Trailer Type Selection Help. - Towing 4WD Tractor with FEL and Flail Mower (4700 pound total weight)

[CliffordK]

I tow a lot with my RAM 1500. The springs are a bit spongy.

I rented a Chevy 1500 for a day a couple of years ago and was impressed that the springs didn't sag a bit. Did you say which engine you have? I've got the 3.6l gas in my RAM, and it does fine towing, but it doesn't like to hold the load back with gearing down on hills.

500 miles is quite far, but not impossible.

I'd find a trailer then see how you like it with your current pickup before upgrading. Or, rent a heavy duty trailer and try towing your tractor around a bit and see what it feels like before you make the decision on pickup and trailer.

I have an 18' flatbed, no dovetail, and heavy duty ramps. I've hauled cars, pickups, etc. Some cars are a might bit low for the joint between ramps and bed. It may be easier to attach a winch to a fixed bed.

My aluminum trailer with 14" wheels and torsion axles is about 6" lower than the utility trailer. I haven't put it into full service use yet, but it may well be easier to load/unload.

The drop flat to the ground trailers would also be a dream to load.

 

[Spanky100]

Try to guess the weight distribution. Many equipment trailers put the wheels too far back to be comfortable with half ton pickups.

That is a great point about many of the equipment trailers having the whees too far back. I suspect since most heavy trailers are pulled with 3/4 and one ton trucks it is not a concern although I would think the rule on thumb (that I recall) for a conventional tow trailers is still the 10 to 12 percent of total trailer weight to be on the tongue. I suspect as George 2615 mentioned a weight distributing hitch can be used.

I just need a low cost implement trailer with adjustable axle spacing like I see on some of the semi trailers being pulled with class 8 trucks. Nice thought but likely well out of my desired budget.

Thanks

 

[Spanky100]

I tow a lot with my RAM 1500. The springs are a bit spongy.

I rented a Chevy 1500 for a day a couple of years ago and was impressed that the springs didn't sag a bit. Did you say which engine you have? I've got the 3.6l gas in my RAM, and it does fine towing, but it doesn't like to hold the load back with gearing down on hills.

500 miles is quite far, but not impossible.

I'd find a trailer then see how you like it with your current pickup before upgrading. Or, rent a heavy duty trailer and try towing your tractor around a bit and see what it feels like before you make the decision on pickup and trailer.

I have an 18' flatbed, no dovetail, and heavy duty ramps. I've hauled cars, pickups, etc. Some cars are a might bit low for the joint between ramps and bed. It may be easier to attach a winch to a fixed bed.

My aluminum trailer with 14" wheels and torsion axles is about 6" lower than the utility trailer. I haven't put it into full service use yet, but it may well be easier to load/unload.

The drop flat to the ground trailers would also be a dream to load.

Clifford

I did not say as I was self conscious to say it is the 2.7 turbo 4 they now call "Turbo Max". Torque and HP are pretty comparable to the 5.3 V8 but I am old school and I like the V8 gas and diesels.

I have a friend that has a 20 foot 10,000 pound aluminum open car hauler that he uses a half ton Ford with the 2.7 twin turbo gas. He has used it for towing cars and trucks from the midwest into Denver and is happy with it. I might have to have him bring it over and see how it does on my 4700 pound tractor.

Thanks

 

[dieselscout80]

I wish my 18’ trailer (16’ flat plus 2’ of dovetail) was longer as there’s little room to really adjust the placement .

 

[newbury]

One thing I have not seen mentioned is that in some jurisdictions the LEO might write tickets for having a truck pulling a trailer with a GVWR over the mfg rating of the truck.

 

[dodge man]

I would think a 18 foot trailer is plenty long. You don’t want to small a trailer but why buy bigger than you need. This is my JD2025r on my trailer. It’s a 16 foot with a 2 foot dovetail. You can see there is plenty of room on the back. My tractor is probably smaller than yours.

 

[Spanky100]

I wish my 18’ trailer (16’ flat plus 2’ of dovetail) was longer as there’s little room to really adjust the placement .

diselscout80

thanks for the picture as it points our an 18 foot tailer leaving no space for adjustment

 

[Spanky100]

I would think a 18 foot trailer is plenty long. You don’t want to small a trailer but why buy bigger than you need. This is my JD2025r on my trailer. It’s a 16 foot with a 2 foot dovetail. You can see there is plenty of room on the back. My tractor is probably smaller than yours.
View attachment 862154

Dodge man

Thanks for the picture. Nice looking trailer, truck, tractor, and land with the snow. Looks like the trailer ramps are plenty long so not too much of an incline for a tractor.

My Kioti CK27 HST might be a slight bit larger than your JD 2025 R but I bet they are pretty close. From memory My tractor has around a 60 inch wheel base. The 65 inch flail mower does not extend out as far as a rear rotary cutter.


Thanks

 

[Spanky100]

Yes, I prefer the tilt bed. I've had many conventional trailers with ramps in the past but as I got older ramps were no longer fun to use and seemed to get heavier too, plus with ramps many smaller low clearance cars have a hard time getting over the hump.

My current trailer has a 22' wood deck and the 2' tail is steel. I do have a 8K winch installed (not shown)

I also agree with others that a 10-12K trailer would be better for your application.

George

Thanks for the pictures of your tilt trailer. I looked at some trailers this morning (car trailers, implement trailers, and tilt trailers). The tilt trailer was nice without have to mess with the ramps. I agree with your input as I am now getting mature myself and the lifting is not as easy as it was in my earlier days . While I do not currently plan to haul cars, it looks like a lower profile car could have sufficient clearance with a tilt trailer.

Thanks

All were steel trailers and after reviewing the empty trailer weight to the gross trailer weight, I agree with what the group has pointed out that a 10,000 pound or above trailer will easily meet my current tractor weight with loader and flail mower. I am going to check another dealer Monday or Tuesday to continue the journey.

Thanks