Trailer buying help

JohnJohn · Aug 16, 2004

I have a Kubota L3010 with a FEL and a 7' wide rear discharge cutting deck. I need to buy a trailer within the next couple of weeks.

The primary purpose is to haul my tractor 4 miles round trip less than 10 times a year to cut my mothers grass.

I estimated the tractor weight with attachments to be just under 4,000 pounds. Will a 16' tandem 3500 pound axel trailer be enough?

I have estimated the trailer to run me $1,500 to $2,000.

I may haul further once or twice a year but no more.
Thanks,
John

Logan · Aug 16, 2004

I have an L3010 with fel and box blade and it fits on a 16 ft. tandem axle trailer with about three inches to spare. My trailer is also 7000# and I have had no trouble pulling it. I think with the rear cutter you will have to get a longer trailer or leave off fel.

Bob_Skurka · Aug 16, 2004

You better go out with a tape measure and measure the length of the tractor with FEL & deck. I measured a B2910 with LA402 loader and a box blade and it was about 15' long. The L3010, if I recall correctly has a longer frame, and there is little doubt in my mind that the mower deck will be larger than the box blade. I think you would probably need an 18' trailer.

Remember, even if the tractor will physically fit on a 16' trailer, that does not mean the weight will be properly balanced, you have to allow a few inches of wiggle room to center the weight over your trailers wheels or you will either be tongue heavy or tongue light.

I pull a NH TC24D/12LA FEL on a 14' trailer but that tractor is a bit over 13' with a rear blade, box blade, or tiller on the back; there is very little wiggle room to center the tractor (only a few inches). For the B2810 we use an 18' trailer, which is a pretty nice fit and give plenty of wiggle room for centering the tractor over the wheels.

JohnJohn · Aug 16, 2004

I would like to trailer with the deck on the 3 point and the FEL on. The deck does stick out far.
I will tape measure it tonight. I think 18" would give me the room.

pekabu · Aug 16, 2004

I rented a trailer to move my TC24d, fel, and boxblade. The trailer was a 16' 10,000 trailer. I think you will need at least an 18' and even with that you may not be able to put the bucket down flat on the deck.

DannyD · Aug 16, 2004

If you trip is only 4 miles, unless you have road that you can not legally drive on, drive the tractor!.............oh wait, I want a trailer also, I know how that feels.

I think you may be right on the price, I can get an 18' dove tail, with ramps, lights and brake away for around $1400, that is with brakes on both wheels, and rated at around 5000 pounds.

fireshawn · Aug 16, 2004

I have a 25' gooseneck and my tractor, International 240 w/ FEL, and 6' mower I have to drive all the way till the FEL is over the tongue, fold up the ramps and then back up to set the FEL on the deck. The cutter sits on the ramps for the most part. I would measure first, now that I have it, I would sure like that extra 5 feet.

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 16, 2004

John,

If you only need to go a couple miles in each direction, why not just put your flashers on and drive it over to Mom's? It'll be $1,500-$2,000 cheaper and won't require extra plates, taxes or parking.

If you're set on getting a trailer, look into a tilt bed trailer. I have one and love it. No messing with ramps and easy to load and unload. Certainly a little more money but your back will thank you.

I have an electric hydraulic system on mine and I added a Warn winch for loading 'dead' vehicles. Honestly, I now use that for everything since it has a brake on it. I can back to whatever I want to load and, usually within about ten minutes, be back in my truck with my load secured and ready to roll. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I'm at that point in my life where the convenience and time is worth the extra money to me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DiskDoctr · Aug 16, 2004

John,

Be careful of your width. Many of the 16' -18' trailers are only 6' - 6.5' wide.

-JC

hammer1995 · Aug 16, 2004

This has been mentioned in previous topics, but you may want to consider a 20' trailer because it probably costs the same as an 18' and there are many times you will wish for the extra room. I have a L3130 with FEL and it takes a 20' trailer to properly haul it with a 5' rotary cutter attached. Whatever you do get brakes on at least one axle.

NATTYBUMPO · Aug 16, 2004

John,
I have a K 3010 with FEL and haul various attachments on a 18' trailer with small beavertail. A five foot Bush Hog cutter hangs over the back end about a foot. Both tiller and double gang disc fit on the trailer nicely with the load properly balanced. I think you need 18 feet of trailer for yr tractor plus mower. Also, I know my bed isnt seven foot wide. Be sure to measure yr rig before buying anything.

Natty B.

