Trailer, towing, weight questions.

[AxleHub]

Ookla.....if that log is 5-8ft long and 3-4 feet wide (is this circumference or cross sectional?) either way that is a ton of weight and way more than the machine is made for or that the components can take...wow that is crazy weight

Ooklaa,

Here is a handy log weight calculator:

You will need to know the kind of tree. The diameter of the log on each end in inches. And the length of log in feet. I'm guessing you will be quite surprised at the weight.

Choose

ESTIMATED LOG WEIGHT CALCATOR

from the choices in the link below.


LOG calculator

 

[Ooklaa]

Thanks for the calculator axle. Well today we got a little snow so didnt take pictures, just enough for about a inch on the ground but nothing on the roads. When i punch in the dimension it said the lod weighed 2600 pounds! Ill fo out this weekend and take some measurements and pictures. M

 

[Ooklaa]

Sorry it took a couple of days but we had some bad weather alot of rain and little snow. Tooka picture of the pile of wood i moved around the log right in front was the big biy i cut about 2 feet off of it and mt scut still could not lift it up . I got it on my forks about a inch or 2 off the ground and thats it.

 

[Ooklaa]

Ill def take some good videos of me moving the stuff around when the ground gets alot drier.

 

[mavrik1]

Nice...I was doing some logging over the weekend with the forks that I ordered....titan forks that it...I was quite happy with them and they earned their keep quite quickly. Only down side is I didn't get the fork connector but I can make on.

Ookla, I was actually impressed with some of the logs the machine was picking up, it actually picked up a log of fresh oak that was 15-18 cross sectional and 6 feet long...curling at the tips of the forks was not happening but when close to the back of the bucket it was good

 

[AxleHub]

Ooklaa, that piece looks like it already has a good split seam started naturally. Mother nature gave you a burl or branching guidelune . . just split it at that seam and it will haul a great deal more friendly

 

[JWR]

This thread sure has covered a wide range -- trailers, lawn tractors, fairly good sized farm tractors, firewood, ... I will throw these in for good measure:
1) With the 4wd lawn machine and a 60" deck I say get a 6 1/2 x 12 ft trailer. The 6 1/2 is important because my Kubota BX2200 (and your Massey) will not fit a 6ft wide trailer without squeezing or even loosening something. The 6 1/2 x 12 is not only ideal, it is no more expensive than the narrower one. Plenty of good used ones around too.

2) When hauling any equipment on a trailer make sure you have "plenty of tongue weight." With larger machines (e.g. farm tractors) my rule of thumb is run the load forward until the truck hitchball is lowered by about 5 inches. Having plenty of tongue weight is the MAIN way you have to preclude fishtailing. The principle is still the same with small trailers and loads but of course smaller scale and less truck deflection.

3) The 6 1/2 x 12 single axle trailer is great for hauling firewood over small distances. Just experiment to see what you can handle in your circumstance. I can haul a cord or two around the property but watch what you are doing since most of these little tractors have worthless brakes and you are vulnerable on slopes, obstacles, etc.

4) By the way, a gadget that is GREAT for maneuvering trailers around (even fairly large ones, using the little tractor, when trailer is not attached to the truck) is a "T" that mounts on your 3pt hitch and hosts a receiver hitch. Photo below.

 

[AxleHub]

Greetings jwr,

1. You referred to a "t" but your picture shows a thpical after market trailer mover. They are quite common and are useful. I myself have a combination unit that serves as trsiler mover and ballast rack. The one problem I'm told . . Is that a loaded trailer can cause a trailer mover to go upward because a 3pt. Is designed to lift . . Not to hold something down.

2. The problem with using a single axle 6 x 12 trailer to haul a Massey tractor like Ooklaa's gc1720 is both weight and size. A GC1720 has a backhoe and a fel and likely a mmm as well. This means

A. Tractor is 1450 lbs
B. Rear tires are filled 150 lbs.
C. Backhoe at 600 lbs
D. F.e.l. at 420 lbs (includes the 155 lbs bucket)
E. M.m.m.is 245 lbs or 260 lbs depending on size


Thats about 2880 lbs on a trailer that including trailer weight has a limit of either 3000 or 3500 lbs for the single axle (again stated . . Add trailer weight to the 2880 to give you the actual total weight. In other words the unit with no other accessories is either over weight load or just below gvwr of the trailet depending on trailer gvwr axle and tires and if any other items in accessories have to come with it.

A second issue with a 6 x 12 is its not long enough. To get ok tongue weight you'll have to back the gc1720 onto the trailer so the backhoe is adding weight for balance. My gc1725 without a backhoe takes up 12'+ so a gc1720 would need at least a 14 ' unit . . Which of course is a little heavier than 12' which is already over weight limit of the axle and tires.

I would like to use a 6 x 12 trailer for my gc1715 . . But I need a few more inches and then pull my 3 pt up high too. Its too tight front to back even though I don't have a backhoe..

A modified v nose 12 foot would possibly work for my tractor

 

[Ooklaa]

Well here are some pics of some excavating i did today. The backhoe def is way stronger then the fel, or at least i think it is. Im pretty impressed so far, but i do wish my front fel was alot stronger. Not sure what that rock weighs but I would of loved for it too pic it up.

 

[Ooklaa]

O by the way the hole got a lot deeper.