what tractor do you tow with compact truck?
- Thread starter shadoe
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KentT I'm glad you like your Dakota. I owned 2, a '91 and a '93; hopefully their quality has improved since then. I believe that any truck should see 100K without serious problems; both of my Dakotas failed that test. That 3.8 engine was tough as nails, though. However, in my opinion you're not exceeding your truck's limits and are much safer than someone who overloads their F350 or their Kentworth, for that matter.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My, but this thread has drifted far from the original question: namely, what tractor DOES one tow with a compact truck?
)</font>
Good point. In a roundabout way though, that question is being addressed. Read the truck specs, find a suitable trailer, and set it up properly; then make sure that the trailer and tractor weight don't exceed the limits. You have an easy load on your Ranger... and I'd love to have an F-250 diesel to pull my Kubota.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My, but this thread has drifted far from the original question: namely, what tractor DOES one tow with a compact truck?
)</font>
Good point. In a roundabout way though, that question is being addressed. Read the truck specs, find a suitable trailer, and set it up properly; then make sure that the trailer and tractor weight don't exceed the limits. You have an easy load on your Ranger... and I'd love to have an F-250 diesel to pull my Kubota.
Dmace
Elite Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Aw c'mon, Ford sucks, and everyone knows it... )</font>
Yeah, Ford sucks and Chevy rules. That's why Chevy is going bankrupt and Ford still leads in sales. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Yeah, Ford sucks and Chevy rules. That's why Chevy is going bankrupt and Ford still leads in sales. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
KubotaSteve
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
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- 834
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- eastern panhandle of WV
- Tractor
- Kubota B7800 with loaded R-4s
According to Big Dean the dry weight of a MF-135 is 3,645 pounds plus the tires are loaded with calcium chloride and the rotary cutter weighs about 500 pounds. And finally the car trailer weighs in at about 2,000 pounds. So I guess all in all I was pulling around 7,000 pounds, but like I said it was only on short trips at slow speeds. It pulled it well, but the problem was if the brakes were adjusted right, it would make the rear of the truck dip and lift the front end which is where most of your stopping power is in vehicles.
As far as the right truck for pulling, it's people who are over confident in their rigs that end up in the ditches and accidents. Those are the same people who take off out in the snow storm like a lunatic in their 4X4's and end up causing accidents.
As far as the right truck for pulling, it's people who are over confident in their rigs that end up in the ditches and accidents. Those are the same people who take off out in the snow storm like a lunatic in their 4X4's and end up causing accidents.
KentT
Elite Member
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- Mar 31, 2005
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- 2,928
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- Sevierville, TN
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- 1993 Power Trac 1430 w/Kubota diesel engine
</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
KentT,
You sound a bit touchy on the subject! I hope you didn't take my posting personal - I didn't mean to have it focused on you, but on the topic at large. Also, if you would please re-read my post -- you'll see that I state that the 7000# tow capacity is probably closer to a number higher than the 5000# you noted. You see, I was supporting your position that you can tow 5000, probably more. BUT you (read --> all small truck owners) have to be aware of the limits. The gross vehicle weight being the one with the least budget.
I also am hurt by your line implying that I've called you or anyone else stupid due to the truck they drive. No where in any of my posts have I ever done that.
Oh on Dakota's. The new ones are larger, longer, heavier and are more powerful than my old '89 Ford F150. I didn't see where you had pointed that out previously....
And on Chevy Duramax / Allison's- Mine has towed between 8500-10,000 pounds for 42% of it's mileage since new. Fuel economy is 17.51 lifetime. Max non-towing was 22.4mpg (19-21mpg is common). Just curious, what does the Dakota get?
Enjoy your truck and chain your tractor down well when you trailer it!
jb )</font>
John, I sincerely apologize for leading you to think that I thought you were calling me stupid. I didn't mean you...
However, there is another person who's posting repeatedly in this thread that essentially said as much...
Guys, I'm not trying to sell any brand of truck, much less a specific model of truck -- such as a Dakota -- I'm only trying to speak from my firsthand experience, and not blow smoke from something I've read or heard, or just some opinion I have....
(Over the years, I've owned two Ford Rangers, three Ford 1/2 tons -- I'd forgotten my first one -- a Dodge 1500, and now a Dakota. I've never owned a Chevy pickup, though I learned to drive in my brother's on the farm. My best friend and my son-in-law both drive F-250 Powerstrokes. My son drives a Dodge 2500. I've driven them all. All this is to say that my Dakota is not my first experience with either a pickup or with towing....)
You can get other brand compact/midsize trucks that are rated to tow in the 7,000 lb range ... and compact/midsze trucks was the original topic, not which brand is best nor what size truck tows better...
