put it back

lol... that's not a Martini! It's vodka in a funny glass!

Even the traditional gin martini drinkers had been going more and more dry, some getting the the point of just spritzing it over the glass, but now things seem to be swinging back toward the more traditional. Most old recipes are 2 parts gin + 1 part dry vermouth, although 3 + 1 is probably most popular today.

Sounds like you have a good plan with the gooseneck rental, albeit a long drive. Time to sign up for Audible, if you don't already have an account. A good audio book or two makes those long drives much more tolerable.

 

[dirtymartini]

I'd pass on the "Not for hire" signs.

No sense in advertising that you feel a bit guilty towing your own stuff around.

Just in case I roll by a scale and they decide to come pull me over. I do have a class A CDL but I will be looking like a Hotshot driver rolling past.

 

[zzvyb6]

But another alternative could be selling all of it and buy new/different equipment when you get to Az. This way, start with a tractor and then buy just the attachments you actually need. I'll bet your inventory would be smaller out West.

 

[RayIN]

I'd pass on the "Not for hire" signs.

No sense in advertising that you feel a bit guilty towing your own stuff around.

Full-time RVers who drive a HDT tractor have "private vehicle, not for hire" on the doors. A 1T dually pulling a 40' flat-bed gooseneck is seldom looked at by DOT.
As to weight limits some have quoted, that is a state thing, so it depends on the state from which the vehicle is licensed, and drivers license issued.
One thing regulated by each state is overall length.
Towing laws by state

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Just in case I roll by a scale and they decide to come pull me over. I do have a class A CDL but I will be looking like a Hotshot driver rolling past.

I'll be going past several scales in NM, AZ, and CA, in a month or two with my 14K GVWR 3500 (which has a flatbed) and an empty 25K rated 35' trailer.

I no longer have a CDL, and won't stop at any scales. In CA I really should because of the flatbed, but won't worry about NM or AZ. Just like nothing has ever happened in CO, UT, NV, or TX.

Could an officer be a bit miffed after deciding to chase me down? Of course he could, but I'm legal in my home state, and would most likely pass an inspection. So far, after tens of thousands of miles, empty and maybe a wee bit overloaded, there hasn't been a problem - not stopping, no signs.

Now, coming back from CA driving an unregistered Pete (pulling the gooseneck with the 3500 on it) could be a different story.

 

[jyoutz]

I'll be going past several scales in NM, AZ, and CA, in a month or two with my 14K GVWR 3500 (which has a flatbed) and an empty 25K rated 35' trailer.

I no longer have a CDL, and won't stop at any scales. In CA I really should because of the flatbed, but won't worry about NM or AZ. Just like nothing has ever happened in CO, UT, NV, or TX.

Could an officer be a bit miffed after deciding to chase me down? Of course he could, but I'm legal in my home state, and would most likely pass an inspection. So far, after tens of thousands of miles, empty and maybe a wee bit overloaded, there hasn't been a problem - not stopping, no signs.

Now, coming back from CA driving an unregistered Pete (pulling the gooseneck with the 3500 on it) could be a different story.

You have pretty good intuition. You are unlikely to be stopped in AZ or NM.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

You have pretty good intuition. You are unlikely to be stopped in AZ or NM.

It's not so much intuition as experience, from many years of driving through those states.

 

[Tinhack]

After being forced to sell my LS R4047 a couple years ago due to divorce my friend wants to sell it back to me.

I'm late to the meeting but I just wanted to say that you recovered well if you are buying it back. Good on you.

 

[Tinhack]

You have pretty good intuition. You are unlikely to be stopped in AZ or NM.

Perhaps. If NM ever finished that highway. I think it was US 87. The last time I was there, state troopers lined the highway, and the speed limit was 25mph. They must have written hundreds of tickets that night. You couldn't go a mile without seeing flashing lights. I made it through but that was a long trip on what was supposed to be a short cut to IH 25 going north.

Don't go through NM if you can avoid it.

 

[jyoutz]

Perhaps. If NM ever finished that highway. I think it was US 87. The last time I was there, state troopers lined the highway, and the speed limit was 25mph. They must have written hundreds of tickets that night. You couldn't go a mile without seeing flashing lights. I made it through but that was a long trip on what was supposed to be a short cut to IH 25 going north.

Don't go through NM if you can avoid it.

