How much trailer weight can my tractor tow?

[ptsg]

Unfortunately

Unfortunately trailer braking is a feature not often included on our tractors over here. It is starting to show up on some of the higher hp tractors with the high speed transmissions. Over 150 Hp and capable of up to 35 mph.
Very few farm wagons have brakes, I have never seen brakes on one of these, although I have seen the option listed occasionally.
View attachment 819684

This type of trailer does often have the option, however it is often not used.
View attachment 819685

Also be aware that the 7 pin round connector on your tractor often is not wired to conventional hd trailer configurations. You can get 6 or 7 pin to 7 flat adapters or remove the round pin and install a RV type connector.
On several of the farm tractors some of the implements lights will work correctly some tractors they won't.

EU wiring
View attachment 819687

US wiring
View attachment 819692

and then the 7 flat RV wiring,
View attachment 819693

So lots of potential issues on trailer wiring to tractors.

But as has been mentioned a tractor is designed to pull good amounts of weight, it is entirely up to the owner/operator how safely and competently it is done so.
If towing from the lower fixed drawbar adequate tongue weight needs to be watched, and the stopping ability on the terrain to be encountered is a major consideration. Stopping half of your tractors weight towing shouldn't be a problem, stopping as much weight as your tractor has will be a problem, stopping more weight then your tractor has now your asking for troubles unless adequate brakes are used.

We don't really have electric brakes here, so the trailer plug is only used for lighting purposes.

The more common type of trailer brakes here are hydraulic. Means there is a single acting cylinder with spring return that actuates the brakes.(Pic #1) This cylinder can either be powered via one of the remotes (the operator does have to release the pressure) or a brake valve installed on the tractor (more common on European tractor manufacturers).

Some trailers even have an hydraulic valve (Pic #2) with a 3 position handle for empty, half loaded, fully loaded. This adjust the pressure it applies the brakes. Then, since the trailers already have brakes, it only makes sense to have parking brakes since it's easy to incorporate in the system.

Then there are the air brakes available over a certain gross weight and speed. Don't know the numbers of top of my head.

Not a fan at all of those wagon type trailers, exactly because they don't put any weight on the tractor itself which can make for an interesting ride.

 

[WinterDeere]

I love my wagon type trailer, because it can be loaded and disconnected with minimal fuss. They're not made for road speed use, but they're great under 15 mph!

 

[LouNY]

Between the forage boxes and hay racks there are close to a dozen on the farm of the front steer wagon style. They work good for an operation of our size. We chop haylage and corn silage with a 2-3 row pull type forage harvester.

This is doing haylage with the 7220 IH Magnum, pulling and powering the NH FP230 chopper and a JD self unloading wagon.
When the wagon is unloaded we will pull the drawpin on the wagon and pull away then backup to an empty wagon and get back to chopping. All of the wagons have adjustable tongues so when you back the chopper into position you can stop a few inches short of being the perfect distance, step out walk back and unlatch the tongue line it up with the drawbar of the chopper, drop in the drawpin, walk back to the tractor and backup till the adjustable tongue latchs and then get back to chopping. When full just repeat and repeat and repeat and till finally done. With 2-3 tractors hauling and unloading wagons back at the farm we can cover a fair amount of ground and put up a few hundred tons of feed in a day.

for this type of operation the tandem axle "trailers" would be a royal pain in the *ss.

 

[WinterDeere]

All of the wagons have adjustable tongues so when you back the chopper into position you can stop a few inches short of being the perfect distance...

Now I know my next wagon mod. I use a small wagon like yours for firewood, and it's only 4' x 8', but can weigh over 4000 lb. when loaded full with a cord of oak. I hate dickering around with getting it hooked to the tractor when it's full.

I can fab up my own, but before I invest the time, are these something you bought aftermarket?

 

[LouNY]

Now I know my next wagon mod. I use a small wagon like yours for firewood, and it's only 4' x 8', but can weigh over 4000 lb. when loaded full with a cord of oak. I hate dickering around with getting it hooked to the tractor when it's full.

I can fab up my own, but before I invest the time, are these something you bought aftermarket?

Most of our wagons have come with them, they used to be an option on the running gear. After using one it is difficult to go back to a fixed tongue unless using two people to hitch up a wagon, one backing up and one holding the tongue and dropping in the drawpin.
Here is a photo of one in Killbros running gear, they are several styles around.

An old used one on ebay,

They show them on all of there running gear;
EZ Trail Running gear – 6 Ton

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm on it! Thanks, Lou!

Also found this: Viewing a thread - Extendable wagon tongue

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Great thread! Been wondering the same myself. When I can afford a dump trailer I want to get one to move material on very short road hops and down into my bottom land which has a steep hill. Trailer brakes all the way!

 

[Farmer495]

1) Yes you can do it
2) Drawbar, unless you can "lock" your 3pt so it's not all over the place.
3) Tractor 7 pin is like semi truck. You can buy proper adaptors. I have one for tractor 7 way to RV 7 way for pulling "pickup" trailer behind tractor and one for converting RV 7 way to tractor 7way.
4) I'm approx 8000 lb. This load of haylage is not an issue. Zero tongue weight with wagons too. Don't have extendable tongue on this one either and it's unhitched twice a load.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've got a New Holland PowerStar 75. It's about 8,000 lbs counting the FEL. It's got 16.9R30s on the back.

It will tow a lot more than you think, this tractor is about the same size as yours,

SR

 

[WinterDeere]

It will tow a lot more than you think, this tractor is about the same size as yours,

SR

At what point do you need a conductor, on that train?