HOW DO YOU TOW YOUR TRACTOR?

[Don87]

Just wanted to chime in again and explain why I put more weight on the tongue. when I pulled the tractor on forwards (fel to the front), the trailer swayed pretty bad because the majority of the weight was on the back of the trailer (from mid-axle to rear end) this put the trailer in a tongue lifting position, and thus, made the trucks rear end very light (not good). when I put the tractor on as you see in the pictures it seemed to balance out perfectly. I havent done the math or anything, and since I posted this I am definately getting brakes on both axles before I tow again, but the Nissan Titan has a tow capacity of almost 10,000 pounds / heavy duty tow package, and the 4x4 suspension seems to hold the tractor and trailer very well. I may be missing something, and I am by far no expert on this, but any additional constructive ideas or comments are appreciated. I want to keep it safe, but it looks like I may be making some mistakes which I intend to correct asap! Thanks for all the feedback!:confused3:

All attachments must be secured to the trailer via a seperate chain or strap. This includes Bucket, Backhoe, Bushog, ballast box.......any attachment, even if it's hooked to the tractor.

 

[UpNorth1]

Definately will. I do have a question.......An L3200 weighs in at 2601#. But I cant find the weight of the LA524 Loader, or the BH77 Backhoe to give me a total weight. Any suggestions?

i couldn't either, but the dealer can - they have shipping weight for attachments. I had them give me the total weight for my B3200 with loader and backhoe and loaded rears it was roughly ballparked at ~4500# which I think you would be close to? This is rough estimate, I have not weighted it on a scale...

 

[UpNorth1]

No fluid in tires......I think I can safely say 5000 to 5200# total as a general guestimate.

Yeah I think thats a good rough estimate.

 

[firemanmike69]

Roger that fireman......I know now that at minimum I should have received a 7500# rated trailer. Gonna be interesting tomorrow.

The dealer should have given you the right sized trailer to safely haul your machine that they sold you. I work as a tech at a heavy equipment dealership I would feel personally embarrassed if a salesman sold a customer a machine and a trailer that wasn't large enough to haul there new machine mainly because I believe it reflects poorly on the dealership, and I have been reprimanded for telling customers if there tow vehicle, trailer, or chaining/strapping isn't up to snuff

 

[UpNorth1]

And I bet the trailer weighs more than 95 lbs so right there your over the trailers 5000 gross weight

yeah - gross weight of TLB plus the trailer's weight and I bet it is getting close to the limits of a 7000# trailer...

 

[azbinder]

Pappasmurf,
I posted this the other day for you. Weights come from the Kubota dealers price book.

"Your L3200 TLB shipping weight is right at 4400#. Add a full tank of fuel and fluid in the rear tires and you are going to be pushing 5000#. Check the GVW rating of your trailer. It MUST be more than the combined weight of your tractor AND trailer. Looking at the pictures of your trailer, I would think that it has a 7000# GVW. For me, that is TOO close. Definatly brakes on both axles. And yes, I highly reccomend a bucket rest on the tongue. Also use 5/16 G70 chain and ratchet binders."

The tires are good for a 7000# GVW 1820 x 4 = 7280# I w

I would guess that the trailer weighs 800 to 1000 pounds.

 

[PAPPASMURF]

[QUOTE and I have been reprimanded for telling customers if there tow vehicle, trailer, or chaining/strapping isn't up to snuff[/QUOTE]

Thats really sad.....I took the initiative to call about 7 or 8 dealers in my state and ask about their trailer / tractor deals. I asked each one about brakes on the trailer if I bout the L3200 or 3800. Only 2 actually said they only sell a trailer with brakes with a L3200 or L3800. I'm betting that there are hundreds of unknowing customers driving around and towing extremely unsafe trailers with their deal. This Thread has worked out great as a starting point to get the message out there, and I intend on doing just that!

 

[Don87]

We haul our own small equipment and according to our insurance guru a load like that would have to be tied down 4 ways and each attachment (FEL and BH would need at least one of their own. I don't know for sure whether this is a PA law or not. Also, I can't imagine towing that load without brakes.

US DOT regulations.

 

[UpNorth1]

Thats really sad.....I took the initiative to call about 7 or 8 dealers in my state and ask about their trailer / tractor deals. I asked each one about brakes on the trailer if I bout the L3200 or 3800. Only 2 actually said they only sell a trailer with brakes with a L3200 or L3800. I'm betting that there are hundreds of unknowing customers driving around and towing extremely unsafe trailers with their deal. This Thread has worked out great as a starting point to get the message out there, and I intend on doing just that!

That's pretty ridiculous. When I was shopping for my tractor the dealer I ended up buying from didn't really want me to buy a bigger tractor than the B3300 once I explained I would be moving it a fair amount and what my truck and trailer is - which is basically the same setup as yours except dual axle brakes and WD hitch. I use transport chains and binders too. I am pretty cautious person though and try not to break my equipment by over stressing it, which in the case of trailering a tractor could kill people...

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Good luck with the dealer. They really don't have a leg to stand on morally, ethically or legally... but I'm sure they'll try to talk their way out... If they waste more than 30 minutes of your time and you don't have a new 7500# w/ brakes on BOTH axles, I'd walk out and write the state attorney general... Maybe even an local lawyer?