I don’t know of any current long construction projects in NM. I don’t know where highway 87 is in NM, but it’s a major busy highway in AZ?

 

[Tinhack]

I don’t know of any current long construction projects in NM. I don’t know where highway 87 is in NM, but it’s a major busy highway in AZ?

It's in the northeast corner. I was on my way from Texas to Colorado Springs but usually stay going north through Amarillo, TX and OK to highway 50 in CO. I wanted to see "The Pass" so went through Dalhart over to NM on 87 to pick up IH 25. Bad choice. It was dark by the time I got to Raton pass and didn't see anything.

 

[Tinhack]

I don’t know where highway 87 is in NM, but it’s a major busy highway in AZ?

87 in AZ is a state route. US 87 in NM is a United States Highway.

 

[dirtymartini]

I'm late to the meeting but I just wanted to say that you recovered well if you are buying it back. Good on you.

It's going to be very satisfying having the tractor back. The Ex knew how much I wanted to keep it.
Now if could only get my Norton Commando back....

 

[ernieatv]

Yes I have looked into that. I am currently getting quotes from hotshot companies through Shiply.
I have found by the time I rent a trailer, pay for fuel and factory in food, maybe a motel or two it's not much more to have it all shipped to my door.

Smart thinking and less stress for you. Wear and tear on your truck

 

[dirtymartini]

Smart thinking and less stress for you. Wear and tear on your truck

It was a good idea until I found out the backhoe needs to be reattached to the tractor and the current owner is unable to do it. Then I would have needed him to load all his the attachments onto the Hotshot trailer, something else I don't think he can do.
So now I'm back to renting a gooseneck trailer and driving up there myself. I found a 40 ft gooseneck I can rent for $200 a week or $800 a month. I really didn't want to make the 4200 mi round trip but I want the tractor!
I figured I needed the 40 footer because along with the tractor there is a 5-ft brush hog, a grapple for the front, a stone rake, a 6' grader blade, 6' box blade (or Gannon as the call it in these parts) and pallet forks.

 

[Gl Dansk]

I’d rent one of the many hot shots to do it. Even if you can find an appropriate trailer (which you’ll need a trailer license for) you still have the potential problem with trailer tires/truck etc that could delay you a night or two and you’d end up paying for a hotel etc. Remember you pay one set price regardless of problems the contractor runs in to. And he has all the appropriate equipment, licenses and insurance. And it’s a 2000 mile trip one way!

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Don't go through NM if you can avoid it.

Thankfully, besides 87 that cuts through the very northeast corner of NM, there are several other roads in NM that can be used.

 

[WinterDeere]

It was a good idea until I found out the backhoe needs to be reattached to the tractor and the current owner is unable to do it. Then I would have needed him to load all his the attachments onto the Hotshot trailer, something else I don't think he can do.
So now I'm back to renting a gooseneck trailer and driving up there myself. I found a 40 ft gooseneck I can rent for $200 a week or $800 a month. I really didn't want to make the 4200 mi round trip but I want the tractor!
I figured I needed the 40 footer because along with the tractor there is a 5-ft brush hog, a grapple for the front, a stone rake, a 6' grader blade, 6' box blade (or Gannon as the call it in these parts) and pallet forks.

There's always the option to fly out there, load the hotshot's trailer, and fly back. Not the cheapest option, I guess, but maybe not too terrible as round-trip tickets are sometimes cheaper than one-way.

If comparing costs, don't forget to add something for the mileage you're putting on your truck, in addition to fuel and an extra oil change.

 

[jyoutz]

It's in the northeast corner. I was on my way from Texas to Colorado Springs but usually stay going north through Amarillo, TX and OK to highway 50 in CO. I wanted to see "The Pass" so went through Dalhart over to NM on 87 to pick up IH 25. Bad choice. It was dark by the time I got to Raton pass and didn't see anything.

Thanks. I see that. A very remote highway for sure. That’s a state highway, not a IS highway and probably due to remoteness hadn’t been reconstructed in many years. Raton Pass is pretty scenic.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Thanks. I see that. A very remote highway for sure. That’s a state highway, not a IS highway and probably due to remoteness hadn’t been reconstructed in many years. Raton Pass is pretty scenic.

I've driven NM 87 acoupke of years ago cutting up from I-40 to Great Sand Dunes. Doesn't really get all that scenic until you get about 30-40 miles before I-25. Pretty though!