Trailer for L-39 & other general purposes

Highbeam · Oct 24, 2005

"You have to deal with 200-300 pounds of weight to get a 5th wheel hitch out of the bed of the truck."

Not really, in the RV world I have had to deal with these hitches and the part that goes in the truck is easily lugged out of there with one person. Maybe 100 lbs tops. The kind on a semi would be much heavier though.

wushaw · Oct 25, 2005

( Will the gooseneck greatly increase the overall stability on the freeway and on gravel and dirt roads? Yes.

Are there cases where the bumper hitch is better than the gooseneck? Yes and no but not in this application of hauling a 7000lb tractor any kind if distances.
)

Fifthwheel hitches are designed to carry more pin weight and tow higher loads than GN hitches. GN stops at 7500lbs pin weight and 30,000 load where FW hitch can go as high as 165,000 pin weight and 200,000 load.
They are different hitches for different applications and different trailers.

_RaT_ · Oct 26, 2005

Pretty much sounds then with a 7500 lb pin weight (I assume the load on the rear pull vehicles wheels) and 30,000 lb load weight that we are well within the maximum legal towing load of todays 3/4 and 1 ton pickup trucks. Would this be correct?

FaC · Oct 26, 2005

Not quite...

The 7500lb pin weight is the weight that the trailer ADDS to the truck when it is hooked up and the 30K is the total weight of the trailer and whatever you have loaded on the trailer (does not include the weight of the truck itself). If you hooked that to a P/U you would have around 10K+ on the truck's rear axle and have a gross combined weight of around 38K+. That is a bit much for a 3/4 or 1 ton P/U.

Frank

Highbeam · Oct 26, 2005

I agree FaC. I think Rat was pointing out that the GN style hitch is capable of more weight than the typical pickup can haul so the choice between 5th wheel and GN isn't really effected by the GN's lower capacity.

If that L39 is 7500lbs, then the trailer should be at least a 12k lb gross unit since even a lowly 10k lb trailer like mine weighs 2500 lbs. If you want to tow the tractor often, I would recommend GN. That's a big puppy.

tlbuser · Oct 26, 2005

From Kubotas website on the L39

FEATURES TRANSPORT Kubota makes transporting simple. Weighing in with loader and backhoe at approx. 6,987 pounds*, use your C license and ¾-ton pick-up truck with a 10,000-pound GVWR rated trailer to move the L39 from site to site quickly and easily (in most states). *Weights may vary due to mounted options.

_RaT_ · Oct 27, 2005

You are correct Highbeam, I can see the reason for the confusion in my post. A frequent occurrence for me. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Md21722 · Nov 7, 2005

Thanks for the great advise. This trailer will be used on a dirt road so I'll get a gooseneck. The local Sundowner dealer is also a B&W dealer and they want $699 for a turnoverball installed or $295 for a plate hitch installed.

I am trying to decide if it worth the $400 for the hidden hitch. I'm thinking it will be since I still want to use the bed. Can anyone offer any comments either way?

Thanks,
Brian

Farmwithjunk · Nov 7, 2005

This past friday afternoon, I met my wife as she was leaving work. We took my Dodge 3/4 ton (with Hide-A-Ball hitch) to look at washer and dryers. We ended up buying the pair. Delivery was a few days off, and they wanted $100 since we lived outside the free delivery "zone".

Solution?

Flip the trailer ball over, and slide the washer and dryer in the bed of my truck. Case closed.

After having a couple trucks with a "fixed" ball in the bed, and ONE with the Hide-A-Ball, I'm NEVER going back to the dark ages again.

I'm glad to have my pick-up bed back!

SkyPup · Nov 7, 2005

I'd go for the Hidden Hitch as it allows you to use the bed when you need to without any impediments in the way. That way, when you are not actively towing the tractor around, the bed is freed up for other work.