what does it take to pull a mahindra?

michellesc7 · Jul 11, 2006

hello
I am a future Mahindra owner.
Can I pull a 4530 or a 5500 with water and antifreeze in the tires, a front end loader and a trailer with dual 5000 lb or 6000 lb axles wih a 93 Chevy 2500 ext cab, long bed 2wd? I think I am maxing out the truck.
michelle

mikeinvt · Jul 12, 2006

is your truck gas or diesel? i am guessing your tractor will weigh around 8500 lbs with the options you have mentioned. you can probably move the tractor ok, but if you have to move it frequently, the truck might get a little tired of it!

George2615 · Jul 12, 2006

If the tractor weighs in at 8500 and you haul it on a 10-12K trailer (another 2500 approx.) you'll be at 11000 which is probably too much for your 93 2500. It will tow it but at maximum load thats a lot of stress on the entire drivetrain. The older trucks seem to have less towing capacity. For example, an 05 Chevy 2500HD or 3500 has a towing capacity from 9800-12000 bumper pull and up to 16000 with 5th wheel / gooseneck depending on engine, trans, and gearing. I don't recall trucks of the 90's having even up to 10k rating.

InlineDieselFan · Jul 12, 2006

If it is a one time deal to get it home you should be okay. As Mike and George both alluded to, your truck is not up to the task on a regular basis. At least to do it safely.

My old 91 Chev. 2500 HD, only had a receiver that was rated at 8,500 lbs so check that before you tow 10-12,000 pounds.

steve

DonWorrell · Jul 12, 2006

michellesc7 said:
hello
I am a future Mahindra owner.
Can I pull a 4530 or a 5500 with water and antifreeze in the tires, a front end loader and a trailer with dual 5000 lb or 6000 lb axles wih a 93 Chevy 2500 ext cab, long bed 2wd? I think I am maxing out the truck.
michelle

1993 Chevrolet C2500 2 Dr Regular Cab

Specifications

specifications and dimensions
Manufacturer Code N/R
Wheelbase 131.5"
Overall Length 212.6"
Curb Weight 4,021 lbs.
Gross Vehicle Weight N/R
Seating Capacity (Std/Max) 3/3
Payload Capacity (Std/Max) 3197/0
Towing Capacity (Std/Max) 0/6000

Mahindra 5500
OPERATING WEIGHT
Total (lbs.) 4966

If your trailer weighs about 1,000 pound and you have a heavy duty c2500 then it looks like it will work. But 6,000 pound towing capacity is max. How heavy is your truck?

I don't know but the specs sticker inside your door well will it tell you how much it will tow? I know it tells you how many pounds your truck was built as and it tells you other specs on the way your truck is made.

Don

Bob_Skurka · Jul 12, 2006

DonWorrell said:
If your trailer weighs about 1,000 pound and you have a heavy duty c2500 then it looks like it will work. But 6,000 pound towing capacity is max. How heavy is your truck?

The problem is most trailers are going to weigh more than 1000#. A typical angle iron/wood decked trailer, about 16' to 18' long is going to be 1500 to 2000 pounds. If the trailer uses square tube instead of angle iron then it might weigh a few hundred pounds more. My little 14' x 7' square tube trailer is pushing 1500#. The trailer in question has dual 5000# axles so it probably has a 10,000# trailer capacity, that is going to be a trailer that weighs at least 2000#.

Also, the Mahindra website says the 5500 4wd has an operating weight of roughly 6200 pounds.

That operating weight does not appear to include the weight of the loader & bucket. So figure the loader & bucket would add 800 to 1000 pounds (just my estimate).

Also, add another 700 to 900 pounds for the fluid filled tires (again just an estimate but those are pretty big tires so it seems reasonable)

It is not unreasonable to assume that a Mahindra 5500 4wd, loader & fluid filled tires could weigh about 7700 pounds to 8000 pounds. Add roughly 2000# for a trailer and the total load will be in the 10,000 pound range.

