7K of Trailer for a 5K Tractor

[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.

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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.