Actual weight?

[jrbarnard]

Good morning all!

So, how much weight do you figure in?

I am trying to figure the "actual weight" of the tractor I am looking at.

The Branson site says the 3725CH is 4195. Is that dry weight without a loader? I think it is.

So, if I want to tow a loader and a box blade, any idea how much that adds?

I also figure in 12 gallons of Diesel and a 5-gallon backup. That is about, I think 102 lbs right there.

Add in a few misc items on the trailer..

Trying to figure out the towing weight of that configuration.

I put this in Safety because, to me, this is about Safety. Sorry if I put it in the wrong forum.

Russ

 

[CobyRupert]

Loaded tires or weights?
There's also 10 gallons of hydraulic oil to consider. And coolant.

A Branson BL25R loader with bucket weighs about 1160 pounds (pg. 14)
View attachment branson-fel-bl25r-series-operators-manual.pdf

I suspect that if you're splitting hairs this fine, I'm guessing it's probably not about safety as much as legality. :confused3:

 

[jrbarnard]

No, it is about safety, for me. Legality takes a back seat to safety, imo.... not sure about others.

Not splitting hairs, trying to get some sort of idea. See, I would never have thought about "dry weight" and not added coolant in.

I am fine with being off by 200-300 lbs, I will add a little on top, but I just was not sure what a realistic weight looked like.

So, figured to ask

Thanks Coby!

R

 

[RNeumann]

Typically the tractor weight doesn’t include the FEL as it is technically an option on most CUTs. So add the FEL, BB and who know what else and you have probably 7-8000#.
When I was shopping for trailers I was floored to learn it was common to put 2 3500# axles on an enclosed car hauler for a “7000# rating” - the only problem is the trailer weighs 3500# leaving only 3500# for cargo.....maybe a Yugo and your suitcase!!
I finally bit the bullet and purchased a trailer with 5200# axles and haven’t regretted it at all. I tow worry free knowing I’m not maxing out all parts like bearings, tires (especially tires!!!) and brakes plus the 8 lug wheels and tires are about the same size as the truck so spares are interchangeable. The up charge was about $1000 which also included the non leaf-spring type suspension- which supposedly is better.

 

[jrbarnard]

Yeppers! That is great advice. I am waiting on an answer from Dodge to see if I will even be able to tow this thing, then will start looking for a trailer that will do what you ar discussing.

Thanks sir!

R

 

[cgutenschwager]

Yeppers! That is great advice. I am waiting on an answer from Dodge to see if I will even be able to tow this thing, then will start looking for a trailer that will do what you ar discussing.

Thanks sir!

R

jrbarnard - It sounds like your machine with loader and box blade is 6000-6500#. I haul these all the time for dealers or customers buying them. I have a 22' tilt deck trailer rated at 14,000gvw. I hardly feel it behind my Cummins powered 2007 ram2500. What type of truck/trailer are you thinking?

 

[RNeumann]

Yeppers! That is great advice. I am waiting on an answer from Dodge to see if I will even be able to tow this thing, then will start looking for a trailer that will do what you ar discussing.

Thanks sir!

R

I believe they figure about 10% of the total trailer weight is tongue weight. Seems a lot of hitches and vehicles want/show that spec.

Also spend the extra few bucks for the inertia style brake controller. They work really well- very smooth.

This product is also a dream!!
Weight Distribution Hitch | Andersen Hitches
I don’t need it around town or for short trips (I just drive slow). But when I’m going places (typical is a 1100 mile trip to see family) having this hitch (which looks like voodoo until it’s in your hands) makes towing a pleasure.

 

[jrbarnard]

Oh lord... I traded my 5yr old Ford for a new 2018 Dodge Quad v-6 with turbo Diesel. At the time, I was not contemplating a tractor "for real" lol.. but.. application approved, can get one.. dang riding mower had a flat.. BAM!.. daddy moves fast lol

I want to be safe. I want my kiddos to be safe when riding with me towing.. and.. frankly.. I would love to be able to haul it myself. Debating whether that will be doable.. or do I need to downsize and thus forget about the cab... or say to heck with it and daddy gets air conditioning lol

Right now, debating one of the following:

All Branson btw

1 - 3725CH with box blade and bucket (do not see myself towing it with the 6ft cutter)

2 - 2400H with Backhoe, Box Blade, Cutter (4ft on each of those), auger and 20ft trailer

3 - 2400h with all the above but no backhoe, maybe no cutter, substitute the cutter and backhoe for a zero-turn

4 - Get a 3015 or 3510 outfitted the same


All the lower options mean no A/C but I can easily town

The top one get s a/c, but I need to make sure or at least SEE if it is safe to tow with my truck.

