Backing tractor and implement onto your trailer??? How many do this??

pharmvet · Aug 2, 2013

I have been wanting a 32' gooseneck trailer to haul my tractors and (shredder / disk) ect. I was recently told that doing so would really load my truck, unless I backed the tractor and shredder / disk / ect. onto the trailer to keep most of the wt. of the tractor over the trailer tires. Is this a realistic expectation? I am pretty handy with farm equipment, but thinking about backing a 10' shredder onto a narrow flat deck trailer seems like it would be pretty difficult to me. I want your feedback on this? Anyone here have small rails (like railroad iron) or something attached to floor to guide tires of implement? any and all feedback / thoughts welcomed. thanks again.

Rustyiron · Aug 2, 2013

You'll open a can of worms here talking about tongue wt., but either way you are going to have to back it on or off. I'd rather back off (unloading) and if things get a little sloppy the last few feet, you can generally get away with it. If you have a loader, a hitch of some sort on the bucket makes pushing your implement on easy, as your steering (reaction) is much faster than on the rear. This will put your lighter implements up towards the frong leaving room for your heavier tractor over or at least close to the trlr. axles to avoid excessive tongue wt.

Tractor Seabee · Aug 2, 2013

It depends! What is the total weight of implements and trailer and then what is the towing capacity and tongue weight capacity of your truck. Where are the axels located front to back on the trailer and how much overhang from axel to hitch on your truck. Every combination creates its own set of criteria. It may be as simple as relocating the center of gravity by moving the trailer axels to match your loading plan. A 32' trailer designed to haul heavy loads is alone a good load on its own and may require three axels or maybe dual wheels. They put the tongue weight right on the truck axel. Most of what I have seen that long for towing by small trucks are fifth wheel type like travel trailers and are for fairly light loads. A top notch trailer dealer has all the formulas to plan your load and figure out your optimum unit locations. You need to know the weight of each item and its center of gravity. This is the scientific way hardly anyone bothers with and then wonder why they are having problems. Being light on the tongue is worse than being tongue heavy. My Dodge 350 with duals has greater tongue capacity than a 350 with single tires. Trying to crowd a lot of wheeled stuff on a trailer greatly complicates your tie down situation to be legally correct and can take a lot of chains and binders.

Are you in the range where your state considers you a commercial hauler? They get more weight and equipment balance scrutiny and require you to have a CDL to drive the combo. CDL operators do not get any slack on knowledge of the rules of the road. I can load my 1 ton Dodge and trailer to the point of requiring a CDL.

94BULLITT · Aug 2, 2013

The owners manual to the Bobcat CT235 I had said to back it on with or without a implement on the 3PH.

dstig1 · Aug 3, 2013

I back mine on, but mainly because the trailer is too short (16') for the tractor with the loader and anything on the 3pt. The weight seems to balance well this way. It works just fine as I take the time to make sure I am lined up straight and the ramps are set right. Like anything, once you do it a few times it gets easier. I find it critical to be in 4wd when doing it or I can lose traction at the breakover point onto the deck.

Not sure why you would have an issue with a 32' trailer unless your tractor is waay bigger than any CUT I have seen...

94BULLITT · Aug 3, 2013

dstig1 said:
I back mine on, but mainly because the trailer is too short (16') for the tractor with the loader and anything on the 3pt. The weight seems to balance well this way. It works just fine as I take the time to make sure I am lined up straight and the ramps are set right. Like anything, once you do it a few times it gets easier. I find it critical to be in 4wd when doing it or I can lose traction at the breakover point onto the deck.

Not sure why you would have an issue with a 32' trailer unless your tractor is waay bigger than any CUT I have seen...

4WD is very important, especially with a steel deck.

whistlepig · Aug 3, 2013

If you overload the truck you will know it. It will handle poorly. If you under load the truck you will know that also. The trailer will feel squirrelly. Maybe even whip. You would have to be the judge of the distribution of the weight. Or have someone that knows help you.

joshuabardwell · Aug 3, 2013

A good shortcut for checking that your bumper-pull trailer is loaded (roughly) properly is to measure the height to the top of the wheel well or the bumper with the trailer un-hooked, then hook up the trailer and load it. When you're done, the truck should squat an inch or two. At least then, you'll know you're not tail-heavy, which causes a lot of problems.

Really, you should also put some thought into making sure you're not exceeding your rated tongue weight, but that's a whole other can of worms.

medic0648 · Aug 3, 2013

Best way to figure it out is take the truck/trailer to a scale empty and get the weight of the axles. The load up the tractor/impliments amd reweigh it. Balance the load out to have 10-15% of the weight or max axle weight rating and make sure nothing is overloaded or in cdl range. It's cheap insurance for yourself.