Truck & Trailer ideas to tow 14,000 and be under 26,000 pounds

[angustrees]

Moved 8 loads from IL to TN with 14K gooseneck trailer behind my GMC 4500C

For what you wanting to haul and your needs a single cab four wheel dually may be preferable.
If possible a 7.3 or 12valve Cummins may be advisable. Pre the emission controls. It may be nesissary to spend money on the running gear and engine but would be much less than a newer truck would cost.

For what you wanting to haul and your needs a single cab four wheel dually may be preferable.
If possible a 7.3 or 12valve Cummins may be advisable. Pre the emission controls. It may be nesissary to spend money on the running gear and engine but would be much less than a newer truck would cost.

Moved 8 loads 550 mi. from IL to TN with 14K gooseneck trailer & 2003 GMC C4500 Duramax in 2007-08. Some loads (gvw) exceeded 40K, 2 loads with 20' china boxes packed full, 1 with Case 450 dozer/loader plus, longest was with '71 JD 4020 Diesel and Kuntz earthmover. No problems even coming over the mtns. on I-75. Thankful!

 

[Sid Post]

I'm planning/thinking long term on what I need to buy. I'm in the process of buying my late brothers farm that's 60 miles away from my place. The two main reasons I'm doing this is that I believe it will significantly increase in value over time, and while I'm waiting to sell it, I want to make it a hay farm so I'm not dependent on finding people to buy hay from every year.

I need something to haul my tractors there, and then to haul hay back here.

My backhoe weighs 14,000 pounds. I'll only need it there to clear mesquite. I might leave it there for awhile, so there is the option of hiring somebody to haul it there, then haul it back when I'm done. I might also rent something local and have it delivered, but I'm not excited about that option.

My 70hp cab tractor weighs 9,000 pounds

My 65hp open station tractor weighs 5,000 pounds

So far I don't have any haying equipment, but whatever I buy, it will be a small round baler that I have enough power to run.

The 26,000 pound weight limit is something I want to stay under so I don't have to get a commercial drivers license. I had a Class A when I lived in California and I don't want to do that again.

My original plan was to find an older 3500 Ram diesel with a flatbed trailer, but the truck and trailer GVWR is way too high. Now I'm wondering if I should look at a 3/4 ton truck? and should I consider gas instead of diesel? Towing would be pretty straight each way. 45 minutes on Interstate 20, and 15 minutes on two Country Roads that's all flat land driving. It's not something I'll do every day, and probably just once a month except when haying and hauling hay two or 3 times a year depending on how much rain we get.

Since you live in Texas, the Ag Exemption will have you covered for legitimate runs like you describe.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just try not to be overweight on any single axle or exceed my registered weight limit.

This was about 47,000lbs, but no axle is exceeded. I would guess the rear truck axle is close, next would be the front axle on the trailer.

 

[3930dave]

I just chased down and bought a “white rhino”. I am now restoring it from years of neglect. Still a lot cheaper than spending $150,000 on a new one.
Pre-emissions, high powered class 8 4x4 with an automatic. Rare as hen’s teeth.

That ^ Right There !!!! Needs it's own Resto-Thread on TBN !



Even if someone has enough money that a six-figure truck is a rounding-error...... the Elephant in the Shop remains...... Reliability !

Rgds, D.

 

[Sid Post]

My original plan was to find an older 3500 Ram diesel with a flatbed trailer, but the truck and trailer GVWR is way too high. Now I'm wondering if I should look at a 3/4 ton truck? and should I consider gas instead of diesel? Towing would be pretty straight each way. 45 minutes on Interstate 20, and 15 minutes on two Country Roads that's all flat land driving. It's not something I'll do every day, and probably just once a month except when haying and hauling hay two or 3 times a year depending on how much rain we get.

