Trailering Safely

[OakHillFarmer]

I'm about to buy a Kubota 4330 and was discussing the logistics of maintenance with some of the local dealers. I mentioned that I have a heavy duty 12,000 GVW dump trailer that is 12' long by 7' widemade by Big Tex. My tractor is 10' long but with the loader it's too long for the trailer. However, if I put the bucket (quick attach) in the back of my truck and rested the loader arms on the front trailer wall, it will easily fit. The loader arms won't come anywhere near the hitch area so clearance is not a problem.

The dealer thought I was crazy for suggesting this and said he would never advise doing such a thing. I couldn't understand his comment since the trailer is well within limits. I'd be under 9,000 pounds total weight including trailer and tractor. My one ton chevy can pull 10,000 pounds. There's not a lot of extra room but I'm not overloading.

Ideally, I would have a much bigger truck and trailer but if I'm within all the limits, I thought I'd be ok. Does anyone have any experience or comments on this type of set up?

The trailer has D-rings welded to the frame that I can crank chains on and it's pretty obvious that I should go slow and steady.

Also, I can't think of many reasons to take the tractor off the farm but I'd like to know I can move it if the need comes up.

All feedback is appreciated.

-Mark

 

[browns40]

Hi Oak Hill,

I guess I would wonder how high off the ground the bed of your trailer is, then how would the balance be when loaded? Take the trailer to the dealer & try it out.

Ideally you want that center of gravity of the load as low as possible, and good weight distribution on your trucks front & rear wheels & trailer wheels...

Too high, forward, or back, & you've got potential for a lot of dynamic force once that load is moving to break axles or throw you and/or your load around.

Probably your dealer (& my) first picture is 4000+ pounds high in the air on a dump trailer, generating more torque than if it were 12-18 inches from the ground, putting you & other motorists in a potentially dangerous spot.

Happy tractoring! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[kevincook]

Mark,

If your just going in for service why not just leave the bucket at home? For that matter, for most service you could just leave the whole loader at home.

If you want to move your tractor around to different worksites with implements then I think you'll need a longer trailer to be safe and happy.

The weight doesn't seem to be an issue to me.

Good Luck,
Kevin

 

[OakHillFarmer]

Good points! I didn't consider that the trailer floor is 32 inches high, creating a very high center of gravity for a load this heavy. I think I'll have the dealer deliver the tractor and then put her on the dump trailer in a safe environment to see how she feels up there.

I'll also leave the entire loader at home when I bring her in for regular maintenance if I use the dump trailer.

Thanks!

 

[keeney]

I see skid-steers in dump trailers all the time, and I know some of them weigh in at 8000 lbs or more.

If you shop for dump trailers, you will also find that you can even order them with ramps, tie-down loops, and even fork-carriers.

I don't see any problem here as long as the tow vehicle is rated high enough and you have the proper load-distribution hitch setup (if needed). Also, make sure you can position the tractor to achieve proper tongue weight.

Actually, if I am another vehicle on the road, I'd rather see a piece of equipment in a dump trailer instead of on a flat-bed without any sides or rails. The heavy steel sides make me a little more comfortable that the equipment is not going to come bouncing off the trailer in a minor accident. Also, the sides tend to keep the dirt that falls of from bouncing into the cars behind you.

Don't forget to count the weight of the bucket against your total combination.

- Rick

 

[755inNY]

<font color="blue"> Probably your dealer (& my) first picture is 4000+ pounds high in the air on a dump trailer, generating more torque than if it were 12-18 inches from the ground, putting you & other motorists in a potentially dangerous spot.
</font>

How high do you think the 9,000 pound load of dirt is off the ground (assuming a 3,000 pound empty trailer weight and 12,000 pound gross)? Certainly the center of gravity for the load of dirt is lower than the tractor's but it is higher than 12-18 inches. The dealer's response may be due more to not having seen it done before. I would expect the trailer to handle differently with the tractor loaded but I would not expect it to be unsafe as long as it is balanced properly for proper tongue weight.

Jeff

I should have added my own experience with a 6x12, 10K gross, high bed dump trailer. The load of hay I frequently carry probably weighs 3500 pounds and the center of gravity is 3 feet off the floor of the trailer. The handling is fine. I would be more concerned about getting proper tonque weight with a 10'+ tractor in a 12' trailer. You may not be able to get the tractor forward enough.

 

[LeRoi]

I agree with Jeff, If you can get the tongue weight distribution right then you can pull it safely. But I own an L4330 and it doesn't look that big on the ground, but I'll tell you that it swells up a lot when you put it on a trailer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Leroy