KiotiJohn · Aug 16, 2004

( This has been mentioned in previous topics, but you may want to consider a 20' trailer )
All these size recommendations are wonderful, but the tow vehicle is going to have to be rated to pull this load as well. Keep going up in size, and you'll certainly need a good sized, tow packaged vehicle or you'll be in trouble.
I don't need, but I want at least an 18' trailer, but loaded with tractor/loader/backhoe and a couple of implements in the box and I doubt the typical 1/2 ton is going to do it. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that's what most say.
Looks like I'm going to have to put a different gear in my rear to easily haul with my 1/2 ton as it is because it's just geared too high and I all to often have to slip the clutch too much for reversing in soil. Not good for the clutch! John

Rick_Morrell · Aug 17, 2004

I have an L3130 w/ 723 FEL & HD QA bucket. I haul it around (with various implements attached) on a 16' tandem axle trailer (twin 3500# axles) pulled by a Chevy K2500HD w/ 6.0L V8. To get things to fit (and balance)just right I have to curl the bucket forward and rest it on the front rail of the trailer. This leaves about a foot of overhang with a rear-mounted finish deck and considerably more with a bush hog. I don't haul the tractor very often, so this arrangement doesn't really concern me. If I were buying something new to haul it around, however, I would probably opt for a heavier trailer - maybe even a 10,000# gooseneck job. That would also give me an excuse to trade trucks (dare to dream)...

Rick

Egon · Aug 17, 2004

I'd suggest the 20 foot 10,000 pound rated lowboy trailer with brakes all around. If receiver hitch also get load equalizers.

Egon

BradK · Aug 17, 2004

JohnJohn, I have a 3010 with bushhog front loader and 6 foot rear finish mower. I purchased a 20 foot including the 2 foot dove tail 12,000 lb trailer with brakes on both axles to haul it. I wish i would have gotten a slightly longer trailer, but this trailer works good if hauling just the tractor with loader and mower it is tight with all of the attachments. At the time of purchase I was useing a dodge ram 1500 4X4 with th 5.9 to pull it worked fine. i have upgraded to a F350 4X4 with the 5.4 and it handles it much better. I attahed a picture not the best but the only one I have.
BradK

dliston · Aug 17, 2004

I'm looking for a trailer, too. In today's paper there is a 21' Tri axle equipment trailer rated @ 16,000# for $700. It has a pintel hook-up. Is a pintel hook something you can drive on the road with - I thought they we mostly used on farm trailers. In terms of hooking it up to my truck (Chevy 3500 dually) I can get a pintel for the receiver, but was unsure about the safety of it on the highway.

Thanks,

bandit67 · Aug 17, 2004

( I think you may be right on the price, I can get an 18' dove tail, with ramps, lights and brake away for around $1400, that is with brakes on both wheels, and rated at around 5000 pounds. )

DannyD,

Is that a brand new trailer? If so, what brand is it? That is a great price compared to what I've seen around here, so I'd like to look into that brand trailer and see what the local price for it is.

Gary_in_Indiana · Aug 17, 2004

A pintle hook is legal on or off road. You will notice a little 'bump' when you brake because of the nature of the pintle connection. If it were me, I'd probably spend my money on a new coupler for the trailer (heavy duty 2 5/16") instead of buying a pintle for my truck.

If that trailer is anything worth having at all it ought to be worth $700, though. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

8NTX · Aug 17, 2004

I'll go ahead and give the advice that's bound to come sooner or later here:

Go ahead and get a one ton dually and the 36' 20,000 lb. gooseneck trailer. You'll be glad you did since no doubt you will want to upgrade someday into a 300 hp. tractor with the bat-wing mower. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Kaliburz · Aug 17, 2004

Well, had to look at a Kubota 3010 pic to get an idea.

Most trailers, unless specifically for "tractors" are made for cars.... so they will be narrow. A 7' cutter is wide, so you need a 8' wide trailer deck, which means you'll prob. end up getting one w/ wheels under the deck, vs outside.

You could prob get a way w/ a tow behind trailer w/ a 2 5/16" ball. But I recommend a weight distributing set up. A 10,000lb trailer will prob what you'll end up getting.

Around here, the local rail road guys use a small JD and a single axle trailer (prob. 5K axle). They have a FEL also w/ a mower in the back. When it is trailered, the mower sticks out a little (GASP) and they raise the bucket over the front of the trailer. Now, I'm not saying you do this, but if you build a rest that goes into the side pockets, you "could" raise the FEL and rest it on top of it.......

Not sure whta you'll tow it with....(I sped read the post...). To drive 4 miles w/ a trailer, I'd just drive the tractor....but that is me.....