The less I spend the better, but it needs to be reliable. I'm nervous about a diesel truck with DEF. I'm also nervous about so many used diesels that have been Deleted. And I wonder if there is enough power with a gas engine? Finally, I'm hesitant to buy anything with single rear wheels. I'm sure they are capable, and I'm probably just worried about nothing, but I have it in my head that a dually is a must for towing heavy loads. Am I wrong? Am I dealing with enough weight to require dual rear wheels?

Since I'll be off pavement when on my farm and my brothers farm, I think that I need 4wheel drive. I don't need or really want 4 doors, or even the extra cab. I think that I'll save weight with a 2 door, single cab truck. I've been trying to find GVWR on different models of trucks, but they seem to be pretty generic in what I've found so far. Is there a lower GVWR on a single cab truck over a 4 door truck that can still haul a 14,000 pound backhoe?

Thank you

You can haul that sort of weight with singles but, dual rear wheels is a lot easier and safer.

A good gas engine will work if you don't expect to run 75MPH up the backside of a good hill.

Most importantly, living in East Texas like you, I will strongly suggest good truck AND trailer brakes are the most important thing due to idiots on the local roads doing astonishingly stupid things.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I just try not to be overweight on any single axle or exceed my registered weight limit.

View attachment 778363

This was about 47,000lbs, but no axle is exceeded. I would guess the rear truck axle is close, next would be the front axle on the trailer.

Since my trailer is 7x22 I do 3 rows of 5 3x3x8 bales. And will do 3 rows of 6 bales if it I am in a hurry. 18 bales is my limit. That puts the trailer at max. That is 3 tall since i don’t have the width.

 

[Hay Dude]

That ^ Right There !!!! Needs it's own Resto-Thread on TBN !



Even if someone has enough money that a six-figure truck is a rounding-error...... the Elephant in the Shop remains...... Reliability !

Rgds, D.

This is what it looked like when I first got it.

I removed the stainless steel bed and the entire engine driven central hydraulics system. We are now restoring it the frame from years of neglect, getting it PA inspected (new brakes, lines, etc.).

The truck is very unique in that it has a 41,780 GVWR. About as heavy as you can build a single axle. The rear axle is 30,000lbs alone. Front axle is 14,780.

I just pounded out all the rust jacking a few days ago and began sand blasting. Its a mess.

I have a long way to go, but my plan is to install a 12 or 13’ steel dump box on it and make it part of my land clearing & ditching operations and pull excavating equipment. I will also use it to haul mushroom soil to some of my fields.

 

[Sid Post]

You actually have to perform an air brake test. Its a physical demonstration. One has to monitor the air brake chamber(s) filling with air, then pump the brakes to bleed them down, etc.


If someone given a Class A CDL in a dually pickup with a gooseneck is now licensed to drive an air braked 18 wheeler with a 53’ trailer,,,,, we are gonna be in heap big trouble.

As a 16 year old farm kid, I drove a Cab-over semi with Tempte SuperGrain wagon. Putting a kid in an 80,000# truck to drive ~40 miles round trip is pretty @#%^! dumb IMHO.

Luckily, I didn't die or take anyone with me. Still astounded dad thought that was a reasonable thing to do. Ignorance is bliss when you are a teenager.

 

[Hay Dude]

As a 16 year old farm kid, I drove a Cab-over semi with Tempte SuperGrain wagon. Putting a kid in an 80,000# truck to drive ~40 miles round trip is pretty @#%^! dumb IMHO.

Luckily, I didn't die or take anyone with me. Still astounded dad thought that was a reasonable thing to do. Ignorance is bliss when you are a teenager.

I think that’s something to be proud of. Your dad must have thought you were an impressive young man. I remember my dad letting me drive at 14.

 

[3930dave]

Hay - so they had put a brand-new Cab on that truck, just before they sold it to you ?

JK..... but your pics well illustrate my recent post...... 5 year old cabs up here don't look that good !

Well Chased and Bought ! Why no love for the SS bed, or do you just want to sell it ?

All modern diesels have suffered, but even the International dealers up here don't want to touch a MaxxForce....

Rgds, D.