Really , only 2 dealers sell trailers with brakes??? that makes NO sense...Its illegal

In NH any trailer with a GVW of 3000# has to have electric brakes on all axles.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[94BULLITT]

L3200- 2623
LA524-805
Bucket-265
Quick Attach- 110, I am guessing
BH77- 850
16" Bucket- 84

Total weight-4737

So you are between 4500-5000lbs.

 

[avc8130]

I've been mulling around reading this and have a quick question/point.

Not that I advocate being right up against the limits, but...

If a trailer is rated for 7k lbs GVWR, and the trailer weighs 1500 lbs it seems the general consensus is that 5500 lbs is the max load that can be placed on this trailer.

HOWEVER

Since the truck should be taking 15% of the load for proper tongue weight, can the load placed on the trailer actually be 6550 lbs?

Clearly that is provided the axle weights don't go over their individual ratings and the hitch is rated for the tongue load.

ac

 

[PAPPASMURF]

Good luck with the dealer. They really don't have a leg to stand on morally, ethically or legally... but I'm sure they'll try to talk their way out... If they waste more than 30 minutes of your time and you don't have a new 7500# w/ brakes on BOTH axles, I'd walk out and write the state attorney general... Maybe even an local lawyer?

Really , only 2 dealers sell trailers with brakes??? that makes NO sense...Its illegal

In NH any trailer with a GVW of 3000# has to have electric brakes on all axles.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Alabama Law is the same...problem is no one checks this in our state. No one inspects whats going on, and the dealers are doing what most dealers do.....moving units as quickly as possible to make a buck. I was actually hoping I was by myself on this and just had a streak of bad luck but what I found was that this is regular practice. I'd be willing to bet that Alabama is not alone either. I also did research and found that Kubota requires all dealers to have their personell TRAINED by the states DOT or Public Safety on a yearly basis (at least in Alabama), and this is done because of all the deliveries they make and changes in laws or updates, so that only reenforced my suspicions that they DO KNOW WEIGHT LIMITS AND TOWING/TRAILER LAWS. They just choose to ignore what is not governed regularly.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

I've been mulling around reading this and have a quick question/point.

Not that I advocate being right up against the limits, but...

If a trailer is rated for 7k lbs GVWR, and the trailer weighs 1500 lbs it seems the general consensus is that 5500 lbs is the max load that can be placed on this trailer.

HOWEVER

Since the truck should be taking 15% of the load for proper tongue weight, can the load placed on the trailer actually be 6550 lbs?

Clearly that is provided the axle weights don't go over their individual ratings and the hitch is rated for the tongue load.

ac

You are correct above as in bold... that is the GVWR of the trailer...The towing vehicle is not included in calculations

 

[PAPPASMURF]

I've been mulling around reading this and have a quick question/point.

Not that I advocate being right up against the limits, but...

If a trailer is rated for 7k lbs GVWR, and the trailer weighs 1500 lbs it seems the general consensus is that 5500 lbs is the max load that can be placed on this trailer.

HOWEVER

Since the truck should be taking 15% of the load for proper tongue weight, can the load placed on the trailer actually be 6550 lbs?

Clearly that is provided the axle weights don't go over their individual ratings and the hitch is rated for the tongue load.

ac

Thats the problem...the trailer is rated at 5000# GVW. The trailer I got is stamped "5000lbs maximun weight limit" and "700lb tongue weight". That means the tractor alone exceeds the limit.

 

[Don87]

Alabama Law is the same...problem is no one checks this in our state. No one inspects whats going on, and the dealers are doing what most dealers do.....moving units as quickly as possible to make a buck. I was actually hoping I was by myself on this and just had a streak of bad luck but what I found was that this is regular practice. I'd be willing to bet that Alabama is not alone either. I also did research and found that Kubota requires all dealers to have their personell TRAINED by the states DOT or Public Safety on a yearly basis (at least in Alabama), and this is done because of all the deliveries they make and changes in laws or updates, so that only reenforced my suspicions that they DO KNOW WEIGHT LIMITS AND TOWING/TRAILER LAWS. They just choose to ignore what is not governed regularly.

I hope they fix the problem real quick for you.

And don't forget to get extra straps for the FEL and Backhoe...........and the backhoe is required to be resting on the deck, it cannot be suspended in the air.

 

[PAPPASMURF]

I hope they fix the problem real quick for you.

And don't forget to get extra straps for the FEL and Backhoe...........and the backhoe is required to be resting on the deck, it cannot be suspended in the air.

Thanks Don....I'll update everyone after this is resolved. :smurf:

 

[94BULLITT]

I hope they fix the problem real quick for you.

And don't forget to get extra straps for the FEL and Backhoe...........and the backhoe is required to be resting on the deck, it cannot be suspended in the air.

I don't know if his trailer is long enough to do that.

 

[aczlan]

And don't forget to get extra straps for the FEL and Backhoe...........and the backhoe is required to be resting on the deck, it cannot be suspended in the air.

As I understand it, if there is a transport lock (ie: a metal pin to lock the boom up and to keep it from swinging) the boom can be in the air.

Aaron Z