So, about to call and pull the trigger, after I fix a server issue here at work...

Thanks for the great tips!

R

 

[cgutenschwager]

" I traded my 5yr old Ford for a new 2018 Dodge Quad v-6 with turbo Diesel."

Probably a good deal IMO - are you referring to a 2018 cummins? (that's actually an inline 6, not V) If you have a 2500/3500 truck and a good trailer with brakes I don't see a problem with any of those. Go for the AC (i'm not a fan of cabs until it's 100 outside!):cool2:

 

[jrbarnard]

Oh no, this is a gas engine Dodge. I had a 2009 Ford and it was awesome. My wife had someone run into her car, so figured they would total it and we would have a new payment, so "lowered my payment" on the truck and traded it for a 2013 Ford. Hated it. Was lower to the ground, had some weird issue with the starting electrical system...so her Grandparents gave her their 2008 Caddt SRX and I went, "nope.. not going to have 2 10+ yr old vehicles in 3-5 years die at once" so sold the Ford and got a **** of a deal on a Dodge.

The Ford bottomed out at the ranch and smashed the tranny pan. Since then, I did not do jack with it, I used the Polaris Ranger, thus did not need more than what this gas Dodge 2-wheel drive offered with 6-cylinder twin turbo 3.6l

It gets awesome gas mileage and drives well, and says it tows up to 7000 or 8200 or whatever, depending where you read lol

 

[Fallon]

Ya, tractor + loader + ballast should get you within 10-20%. If you need better than that, hit up your local gravel pit. They usually let you use the scales for free if you dont get in their way. Other places with big scales around as well if you look for em. Drive across with & without the tractor on the trailer if you can't unload & run the tractor across on own.

If that 10-20%is to close to your trailer rating, you need a new trailer. It's never a good idea to push things to close to their limit. Especially when safety like towing at road or freeway speeds is s factor.

 

[oosik]

OK - - so on my M6040 I used all the weights listed for : rear blade, FEL, grapple, loaded rear tires & canopy. Then I added: tank of fuel, hydraulic fluid, engine oil, anti-freeze and gear oil in the front end.

All of this added up to - 9985 pounds. I drove the tractor in to the ADM(Archer Daniels Midland) grain scales in Cheney and it weighs - - 10,100 pounds.

So in all my figuring - there was an error of 115 pounds. I can see how this could happen - Example - the Op Manual says the engine uses 11 quarts of oil when changed WITH the filter. In fact, it takes 14 quarts to get a full reading WITH the filter change also. This could also happen with the hydraulic oil and even the fuel tank.

And I only WISH the 115 pounds was me still on the tractor - DEFINITELY not the case.

Its also easy to see how the manual listed weights of such as - FEL, grapple, loaded rear tires etc, etc could be off slightly.

If you need the EXACT weight - - private grain scales or Highway Patrol weigh station. As long as you aren't looking for a weight certification receipt - having your tractor weighed should be free.

 

[jrbarnard]

I ended up getting the Branson 2400H instead of the 3725H. I wanted the a/c BAD.. lol... but, I will love this for my first tractor.. maybe some day I may want to upgrade, who knows.. for now, all I know is rather than paying $460 a month, I am paying $320 a month and got me a brand new shiney 20 ft trailer AND... I dropped the backhoe off the list and, instead, got a zero-turn mower to boot!

So, tractor AND a new mower that will 'git 'r dun'! lol

Thanks all!

R

 

[oosik]

Well - JR - I do not know your situation there in Cedar Creek but - IMHO - you have already made a wise decision. Swap the backhoe for a zero-turn. I read many posts on TBN over the years where folks want to know - "what is the best way to store my backhoe implement?". Backhoe is a VERY EXPENSIVE rear ballast. If you were going to use the backhoe as much as the zero turn - then it could be justified.

