Trailer Weight

[EhM8]

This is something that I can't find in specs for tractors, that is what weight trailer can I pull. I expect it is not only the hp of the tractor, but the weight of the tractor itself as well. I have an 85 hp MFWD tractor that weighs somewhere between 3400kg (7500lbs) and 4000kg - brochures say 4000 and manual says 3400, so I won't know until I put the thing over a weighbridge I guess. I am looking at getting a trailing fertilizer belt spreader. Manufacturer of one model tells me I should only go for a 3 tonne spreader on my undulating country, but I can get a good second-hand 6 tonne one by the looks of it.... I figure I don't have to load the full six tonne onto it.

Oh, that was engine hp I gave. I think it is 70 pto hp. And the spreader wouldn't be braked.

 

[RWolf]

Pullling isn't the problem as most trailers being pulled behind a tractor support there own weight and all you are doing is pulling a rolling load. Now stopping is another thing as what I've seen so far is that trailers behind tractors don't have any braking system. Now I'll admit that I'm not an expert on this but if the trailer doesn't have any brakes then you are going to have to stop the trailer with nothing but the tractor and if you loose traction the trailer can push you into a disaster even at low speeds.

 

[Bird]

Yep, like RWolf said, pulling is not a problem, but stopping might be. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the bigger trailer, just don't load it too heavy, just as you said.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin EhM8,
I will third what the other guys allready offered as good advice ! Although my experience was with a smaller antique tractor its still all the same really. I was pulling a fully loaded trailer of wet cord wood with my 49 Super A and it pulled it fine, but when I started going down hill it got my attention really quick ! The tractor only weighed in at about 2800 lbs with extra weight, and with old style band brakes even though they werre new, that load of wood really pushed the tractor down the hill. My saving grace was that I was going slow and in second gear, so you really need to be careful with a lot of weight behind you !

My other experience was with my neighbor who owns a fairly good sized JD, the 5105 MFWD and he was bailing with a kicker and hay wagon in tow and he got pushed down a good sized slope, fortunately nothin in his way at the bottom of the hill !

 

[George2615]

Like Bird said, pulling isn't the problem, stopping is.
In the summer I move my 6000lb camper trailer around in my driveway but on level ground only. I'd never try going up or down a hill towing that with my tractor which only weighs around 3100lb with the loader. Your 7500-8000lb tractor should have no problem hauling a 6 ton spreader just be careful of the hills.

 

[neucam]

Like everyone said steep down slopes are a problem, I have a 2500lb tractor loader and even with a 1500lb trailer it tries to push it around going downhill on steep slopes. I forgot to put it in 4wd, so the braking was only on the rear wheels. The rear wheels just skidded some before I got it slowed down even though I was in a low gear. Steep down slopes are nothing to take lightly.

 

[LBrown59]

Like everyone said steep down slopes are a problem, I have a 2500lb tractor loader and even with a 1500lb trailer it tries to push it around going downhill on steep slopes. I forgot to put it in 4wd, so the braking was only on the rear wheels. The rear wheels just skidded some before I got it slowed down even though I was in a low gear.
*Steep down slopes are nothing to take lightly.

*An accident looking for a time to happen.

 

[Charolais]

I have a Farmtrac 80 with loaded tires on the rear and a loader on it. I pull a Chandler single axle fertilizer spreader with 4 tons of pot ash in it. The spreader has a PTO hydraulic pump for the spinners and ground driven livebottom. 4 tons is all I can get in the spreader. I live in the rolling hills of Va. and had no problem stopping the tractor and spreader. Mainly because of the tongue weight. This tractor is 72 engine HP and it was all the tractor wanted to pull the thing. I think the pto pump uses about 20 hp.

I also have a Hedlund Martin side slinger manure spreader. It weighs 4,800 pounds empty. Spreading wood ash it holds 2.5 tons of ash. With chicken litter it holds 4.5 tons of litter. This spreader has 4 wheels on a walking axle so it still has plenty of tounge weight. I pull it with a Deutz Fahr Agroplus 87 with ballast in the rear tires. Road speed of 30 mph and field spreading at 4 mph. The book says the tractor road speed is 24 but top speed is 30 because I've followed it on the highway with 3 different truck and all three truck were running 30 mph behind it. Just have to allow some distance when you stop it at that speed. But can stop pretty fast since the tractor has 4 wheel braking. In the field I've been pushed by the spreader a couple of times when it was wet on top. I use 4wd and takes care of that. But sloppy wet conditions I wouldn't try it on hills.

If your spreader adds a lot of tongue weight the tractor can hold back more weight than you think. If your spreader has 4 wheels and no floating or walking axle you won't get the tongue weight. So be careful or go smaller on the spreader if no or little tongue weight.

The worst pushing problem I've had was on dry dirt with leaves on top. Soil was hard as a rock and those leaves would make it like glass with all that weight behind the tractor. That's when you pucker up and look for a place to go because you're already near the tree line. Just look for a hole between trees and hang on. LOL Only had that happen once and wasn't prepared for it. Don't let it jackknife. Just drive and pucker. LOL