Your towing rigs and trailers

[Navvet]

That's a nice trailer! I really wanted one of Gator's Aardvark "mini gooseneck" trailers. Looked like great quality for about half of what any trailer goes for here in NY, but the shipping cost more than I paid for my 5x10 trailer! It would seriously be $1000 or so cheaper for me to drive to TN to get it myself, assuming we didn't crash in a hotel along the way (shipping was $1200 or more). They have a factory in PA which would only be 3-4 hours from be, but of course it doesn't have any of the trailers that would suite my needs.

Talk to the factory rep direct. He gave me a great price and had it delivered to one of their dealers near me for no charge. He also upgraded the tires to 17.5" (16 ply), including the spare.

 

[piercedtiger]

My next trailer will be a deck-over. Picked up a used baler Saturday. We had to flip the baler wheels around to get some more clearance. I think we had 1/4" on each side. Truck is a 2003 5.9 Cummins with 122,000 miles.

I'm thinking the same thing. I have about 1-2" on either side with my tiller, and that is dependent on how high I raise the tiller due the nuts that catch the ramp pins. And my mmm will never fit on it.

Talk to the factory rep direct. He gave me a great price and had it delivered to one of their dealers near me for no charge. He also upgraded the tires to 17.5" (16 ply), including the spare.

Well, that's actually what I was quoted after talking to Zandall Haste at the TN location. Not sure his role with the company, but he called, texted and emailed me. lol Talking to him on the phone is how I learned about the cost of shipping, and that I couldn't get the Aardvark sent to the PA location for pickup. That location is 4 hours closer to me, but only does goose neck versions. He seemed to really want to make the sale, but not help me avoid the crazy shipping charge so I gave up and haven't tried talking to them again.

 

[Michford]

Got a 20 ft Big Tex 14k with mega ramps last spring to go behind a 2001 F250 with the 7.3 diesel. Much nicer hauling tractors now, and really like the mega ramps.

 

[white cloud]

I really like my Big Tex. I got a 20' also. I just wish it was a few feet longer. This is my first equipment trailer and when I went shopping my thought to myself was these things look huge. I am really glad I didn't get an 18'.

 

[ultrarunner]

View attachment 564183
Got a 20 ft Big Tex 14k with mega ramps last spring to go behind a 2001 F250 with the 7.3 diesel. Much nicer hauling tractors now, and really like the mega ramps.

Is that 4wd Ford Tractor your hauling rare?

I don't recall seeing one before...

 

[Michford]

Yes, it is a four wheel drive. It is a Sherman Napco conversion from the late fifties and is kinda rare.

 

[crashz]

Cool tractor Michford!

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes, it is a four wheel drive. It is a Sherman Napco conversion from the late fifties and is kinda rare.

I like it... and the trailer... looks like you can handle whatever comes your way with those ramps.

What is the unladen weight of the trailer?

 

[BigBlue1]

I like it... and the trailer... looks like you can handle whatever comes your way with those ramps.

What is the unladen weight of the trailer?

Manufacturer web site says 2940#. That's likely without the mega ramps though, so add a bit for them.

Rob

 

[aeblank]

unladen weight of

A swallow?
African?

 

[ultrarunner]

Manufacturer web site says 2940#. That's likely without the mega ramps though, so add a bit for them.

Rob

Thanks Rob... my "Tow" vehicle is my 91 Silverado 1/2 ton... so my options are limited.

It does tow my 16' enclosed car trailer but car and trailer total about 5,000 lbs.

 

[BigBlue1]

Thanks Rob... my "Tow" vehicle is my 91 Silverado 1/2 ton... so my options are limited.

It does tow my 16' enclosed car trailer but car and trailer total about 5,000 lbs.

A trailer like that would really limit the cargo capacity for the tow vehicle you have.

ETA: An older 1/2 ton P/U probably has a towing capacity of 5000-7000#. With a trailer over 3000# empty that doesn't give you much extra capacity for cargo. Certainly nowhere near the overall capability of the 14K trailer. Certainly understand someone wanting to buy a heavier trailer now with the intent of having a bigger tow vehicle someday though.

Rob

 

[schmism]

A trailer like that would really limit the cargo capacity for the tow vehicle you have.

Rob

edit - miss read the total weight of the trailer/cargo

 

[Wakey]

A swallow?
African?

