7K of Trailer for a 5K Tractor

[halfBaked2024]

I went ahead and juiced the tires on my T574 TLB, taking it into the realm of 5,000# (before loader and backhoe). I own (prior to the tractor) a 7K (dual 3500# axle) equipment/utility trailer that I was thinking of trading up to a 10K (dual 5000# axle).

The key question for me will (obviously) be how much I need to haul the tractor, because what I have will be maxxed out and, when I need to haul it, I will have to drop the backhoe (+1,500#) and loader (+1,200#). Even then, it seems precarious to me.

My two-part question is, for you guys who are doing your own service and minor repairs and aren’t hauling your tractors regularly… do you:

(1) Keep a trailer maintained,
(2) Rent when needed,
(3) Rely on a dealer pickup

If you do maintain a trailer, would you recommend that I trade up from a 7K to a 10K, or even 14K if I only anticipate using it 2-3 times a year? I know there’s something to be said for being ready!

 

[George2615]

I upgraded from a 7K tilt bed to a 14K full tilt bed PJ 10 years ago. My reason was similar with trailer being maxed out at times. Mainly I haul tractors, cars, and trucks. I do my own service and repairs. Trailer is used about 20 or more times per year. For me, I don't want to pay dealer pickup/delivery costs and no local place near me to rent a 14K. I have the trailer ready to use at a moments notice when I need it.

 

[WVH1977]

I would upgrade even if using a few times a year. If something goes wrong while towing down a road, bad things can happen quickly. I have a 14K trailer now and glad I made that jump.

 

[Panik]

So I might not be the best example, but here goes....

Owned a BX2360 since about 2014. When I first got the tractor I was hot and heavy on ensuring that I owned a trailer so that I could transport the tractor to a dealer for service and to my MIL's property to do occasional work. Ended up going through a number of trailer's that, while technically were well within in specs to haul that little BX, absolutely stunk to high heaven towing. Ended up purchasing a 10K ~22' trailer that pulls like a dream and obviously easily handles the BX.

Here's where I'm going with this though. In the 10 years I've owned the tractor my actual case use of taking the tractor to the dealer is exactly twice. The vast majority of the trailer's use has been convenience use in taking cars to my mechanic, running stuff to the dump and bringing landscaping and construction supplies home.

I do my maintenance service work on the tractor myself (had to learn how as I'm not a farm kid) and it wasn't that hard. I think of the two times it went to the dealer one was it's first service interval, and the second was that the hardline supplying hydraulic fluid to the 3pt arms developed a stress break and was replaced with a hose.

Like everything else YMMV may vary from mine, as mine varies from others on this forum.

 

[Runner]

So many questions and answers and every single person on here will have different opinions. When I bought my tractor I had to make the exact same decisions. Here are the factors that I considered:
1. Do I want to have to rely on a rental company or someone else to move my stuff or do I want a trailer available 24/7 just for me? I want one available to me whenever I need/want it
2. Do I want to store/maintain another trailer? Not really, but if "yes" to the other questions, OK. If so, will I be happy having this investment sit outside decomposing in the weather and having to look at it all the time? No, it drives me nuts to pay good money for a piece of equipment and have it sit outside. I also don't want to look at it all the time in my yard/driveway so I want indoor storage for it.
3. Do I want to have to pay tax/license fees for a trailer? No, but see #2.
4. Will I have other uses for it besides just hauling the tractor? Yes, I haul other equipment, building materials, etc.
5. Do I have a tow vehicle that can handle the size trailer I need/want? Yes.
6. Do I want other people asking to borrow my trailer? No, but see #2.
7. Do I have the money to buy the trailer I want? Yes.

Based on the answers to these questions, my decision was to buy a trailer that could easily carry my tractor and other stuff. I store it inside so it stays in decent condition.

 

[Rmart30]

used 14k are much easier around here to find than a 10k. I paid $2200 for my 14k Loader toter brand bumper pull 18 ft. I see them regularly from 2500-3200 on marketplace. Just have to be ready with cash when one pops up.
Personally Id want at least a 10k trailer to haul tractors on unless your just hauling a light 8n, 230 massey etc.

 

[halfBaked2024]

So many questions and answers and every single person on here will have different opinions. When I bought my tractor I had to make the exact same decisions. Here are the factors that I considered:
1. Do I want to have to rely on a rental company or someone else to move my stuff or do I want a trailer available 24/7 just for me? I want one available to me whenever I need/want it
2. Do I want to store/maintain another trailer? Not really, but if "yes" to the other questions, OK. If so, will I be happy having this investment sit outside decomposing in the weather and having to look at it all the time? No, it drives me nuts to pay good money for a piece of equipment and have it sit outside. I also don't want to look at it all the time in my yard/driveway so I want indoor storage for it.
3. Do I want to have to pay tax/license fees for a trailer? No, but see #2.
4. Will I have other uses for it besides just hauling the tractor? Yes, I haul other equipment, building materials, etc.
5. Do I have a tow vehicle that can handle the size trailer I need/want? Yes.
6. Do I want other people asking to borrow my trailer? No, but see #2.
7. Do I have the money to buy the trailer I want? Yes.

