Trailer advice needed

[Dirthog]

First thing if you are going to hall anything on the trailer get the brakes fixed second with 4 feet of anything sticking over the back end of the trailer I don't want to be anywhere around you when you are hauling it doubt you can keep it on the road with that much weight hanging out the back. you will have very little tongue weight and be down right dangerous

 

[npaden]

I don't think tounge weight will be that big of an issue with 10% or less of the weight on the back of the trailer. The loader weighs quite a bit and with the tractor pulled all the way to the front of the trailer there was PLENTY of tounge weight. I think I can get the tractor balanced out on the trailer without too much trouble.

I will check into getting the brakes fixed. It doesn't look like it will take too much work, I think it is just the electrical connection.

If you give me your phone number I will make sure and call you so you can stay off the roads if I'm headed your way. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[tawilson]

Does the trailer have flip up ramps? If so, that'll make a difference how you position your tractor. You may have to put the bucket over the A frame, which is fine, just make sure it's clear of your tailgate on sharp turns. Definitely get the brakes fixed, safer plus you're putting a lot of wear on your truck brakes without them. You'll be glad you got a trailer. I covered and connected my ramps with a frame and expanded metal, so I can carry riding mowers, four wheelers and even my mom's golf cart.

 

[Soundguy]

if you can get it ballanced with toungue weight, and or overhand on the a-frame a bit, i'd haul it unless the police gave me an issue. In any case.. DO make sure you flag it, and make sure your tail,stop,turn lamps are visible with the overhang.. if not.. make them visible.. either a second set up on pvc posts like boat trailers use.. or make a magnetic one with a bundles wire, and attatch it to the end of the mower where it overhangs.

Another option is to use the loader to load the mower up front up to an inch away from the front of the trailer..possibly sideways and then drive right up to it with the tires, curl the bucket so that the cutting edge is straight down and then set that just forward of the mower... should buy you some room.

I've done this with my 660 w/ front loader, when hauling 1-3 implements with it... just load them first.. drive up and set bucket past them/ on them.. depending onthe implement..

Soundguy

 

[Builder]

When the MVE cops pull us over around here, they make you show your trailer brakes work correctly or it's time for a nice big fine.

I would never operate a trailer without brakes unless absolutely necessary. You have to remember our children are out on the road, too.

 

[npaden]

Around here you see these 7,000# tandem axle utility trailers all the time without brakes. Are you not supposed to load them past 5,000# without brakes?

 

[Builder]

Here's some info on "Load Overhang restrictions"

"The extension of a load beyond the extremities of the vehicle cannot exceed the measurements listed below":

front- 3 feet
rear- 6 feet * **

* This may be exceeded for combinations carrying nondivisible loads (like logs, pipe) not exceeding 70 feet (length of load)

** Loads causing overhang length greater than 4 feet must have a red flag with a minimum of 12 square inches during daylight and a red light during darkness, attached to the end of the load.

 

[George2615]

Congrats on picking up your L4200 and 16' trailer. I hope you weren't serious about seeing 7K trailers all over Texas running without brakes. Please do yourself a favor and get the brakes fixed on your trailer. Your truck may have good enough brakes to stop it, but it's extra hard to stop your truck when it has another 7K behind it trying to push it through an intersection.

 

[Builder]

The law will also state that anything on a trailer (brakes, lights, hitches, tires, wheels) must all be functioning to be legal.

IOW-if it has brakes, they must be operable.

 

[npaden]

Yes, I plan to get the brakes fixed.

I am serious though about the 7,000# trailers without brakes. I've borrowed several different 16' tandem axle utility trailers and none of them had brakes. I don't think I ever hauled that much weight on them before though.

Thanks for the input! I'm trying to be safe. The other thing that I'm going to do is buy some good chains and rachets to secure the tractor next time I haul it. I was very lucky this time with my 2" strap tie downs as they both were cut before the trip was over. I was able to readjust them, but that was still very scary.

 

[MikeD74T]

You may find the brakes are just out of adjustment. Many trailer brakes do not auto adjust. Look for an oval plug on the bottom of the brake backing plate. Lift the tire off the ground, insert a flat screwdriver & turn the star wheel until the shoes rub, back off one turn. You can connect a battery charger to test the magnets.
Before long you'll wonder how you ever got along without the trailer. And you'll never want a trailer without brakes after you see how well they work. Most of the horror stories about trailer sway involve no brakes & the trailer pushing the tow vehicle. Good brakes will put a stop to sway right away.

 

[Builder]

I think his main concern is tongue weight. He has enough power to pull it and once the brakes are fixed, enough to stop it, but most 1/2 tons don't have squat for tongue weight.

I pulled 15 tons with a IH1700 dump with an old 345 V-8. Slow as molasses, but plenty heavy to stop it and hold the tongue weight.

 

[JeremyL]

Wow. I have been away from this forum for over a year. (Been busy on my tractor.) I came back tonight to look for information on hauling my MX5000 on a trailer. And the first message on the general owning/operating thread was this information-rich one. Is this a great forum, or what? Thanks to all. Keep up the good work.

I will need to haul my MX5000 with bush hog from Bowling Green to Louisville, Kentucky (about 100 miles) a couple of times a year. I think I will rent one for that. I'm thinking a 6' X 14' should do it.

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Congrats on picking up your L4200 and 16' trailer. I hope you weren't serious about seeing 7K trailers all over Texas running without brakes. Please do yourself a favor and get the brakes fixed on your trailer. Your truck may have good enough brakes to stop it, but it's extra hard to stop your truck when it has another 7K behind it trying to push it through an intersection. )</font>

I see it all the time here in Texas. I'm sure were not the only state that this happens in.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> I see it all the time here in Texas. I'm sure were not the only state that this happens in. </font>
That's right. You see lots and lots of them in Arkansas also.

 

[RobertN]

Most current info is more than 2999lbs requires brakes(at least in Calif).

Remember, you can't go much past 5000lbs on that 7000lb trailer. 7000lbs gross minus the 1600lb(my particular 16' dual axle) weight of the trailer only leaves 5400lbs of payload...

I have seen old trailers without brakes. Most newer stuff HAS to have them per FED and State rules.

I towed my tractor once on a borrowed trailer that had bad brakes. I was doing 55mph when someone cut me off. Even though I was driving a full size 3/4 ton, on clean dry pavement on a straight portion of road, the 1600 or so pounds of trailer with 2300lbs of tractor pushed me around much more than I would have expected. A little Honda Civic cut me off bad; I had left plenty off room, but when they cut me off, there was only a few feet! My anti-lock kicked in big time on my truck as I broke hard. The back of the truck and the trailer started to sway.

I got home, unloaded the tractor, and put the trailer on jack stands. Fixed those brakes right away... Turned out to be a broken wire. My buddy used it that way for a few years /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Turned out to be a 50cent fix.