How do you know so much about swallows?

 

[ptsg]

Here is my tow rig setup. Slightly different setup on this side of the pond from what you are used to. I'm still new to this trailer deal, so I'm still trying different loading configurations to keep things balanced.

Truck weight: 4500 lbs
Trailer weight: 1200 lbs
Tractor with mower weigth: 4200 lbs
Total: 9900 lbs

The trailer's license plate is mounted on a small door with a key lock that can open to slide the ramps out of the shelf/drawer I've built under the trailer bed. I've also made support legs to use when loading.

 

[3930dave]

Here is my tow rig setup. Slightly different setup on this side of the pond from what you are used to. I'm still new to this trailer deal, so I'm still trying different loading configurations to keep things balanced.

Truck weight: 4500 lbs
Trailer weight: 1200 lbs
Tractor with mower weigth: 4200 lbs
Total: 9900 lbs

The trailer's license plate is mounted on a small door with a key lock that can open to slide the ramps out of the shelf/drawer I've built under the trailer bed. I've also made support legs to use when loading.

Interesting.

I'd need to see a full side shot to be sure, but from that one picture those axles look somewhat more centered (horizontally) than I'm used to seeing here on commercial trailers.

Is the trailer an agricultural or industrial one ?

Rgds, D.

 

[aczlan]

Interesting.

I'd need to see a full side shot to be sure, but from that one picture those axles look somewhat more centered (horizontally) than I'm used to seeing here on commercial trailers.

Is the trailer an agricultural or industrial one ?

Rgds, D.

The axles are further forward than what we have on most U.S. trailers. European trailers are setup to run Mustang weight then U.S. trailers. Not sure how they don't run into issues with a lack of tongue weight, but apparently it works for them. That same vehicle here in the U.S. would probably be rated to tow 3500 pounds or less not 5400 pounds or more.

Aaron Z

 

[ptsg]

This is a standard road trailer here in Europe. We have agricultural trailers but can only be towed by tractors.

The axles are pretty much centered with the trailer bed of the trailer, not the trailer with the tongue. This allow just the right tongue weight to be driving just fine.

Of course, you need to keep in mind that you have to balance the load. Too much or not enough tongue weight can be really dangerous. European trucks are not ready to take a lot of weight over the rear axle.

My truck can tow up to 6200 lbs since it's a short version. Some longer trucks can tow up to 7700 lbs. My trailer has 6000 lbs of gross weight.

However when using trailer above 1650 lbs gross weight, we have to take a driving test to be allow to tow up to 7700 lbs, which is the max capacity by law.

Here is a side picture.

 

[3930dave]

This is a standard road trailer here in Europe. We have agricultural trailers but can only be towed by tractors.

The axles are pretty much centered with the trailer bed of the trailer, not the trailer with the tongue. This allow just the right tongue weight to be driving just fine.

Of course, you need to keep in mind that you have to balance the load. Too much or not enough tongue weight can be really dangerous. European trucks are not ready to take a lot of weight over the rear axle.

My truck can tow up to 6200 lbs since it's a short version. Some longer trucks can tow up to 7700 lbs. My trailer has 6000 lbs of gross weight.

However when using trailer above 1650 lbs gross weight, we have to take a driving test to be allow to tow up to 7700 lbs, which is the max capacity by law.

Here is a side picture.

What is the target tongue weight (% of load) for those designs ? Definitely different than here.... if you look at something like this BigTex, you'll see how far back the axles are positioned.....

Big Tex Trailers 45SS Economy Tandem Axle Pipe Top Trailer

Some of that relates to vehicle sizing here, but IMO it's more idiotproofing/trailers-designed-by-lawyers..... both designs can work safely, but your ratios require somewhat more thought/action by the owner.....

It's always interesting to see how much more (what we consider) small trucks are "factory" rated to tow in other markets

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The axles are further forward than what we have on most U.S. trailers. European trailers are setup to run Mustang weight then U.S. trailers. Not sure how they don't run into issues with a lack of tongue weight, but apparently it works for them. That same vehicle here in the U.S. would probably be rated to tow 3500 pounds or less not 5400 pounds or more.

Aaron Z

I think gravity varies a lot depending on your Lat/Long...... :laughing:

DarnYouAutoCorrect...... Mustang ?

Rgds, D.