Based on the answers to these questions, my decision was to buy a trailer that could easily carry my tractor and other stuff. I store it inside so it stays in decent condition.

^^ This the Q&A we’re all going through ^^

 

[halfBaked2024]

used 14k are much easier around here to find than a 10k. I paid $2200 for my 14k Loader toter brand bumper pull 18 ft. I see them regularly from 2500-3200 on marketplace. Just have to be ready with cash when one pops up.
Personally Id want at least a 10k trailer to haul tractors on unless your just hauling a light 8n, 230 massey etc.

True here also. I think I can get by with an 18’ 10K, but the trailer dealer mentioned most are simply going to 14K. But also, my Tundra’s max towing is effectively 8,800#, so

 

[rumwrks]

Also check your local state trailer registration rules. Where I'm at if you're over 8k registered weight you have to register BOTH the trailer AND the tow vehicle by weight, OR get a per-trip registration, OR be registered as a farm vehicle (with distance limitations on how far you can tow at above the 8k range). The Register by weight was going to add another $500/yr on my truck registration fees.. and trip permits added up... I'm planning to eventually shift to farm plates which will change the math a bit and at that point I'll probably either trade or perhaps add a heavier trailer...

But also, my Tundra’s max towing is effectively 8,800#, so

I'm also a big believer in not pushing too hard on your vehicles tow capacity as well. It's not what you can get started it's what you can get stopped when everything goes pear shaped. Having had a few "just missed the big jackpot" moments when younger with heavy stock trailers and such I've gotten more .. conservative.. Plus you'll loose some load capacity with the heavier trailer because well... it's heavier... so cross check curb weight, total capacity (giving you allowed cargo weight) vs truck capability, etc..

One other caveat on a lot of the 7K trailers is that they have light beams and minimal/insufficient cross bracing for tractors which tend to center load the trailer harder than cars (depending on wheelbase, etc..). I've seen more than a couple of 7k trailers that had clearly been folded a bit hah. My trailer dealer pointed me at one with 5" box frame instead of 4" and more than double the angle iron cross bracing of the cheaper version (the cheaper was sold as a "car hauler" and this was an "equipment hauler" and is built somewhat closer to a 10k trailer but still has lighter axles). I've certainly pushed the weight limit of it fairly hard and bias towards more on the tongue so it's putting more on my (heavier truck than you have...).

All things being equal I'd have preferred a 10k or 14k trailer but all things weren't entirely equal....

I also have had a bunch of other uses for the trailer, if it was only the tractors.. I'd probably lease or something instead of maintaining a trailer. It'll be interesting to see how much that usage persists long term as well, I might change my mind and get rid of the trailer entirely hah.

 

[RjCorazza]

I went ahead and juiced the tires on my T574 TLB, taking it into the realm of 5,000# (before loader and backhoe). I own (prior to the tractor) a 7K (dual 3500# axle) equipment/utility trailer that I was thinking of trading up to a 10K (dual 5000# axle).

The key question for me will (obviously) be how much I need to haul the tractor, because what I have will be maxxed out and, when I need to haul it, I will have to drop the backhoe (+1,500#) and loader (+1,200#). Even then, it seems precarious to me.

My two-part question is, for you guys who are doing your own service and minor repairs and aren’t hauling your tractors regularly… do you:

(1) Keep a trailer maintained,
(2) Rent when needed,
(3) Rely on a dealer pickup

If you do maintain a trailer, would you recommend that I trade up from a 7K to a 10K, or even 14K if I only anticipate using it 2-3 times a year? I know there’s something to be said for being ready!

I have and maintain a 12k 20' trailer.
I would recommend a 12k or 14k trailer. A 10k trailer is going to be maxed out with 7700lbs of potential cargo. Trailering near, or at capacity is stressful and hard on equipment.
Issues arise with heavier trailers and tow vehicles that you may not have considered, like the GCWR (Gross combined weight rating) which can place your rig into commercial license territory.
There are plenty of threads here on that topic, and it can get confusing!

 

[4570Man]

You can under utilize a trailer without hurting it. Going the other way around doesn’t work as well. I’d get a 14k trailer. They don’t weigh basically any more than a 10k.