Many years ago - back when God made dirt - I was in Houston and Galveston for a week - in July. I had NO IDEA that there was anywhere in the good 'ol USA that was so hot and humid. At the time I was living in Anchorage, AK. You talk about a shock to the bod. Get on the plane in Anchorage at 72 F and get off at Houston at some unGodly temp and humidity.

Wondering - there in Cedar Creek - are you far enough inland to be out of the influences of the humidity from the Gulf?? Checked the location of Cedar Creek on Google Earth.

 

[jrbarnard]

@Oosik - Thanks bud. I was born in Houston, grew up mostly in Slowdeatha (Odessa.. lol) went into the Navy in S.C., then moved outside of Austin and am stuck here .. heh.

When I built my workshop, I had plans for a 40x60x16 building and aaaaaallll these great ideas. The hardest part was letting reality and common sense kick in and tuning out all the "you can never go bigger, once you go smaller" and going, "okay.... what can I be happy with?".

It was not easy getting a 30x40x10, but it was the right choice, for me.. for my wallet, for my marriage.. heh

With this tractor, it was not so much what others wanted, it was really.. "I" wanted that A/C so so so much... it has taken me almost two years to talk myself out of it. I talked myself INTO it right up till I made the call to make the order, literally. When the words started coming out of my mouth to order, I just could not do it.

I wanted that backhoe. I could have used it too.. like mad... for all of about a month. Then, it would have sat... and sat....till the next time I needed it. Then I called the rental place and asked how much to rent. They do not rent them, they rent the tractor only. So I convinced myself... but, as I made the call, I realized something....

When I get the 2400H.. and I save all that money... when I look at the zero turn and IF it has an issue.. I can jump on the tractor or visa versa... etc..because of all the money I saved, I got a new 20ft trailer, that can haul ALL of it at once now.. and you know what else it can haul?... a stand on trencher that is 125 for the freaking weekend....and can do what that backhoe does, then sits somewhere else letting someone else pay for it.. lol

So, thanks...

I sure did think about that A/C yesterday when it was hot as ****... and my grass.. oh my lord it is tall right now, may take two passes even with that monster of a mower.. but... it will get done.

I cleaned up the riding mower, fixed the tire.. and listed it and the 12ft trailer on craigslist and THAT.. pays for 1500 of something right there too

Thank you all for the great input and the help!

I will post pictures next week when they deliver it all!

Not sure about humidity.. my body only knows heat or no heat lol...anything in between is irrelevant to me

Russ

 

[oosik]

Russ - I'm located 25 miles due SW of Spokane. Out in what is called the scab rock lands. Just enough dirt over basaltic lava bedrock to grow bunch grass and Ponderosa pines. We get hot here too but as the heat increases the humidity drops like a rock. So anything 90 or above - its normal for the humidity to be less than 25%. And a LOT of times - down around 15%.

I thought seriously about a cab when I bought my M6040 back in 2009. Would have been nice in the winter around here. Not much help in the summer. Fortunately - I've spent quite a bit of time in the neighbors BIG Versatile tractor - helping with wheat and hay harvest. The cab helps in those conditions because it can get so darn dusty - hard to see where you are trying to go. My experience might not be normal - close up the cab to keep the dust out - air conditioning on to pressurize the cab and because the sun is shining in thru the acres of glass.

Then there is the cost - even in 2009 it was an added $7K or $8K. Just not in my budget. Besides I have a closet full of Eddie Bauer down clothing for the winter.

Sooo....... it kind of ends up - pretty darn cold from the waist down - however from the waist up its fairly hot due to all the glass and the sun. Open the doors when ever I could to get fresh air - close them when you come back on the return trip because winds not blowing hard enough to clear the dust. I'm in his big Versatile with the "wheat wagon" following the combine.

Now its the - big wait. For sure - pictures of that shiny new tractor would be great.

If you only recognize heat/no heat - - humidity must not be a MAJOR factor.

 

[jrbarnard]

Yea, I am sure humidity is a factor, lol.. but i am so grumpy... all I see is hot...