Up graded tractor, Should I also get a new trailer?

[nwbearcat]

So here's one on trailers. I called a fellow that sells trailers. He had advertised a 16+2' dovetail bumper pull with 2 5200# axles, but only 1 with a brake. I said I wanted 2 brake axles...he tried to unsell my on that. Said that on a lightly loaded trailer, 2 brakes would be unstable, but with only 1 brake axle, it would be smooth and even. Kinda sounded odd to me. But he went on to tell me that 95% of the trailers of this size he sells only have 1 brake axle, and that because of that I didn't need it...

I'm the one with the liability coverage...if I want to spend the extra $250 for brakes on both, that's my decision...

DMV here wouldn't know my 6x10 trailer from a 53' spread axle...all it says on the title is black utility trailer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am having a hard time believing a 7k rated trailer has NO brakes whats so ever. Are you really sure? I would jack up one side of trailer and pop both tires off and the drums and take a look. I am willing to bet you have at least one axle with brakes since your state is one of 33 that has must have brakes over 3k towing weight.

I bought my trailer with no brakes brand new. Its 7K 18'. I added them to one axle shortly after getting it and new that it did not have them upfront. Manufactures will build them any way you want it.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

The DMV here wouldn't know or care if the trailer had brakes or not.

I have purchased several 7k trailers without brakes in the past so I don't think they are that rare.

Same here. They never ask and if they did they would not know what questions to ask or where to look for the right answers.

Chris

 

[George2615]

I bought my trailer with no brakes brand new. Its 7K 18'. I added them to one axle shortly after getting it and new that it did not have them upfront. Manufactures will build them any way you want it.

Chris

You might be able to buy a trailer over 3K without brakes and register it but in my state trailers have to be inspected and it will never pass inspection without brakes.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You might be able to buy a trailer over 3K without brakes and register it but in my state trailers have to be inspected and it will never pass inspection without brakes.

I got ya. We do not have inspections here in Indiana and the law says any trailer over 3K must have brakes. Does not say how many axles must have brakes. Most 7K trailers only have them on one axle. 10K trailers and up usually have them on all axles. I currently have 3 trailers. 2 7K's and 1 18K trailer. Both 7K's have brakes on the rear axle only. The 18K trailer has brakes on all 3 axles.

Chris

 

[CompactTractorFan]

As pointed out by Reg and another poster the trailer fish tailing is a clear indication that you do not have enough weight on the tongue.

I used to have a 9' x 5' dumping trailer in which I could just shoe horn my B21. When I went to pick up the brand new B21 I wanted to back it in the trailer but the dealer insisted that I should drive it in. I foolishly followed his advice and tied the machine down. I got about 3 miles from the dealer and as I accelerated from 35 mph to 50 the trailer began to shake so violently I could barely keep my vehicle on the road. I had to grab the trailer brakes and get the rig stopped.

After cleaning my pants out, I had to unload the machine on the side of the road and then back it in and tie it down and I never had a problem again. I was towing with a 3/4 ton Suburban that weighed over 6000 pounds and my dumping trailer weighed in at about 4000 pounds plus about 4500 pounds for the B21.

From my subsequent reading I understand that in order to avoid trailer sway you need to have around 10-15% of the total trailer loaded weight on the tongue. Having experienced severe trailer sway once, I would rather have a little too much weight on the tongue than too little.

You really got a B21 in a 9x5 trailer??? :confused2:

 

[lhansman]

The B21 did not fit comletely inside - as you can see in the attached photo it spilled over the front and back but I towed this rig as far as 250 miles from home to the in laws farm with no problems.

I traded the B21 for a B26 about 18 months ago and the owner who had to return the B26 returned it on a 16' float. The backhoe setup on the B26 is a little different and I never even tried to get it in the 5' x 9' dumper because I did not think I could get enough weight forward on the tongue. I used the float last year to move the B26 to side jobs but found that it was a bit of a pain to have to strap everything down (extra buckets, palletforks, fuel cans etc.). I also had a couple of situations where I had to drop the machine and then go get the dumper to remove material so last fall I traded the old dumper and the float for a brand new 7' x 14' dumping trailer with torsion axles. I still have the stick and backhoe bucket overhang the front of the trailer and can't close the rear doors with the pallet forks and the two front buckets but it tows well the couple of times I have moved the B26.

I forgot to mention in my last post that the other reason I like to back the tracktor on is you can flip the seat up and it will stay there when you drive down the road. This keeps the bugs from accumulating on the area where you sit but more importantly it keeps the seat dry in the rain and from that early morning due if you go out to unload first thing in the morning.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

The B21 did not fit comletely inside - as you can see in the attached photo it spilled over the front and back but I towed this rig as far as 250 miles from home to the in laws farm with no problems.

I traded the B21 for a B26 about 18 months ago and the owner who had to return the B26 returned it on a 16' float. The backhoe setup on the B26 is a little different and I never even tried to get it in the 5' x 9' dumper because I did not think I could get enough weight forward on the tongue. I used the float last year to move the B26 to side jobs but found that it was a bit of a pain to have to strap everything down (extra buckets, palletforks, fuel cans etc.). I also had a couple of situations where I had to drop the machine and then go get the dumper to remove material so last fall I traded the old dumper and the float for a brand new 7' x 14' dumping trailer with torsion axles. I still have the stick and backhoe bucket overhang the front of the trailer and can't close the rear doors with the pallet forks and the two front buckets but it tows well the couple of times I have moved the B26.

I forgot to mention in my last post that the other reason I like to back the tracktor on is you can flip the seat up and it will stay there when you drive down the road. This keeps the bugs from accumulating on the area where you sit but more importantly it keeps the seat dry in the rain and from that early morning due if you go out to unload first thing in the morning.

Wow! You really did squeeze that thing in there...:confused2:

 

[radioman]

You might be able to buy a trailer over 3K without brakes and register it but in my state trailers have to be inspected and it will never pass inspection without brakes.

Ok guys- Thinking back maybe this is what I was thinking... DMV knows if your trailer failed inspection and been running without inspection due to no brakes. funny thing is, maybe they really don't care since the unladen wieght of many 16ft trailers hovers around 2k and brakes is required on 3k or more. Maybe they think we gonna run around all day with nothing in it?:laughing:

Wow! You really did squeeze that thing in there...:confused2:

I am amazed here too. :laughing:

 

[RobertN]

Wow, you guys have trailer inspections too? For all the over regulation and rules here in Kalifornia, none of my trailers have been inspected. I got my 16' 7klb flatbed 10 years ago new(fwiw, with brakes on rear axle), my 8x5 utility single axle 8 years ago new, and my 27' 5th wheel(dual axle, brakes on both axles) used 2 years ago.

I keep them well maintained, not just because of laws, but because of the investment, and I don't want to be broke on the side of the road. Even have spare tires for all three

I do have a friend though; I won't even touch his dump trailer. Wiring sort of works, brakes don't, one axle has a little bend which you can notice by the angle of one wheel. He puts his Bobcat in it; the bucket has to hang over. He puts unsecured stuff in the bucket. It is a 10klb dump, not sure of the length, 12' maybe.

Ok guys- Thinking back maybe this is what I was thinking... DMV knows if your trailer failed inspection and been running without inspection due to no brakes.