 

[WM75Guy]

I bought a bigger truck and trailer to haul my tractors. I was using the dealer to pick up tractors until they started jacking up the price to $300 round trip. Plus I needed to haul larger amounts of hay. With my new hay barn the trailer will be out of the weather. Truck goes in the garage. Here is the TC40DA going in for service after a 200 mile round trip to get new tires.

 

[newbury]

So I might not be the best example, but here goes....

Similar with me -
In 2009 I bought a Kubota B7610 w/ boxblade AND a 10K Hudson trailer (carries 10K).
Used it basically four trips to carry that Kubota. But in 2012 I bought a Kubota M4700, used the trailer to haul the M4700 from Virginia to Mississippi and a few other times. And that's about it, for hauling my tractors. But it's there ready to haul and it's been used probably another dozen times for hauling "stuff". Right now it's parked in one of my sheds.
Never took a tractor to a dealer.
Probably a waste of money, but trying to rent a trailer was not an option for me.

 

[halfBaked2024]

These are all really great points to consider, guys. I definitely have some thinking do!

 

[halfBaked2024]

I bought a bigger truck and trailer to haul my tractors. I was using the dealer to pick up tractors until they started jacking up the price to $300 round trip. Plus I needed to haul larger amounts of hay. With my new hay barn the trailer will be out of the weather. Truck goes in the garage. Here is the TC40DA going in for service after a 200 mile round trip to get new tires.

View attachment 1690716

If they had a Kukje engine option for the truck part of this equation, I’d be on board. Until then, I’m sticking with the reliable, 2020 Tundra and figuring out the compromises.

 

[Panik]

If they had a Kukje engine option for the truck part of this equation, I’d be on board. Until then, I’m sticking with the reliable, 2020 Tundra and figuring out the compromises.

Just for point of reference in terms of vehicle towing capacity vs trailer capacity & weight. From about 2014 until late last year I used a 2014 GMC 1/2 ton supposedly rated to tow up to ~9,800lbs to drag around that Kaufman 10K 22 footer.

When I purchased the Kaufman I sprang for a couple upgrades that don't seem to be available anymore - one of them was decreased span distance between crossmembers. Because of the tow capacity of my truck and how heavily the trailer was I did sacrifice some overall capacity with that combination. While I likely did slightly exceed the total capacity of my truck at times with hauling the wife's 2000 Disco II off-roader I honestly never really missed the theoretical reduction in hauling capacity.

Ended up selling the GMC to my mechanic after it ate a transmission (known first year production issue) and the AFM/lifter's decided to exit the conversation. Right now I am using that Kaufman with a 2013 Toyota Sequoia with ~7600lbs tow capacity. Even with the reduced capacity of the Toyota, weight of the trailer & having sincere loaded the rears of the BX I'm still well within rated capacity for the combo of the Toyota and the Kaufman. Is it ideal? - No. Do I have to do a bit more manual shifting on grades when bumping closer to total rated towing ability? - Yes. However, for my relatively limited yearly use around town it does well enough and I'm set up for when the kids get out of high school and I can get another truck.

Point being, definitely run your numbers regarding what you can tow with your vehicle and the trailers you are looking at. However, so long as everything is within ratings, don't get too hung up on having a trailer that is rated for more than your vehicle can tow. I happily traded some overall capacity for a trailer that (for me) is pretty much bombproof, tracks like a dream and has just enough flex to tow beautifully without being obnoxious.

Again, everyone's mileage varies, but I would suggest going over-rated on trailer carrying capacity.... or at very least try not to go through 3 trailers before finding your Goldilocks piece of equipment. Best luck!

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Personally I have never heard anyone say "I wish I had a smaller trailer,"although someone probably will in a minute. I would go with the 14k trailer.

 

[MarkMac]

I have a 3-horse trailer on two 5200# axles. It’s an extra tall & wide model. I use it for hauling my horses, naturally. It will fit my tractor if I disconnect the loader.

That would be in the event I couldn’t fix the problem myself, and the tractor can move under it’s own power. If it were completely dead, I’d shell out the one time $$ to have the dealer collect it.

 

[grsthegreat]

I also went with a 14,000 full tilt bed trailer. I dont want to have any issues…period

 

[ericm979]

A recent Tundra double or crew cab with a 5.7 engine is rated to tow somewhere between 9200 and 9600 lbs depending on options. If you're going to stick to that you can't really use the extra 4k of a 14k trailer over a 10k trailer. The 14k will cost a little more and may have a higher tare weight giving it less load capacity (when sticking to the truck's rating), depending on how the two trailers are constructed. It looks like sometimes the difference is just the axles and tires and sometimes the 14k also has a heavier frame.

If you do your own servicing and regular repairs you may never need to take a tractor in. And if you do, it will probably be rare. Renting a trailer when you need one is probably the most cost effective solution. Of course trailers have uses beyond hauling tractors and that may tip the scales.