Trailer selection....

[pashworth]

I am looking to purchase a new trailer and am looking for your guys (and girls) input. I own a Kubota B7800, BH and FEL. The total weight is about 4000 lbs. I have been looking at 7000 lbs. capacity, 6.5'x16'-0" long, dual axle (3500 lbs each), dual electric brakes (already have a brake controller installed), 2"x8" p.t. deck, landscape trailer with a mesh fold down gate. Some dealers I spoke to stated that I need a skid steerer trailer rated at 10,000lbs. (same size deck and wheels). Isn't that overkill? I do like the skid steerer trailer's ladder type fold down ramps thou.

One dealer has offered to weld in some extra supports on the gate so the mesh does not dent. He did not mention a price thou!

Prices:
Landscape trailer - $1950 to $2450
Skid Steerer trailer - $3500 to $5500 depending on options.

I am leaning towards the landscape trailer. Any thoughts or experiances. I will be using the trailer to tow to side jobs during the weekends only, not full time.

Thanks for any help,
Paul

 

[Henro]

From other posts here in the past I pretty much concluded that when I buy a trailer it will be 18' minumum.

I like the tilt type trailer, 10K rating, dual axles, brakes on all wheels...others have in the past posted pictures of their B7800/2710/2910 size TLBs on 18' trailers and it seemed like the miminum good fit.

Even if you only trailer once, if that once things go wrong...that is all it takes to point out that the right trailer for the load would have been better.

I think there are both weight and size considerations. As well as poisition on the trailer considerations, in order to get the right tounge weight.

Others that know better can speak up, but when I buy a trailer it will be a 18 footer. This is based on what I have read here at TBN posted by others owning this size TLB...

 

[Av8r3400]

I own an 18' 7000lb trailer. It works fine for what I need of it and would work for what you need. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BUT, that being said the differance in the build from 7000 to 10,000lb is very dramatic. If I had it to do again, I would go for the 10,000. It just gives you more flexibility. I have hauled a HD pickup on my trailer, but it was definately overloaded. Also, consider a full width trailer, not the narrow contractor unit. When I bought mine, a "car hauler" was cheaper than the "contractor" trailer.

BTW, the expanded metal grate will not hold up to your new baby.

My Trailer

 

[Henro]

Here is a picture of RayBee's B2710 TLB on an 18' trailer...

Just about fits perfectly...helped me realize that 18' is the minimum I need... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[InlineDieselFan]

buy the 10,000 pound trailer, you will most likely start to add more stuff to carry and will soon overload the 7,000 pounder. As mentioned the 7,000 pound trailer the ramp won't hold up.

It is better to have too much tractor, too much truck,
and too much trailer IMHO.

steve

 

[KiotiJohn]

Keep in mind that from that 7.000# rating, you subtract the weight of the trailer to get your load limit. In my case, I bought a 7' x 18' utility trailer with two ladder ramps. The trailer weighs 2,000# so I effectively have a load limit of 5,000#, but will resist putting more than 4500# on the trailer.
When I have the CK20HST, loader and backhoe on, I have enough room to put a boxblade in front of the tractor as well, and enough weight room to carry it. If I were to have the brush mower on the back, I'd be at the end of the 16' trailer.
The trailer dealer didn't have any 16s on his lot, said he just doesn't sell them often enough, and they're only about $50 cheaper than the 18'.
This is an ANDERSON brand trailer witih dual 3500# axles, and brakes on each axle. Price: $1975 US. John

 

[creeper]

I think you could go with a 7k but get an 18' and get heavy duty ramps.

 

[JeffRey30747]

I went with 10K 20' on the trailer I just bought in January. I finally got the brake controller installed on my little Tacoma on Saturday. I don't intend to pull the big Kubota with the Tacoma, but figured I might as well go ahead and get the size trailer I need now and I could use it for a number of other things in the meantime. When I get a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup, I will be capable of hauling something as heavy as the L3710 w/ loader. My trailer was manufactured by Kevco Trailers in Leesburg, AL and purchased through a dealer, North Ga. Equip. Sales in Armuchee, GA. I paid $2000 plus tax but had to rewire the brakes to get them to work and some of the thin places in the paint are already starting to show through a little rusty where I have parked it in the weather for three months.

Jeff

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

All my hauling nowdays is on a pair of 14,000GVW gooseneck trailers. I use them to haul a pair of 6500LB tractors, and various implements, weighing as much as 3000lbs in some combinations.

I used to haul on 10,000 and 7,000lb "car trailers".

First off, you will gut that expanded metal ramp in short order. They are meant for lawn equipment weighing far less than your tractor. In all likelyhood, your tractor is weight-biased with 65% to 70% on the rear wheels. When they go up the ramp, with say, a bush hog on the tractor, you're going to wish you'd gone with the heavier ramp set-up. BTDT... I trashed a few of those "ladder-ramps" over the years...

It's a bad practice to load a trailer right up to its weight limit. That'll be OK 99% of the time. BUT... What happens when you hit a chuck-hole at highway speed? What about when you go around a corner at 50 MPH, and all the weight leans to one side?

You over'load that trailer! That's what happens.

And you need to be able to load a tractor forward or REARWARD on the trailer as needed to get proper weighting on the tongue. That may mean stopping with the front wheels 4 feet from the front of the trailer. In that case, you need more trailer deck out in the back to keep your bush hog from hanging over. My tractor and mower would fit on a 20' trailer, yet I run 24'+4' to give me that flexiblity when loading.

A trailer is one of those things that just about always CAN'T be TOO BIG.

SO... even though we're spending YOUR money here, I'd go 10,000lbs, heavy duty ramps, and MINIMUM of 18'....

I'd shop around though. I've seen trailers like that for under $3000.

 

[Bowhunter]

You can find good prices for trailers on ebay....new from manufacturers in Sikeston, MO, Tennessee, and others.