Help with trailer requirement

[emcvay]

Hi Guys,

Thanks again for all the help in my search to buy a tractor, now my next question: will a 16 foot trailer (bumper tow) be adequate for my 5010 Mahindra with FEL, 5' mower and box blade?

Capacity is 12k on this trailer (rental) but I'm wondering if 16 feet is a little too short for what I'm trying to haul?

Thanks in advance.
Erik

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, too short. My 28 hp jinma with a FEL and any 3 point equipment takes every inch of my 18' trailer.

Chris

 

[emcvay]

Thanks Chris. Seems Hertz and RSC only have 16 foot trailers and I was just told Hertz wouldn't rent the trailer to someone with a 1/2ton truck. What's that all about? The '06F150's towing capacity (with 5.4l) is just over 10k and I'm looking at about 7.5k total (maybe 8k) so well within that range.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Check your local took rental places. If its just a one or two time move have a roll back wrecker do it. Off hours my guy will move something for $60. Less than 15 miles just drive the tractor. My tractor in road gear will run 20mph but 12 is more comfortable.

Chris

 

[emcvay]

LOL that wouldn't work for me Chris, but thanks! I have to haul this puppy 250 miles!

 

[emcvay]

Seems if you tell the trailer rental places you want to haul your tractor out of town they double the rate too....interesting.

 

[emcvay]

My neighbor tells me that it's possible to just put the mower on unattached and then drive the tractor onto the trailer that way. Tells me he and his Dad have done this before.

I'm wondering if that's something I might be able to do with the boom on the tractor? Just hoist the mower on up front, drive the tractor on and lower the bucket over the mower but not onto it?

Would that work?

 

[rasimmo]

It would probably fit that way, but you would be putting a lot of weight on the front of the trailer. It would make your truck squat pretty bad. It might be more tounge weight than your hitch is rated for also.

 

[emcvay]

Good point. We'll hopefully I can get something sorted. If not I'll leave the box blade behind and get it the next trip on my 12 foot trailer...I should have just had both of them loaded onto it and then hauled them up separately, then I could get the tractor and loader onto the 16 foot trailer without worrying about it -- right?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why not put the box blade in the bed of the truck with some chains and the FEL? I do this all the time.

Best way to do using a fel is to lift then back under it without the trailer attached. Hook up the trailer and load the rest. Do the opposite to unload.

Chris

 

[emcvay]

I suppose I could do that if I removed the canopy and dropped the tailgate -- it's a shortbox though.

I'm thinking the best approach may well be to use two trailers and just bite the bullet on gas.

A neighbor is thinking he might be able to rent a trailer from a friend that has a backhoe -- I'd imagine a backhoe would need a longer trailer so maybe I'll get lucky.

Never imagined it would be this hard to sort out!
Sheesh.

 

[RDrancher]

I used to haul on a 16' car trailer. Back on and drop the BB up front then pull on and curl the bucket under and set the cutting edge on the front edge of the trailer deck up against the BB. My shredder's tail wheel hung off of the back but it worked fine for me.

 

[the6shooter]

Most rental yards don't rent trailers for equip. transports because 99% don't have or know how to use a weight dist. hitch. and now with most new towing laws require a weight dist. hitch.
Also just because your owners manuel says you can tow that much weight, It says somewhere in there, weight dist. hitch is required.
my truck does.
david

 

[emcvay]

Good points.

I noticed that our truck has a hitch installed rather then just a bumper setup -- not sure if it's a WDH or not. How to tell?

Another thing I thought of was that the F150's capacity of 1490lbs suggests that it might not have the tongue weight capacity of the 3/4 ton trucks (I think they are right around 3000lbs capacity so really the F150 is a 3/4 ton and the F250 is really a 1 1/2 ton truck -- to be honest).

 

[boggen]

for 250 miles, i would just contact some local hauling/shipping companies, and let them deal with figuring out to haul the tractor, and implements with.

gas alone will eat you up. then not counting food and time for trip. a hauling / shipping company will more likely be cheaper and easier. line things up get your width and length measurements. and find your manuals or look info up online for weight. and just call around.

if you already had a trailer it would be one thing, but rental charges for a trailer, on top of gas and everything else. not worth it.

i am also going to assume you do not have long enough and heavy duty enough rated chains or straps. to be road legal. which would add more cost.

 

[the6shooter]

Best thing to do, would be to go to, youtube.com and see the vid's on the weigth dist. hitch, and how it's used.
That will explain it better than myself.
david

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Most rental yards don't rent trailers for equip. transports because 99% don't have or know how to use a weight dist. hitch. and now with most new towing laws require a weight dist. hitch.
Also just because your owners manuel says you can tow that much weight, It says somewhere in there, weight dist. hitch is required.
my truck does.
david

Well said.

 

[emcvay]

No worries -- got a buddy to tow it with his 3/4 ton Diesel so I think we're good

If I buy a trailer (or should I say WHEN) then I'll have to sell my Jeep (or give it to the kids) and buy a 3/4 truck to tow the tractor -- or maybe a 1 ton.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I noticed that our truck has a hitch installed rather then just a bumper setup -- not sure if it's a WDH or not. How to tell?

Look up a picture of a WD hitch. It'll be obvious if you have one or not. They have these big torsion bars that attach to chains that attach to the trailer's A-frame. If you're not sure, you probably don't have one.

I heartily encourage everyone who is doing bumper-pull (vs. gooseneck or 5th-wheel) to confirm their towing rig's specifications. Once you get above about 3000-5000 lbs, a lot of hitches out there require a WD system to achieve their full capacity. This is not always made abundantly clear. They say, "10,000 lb towing capacity" and then in little text, "When properly equipped."

 

[emcvay]

Thanks -- we don't have one. Pretty obvious.