That was my point all along -- that you can safely tow a SCUT tractor with one of these smaller pickups if it is properly equipped.
Will it pull it as readily as a 350/3500 series diesel -- of course not. Will a Kubota BX perform as much work as 50 HP tractor -- of course not....
But,
For some people, BX sized tractors are sufficient. For some people, properly equipped compacts/midsize trucks are sufficient...
For those of you have the larger $35,000 - $45,000 trucks -- I'm glad you like them and can afford them. For those of you with $30,000 - $40,000 50+ HP tractors -- I'm glad you like them and can afford them also. I have neither. I need neither, and I choose to spend my money differently.
I'm finished with this topic, since some people obviously don't want to discuss it reasonably, and it seems I'm just repeating myself...
I hope my experience was of some value to the original poster or to someone.
KentT,
You sound a bit touchy on the subject! I hope you didn't take my posting personal - I didn't mean to have it focused on you, but on the topic at large. Also, if you would please re-read my post -- you'll see that I state that the 7000# tow capacity is probably closer to a number higher than the 5000# you noted. You see, I was supporting your position that you can tow 5000, probably more. BUT you (read --> all small truck owners) have to be aware of the limits. The gross vehicle weight being the one with the least budget.
I also am hurt by your line implying that I've called you or anyone else stupid due to the truck they drive. No where in any of my posts have I ever done that.
Oh on Dakota's. The new ones are larger, longer, heavier and are more powerful than my old '89 Ford F150. I didn't see where you had pointed that out previously....
And on Chevy Duramax / Allison's- Mine has towed between 8500-10,000 pounds for 42% of it's mileage since new. Fuel economy is 17.51 lifetime. Max non-towing was 22.4mpg (19-21mpg is common). Just curious, what does the Dakota get?
Enjoy your truck and chain your tractor down well when you trailer it!
jb )</font>
John, I sincerely apologize for leading you to think that I thought you were calling me stupid. I didn't mean you...
However, there is another person who's posting repeatedly in this thread that essentially said as much...
Guys, I'm not trying to sell any brand of truck, much less a specific model of truck -- such as a Dakota -- I'm only trying to speak from my firsthand experience, and not blow smoke from something I've read or heard, or just some opinion I have....
(Over the years, I've owned two Ford Rangers, three Ford 1/2 tons -- I'd forgotten my first one -- a Dodge 1500, and now a Dakota. I've never owned a Chevy pickup, though I learned to drive in my brother's on the farm. My best friend and my son-in-law both drive F-250 Powerstrokes. My son drives a Dodge 2500. I've driven them all. All this is to say that my Dakota is not my first experience with either a pickup or with towing....)
You can get other brand compact/midsize trucks that are rated to tow in the 7,000 lb range ... and compact/midsze trucks was the original topic, not which brand is best nor what size truck tows better...
That was my point all along -- that you can safely tow a SCUT tractor with one of these smaller pickups if it is properly equipped.
Will it pull it as readily as a 350/3500 series diesel -- of course not. Will a Kubota BX perform as much work as 50 HP tractor -- of course not....
But,
For some people, BX sized tractors are sufficient. For some people, properly equipped compacts/midsize trucks are sufficient...
For those of you have the larger $35,000 - $45,000 trucks -- I'm glad you like them and can afford them. For those of you with $30,000 - $40,000 50+ HP tractors -- I'm glad you like them and can afford them also. I have neither. I need neither, and I choose to spend my money differently.
I'm finished with this topic, since some people obviously don't want to discuss it reasonably, and it seems I'm just repeating myself...
I hope my experience was of some value to the original poster or to someone.
Egon
Epic Contributor
If that's the case is anyone forcing you to buy or drive Ford.
Actually I think my father had smaller boots and drove a Percheron!
And my Grandfather drove Beligians and a Whippet! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Egon /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Actually I think my father had smaller boots and drove a Percheron!
And my Grandfather drove Beligians and a Whippet! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Egon /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
If Chevy were on it's own... it wouldn't be going bankrupt.
It is the union-negotiated wages, healthcare and retirement plans that are killing GM (and Ford)... not necessarily their design or engineering...
But my bad... I shouldn't be instigating brand wars here... just drive a big enough truck for the job and I won't throw rocks at you. I'll still snicker though, if it's not a Chevy diesel.
Anyone up for some union-wars, since brand wars are not good forum etiquette?
It is the union-negotiated wages, healthcare and retirement plans that are killing GM (and Ford)... not necessarily their design or engineering...
But my bad... I shouldn't be instigating brand wars here... just drive a big enough truck for the job and I won't throw rocks at you. I'll still snicker though, if it's not a Chevy diesel.
Anyone up for some union-wars, since brand wars are not good forum etiquette?