DonWorrell · Jul 12, 2006

Bob_Skurka said:
The problem is most trailers are going to weigh more than 1000#. A typical angle iron/wood decked trailer, about 16' to 18' long is going to be 1500 to 2000 pounds. If the trailer uses square tube instead of angle iron then it might weigh a few hundred pounds more. My little 14' x 7' square tube trailer is pushing 1500#. The trailer in question has dual 5000# axles so it probably has a 10,000# trailer capacity, that is going to be a trailer that weighs at least 2000#.

Also, the Mahindra website says the 5500 4wd has an operating weight of roughly 6200 pounds.

That operating weight does not appear to include the weight of the loader & bucket. So figure the loader & bucket would add 800 to 1000 pounds (just my estimate).

Also, add another 700 to 900 pounds for the fluid filled tires (again just an estimate but those are pretty big tires so it seems reasonable)

It is not unreasonable to assume that a Mahindra 5500 4wd, loader & fluid filled tires could weigh about 7700 pounds to 8000 pounds. Add roughly 2000# for a trailer and the total load will be in the 10,000 pound range.

I missed the 4wd. And yes most trailers would weigh more than 1,000. But if you found a trailer that did weigh 1,000# you could only tow the tractor no implements.

A 1 ton truck would do it better. I sold trucks back in the 80's. Chevrolet has a formula to build a truck. I think, don't quote me, but back then the best you could tow with a 3/4 ton was about 6,000 and that was built to the hilt. Also the the tongue weight is something to consider. A truck can do more than they are built for but if you are going to do this daily it would kill the truck. Braking is the biggest problem that I can see. You don't have any beef to slow down the momentum.

I have a Ford Ranger, small truck, and I have pulled my 12' trailer short distances. Wouldn't want to do it every day. But I did is twice short distances. Only had brush on the trailer. According to specs it shouldn't have towed it.

I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT TOW A 5500 TRACTOR WITH FEL AND HOE WITH A 3/4 TON.

Don

GaryCrowell · Jul 12, 2006

I have a very hard time believing that a 3/4 ton pickup has a towing limit of 6000 lbs. My 98 dodge 2500 has a max trailer weight of 14,500 lbs, with a combined max weight limit of 20,000 lbs. I've pulled a lot heavier loads than the tractor that's mentioned with my truck.

Personally, I think your truck is plenty for pulling that tractor. I'd rather have it on a gooseneck, but it wouldn't bother me much with a good receiver hitch.

jwcinpk · Jul 12, 2006

I pull a 6000 4x4 w/ fel and 4 loaded tires with a 96 Chevy 3500 4x4 6.5 deisel. That's on a 20' deck over trailer with a 4' dovetail. 12000# capacity trailer. I do okay, but I wouldn't want to pull it everyday.
You're truck will probably pull it okay, but it will wear it out if you do it alot. One things for sure your truck will definately pull way more than 6000#!

michellesc7 · Jul 12, 2006

Thanks guys. I would not go far with the trailer and my truck.
I will most probably buy the 5500 4wd with the loader and will buy another trailer. Realistically this is 10,000 lbs with the liquid in the tires. I saw a used gooseneck trailer and I have a ball connector (never used) in the bed of my truck. I have seen many of the 10,000 and 12000lb dual axle trailers also which are the pull behind 2 3/16'' ball hitch.

But I am nervous to pull this tractor with my truck. I need to a least pull the tractor between my house and farm which are 12 miles apart. I can go slow 35-40 miles per hour. I have oversized high load tires on my truck.

My preference would be to find a Dodge Diesel longbed with a manual transmission. 4wd truck would help, probably not necessary. Don't know if I can swing all of this.

I was worried about buying the trailer and it not working with my truck. i like the Kubota M5040 2nd best but the Mahindra is real robust and will do alot of real work (and in the woods) which I need it to do.

Again thank you all for you help.
Michelle