Owning a new(er) tractor that's too heavy to haul with your pickup?

[In.the.Piñons]

Thanks for the reassuring words. Looks like I have options with a mobile tech or paying the $$$ to have the dealer haul it if the need arises. I won't be making a living off this machine, so down time isn't a huge deal like it would be for some.

As mentioned, it is a big decision and I want to make the right choice, so I'll probably be asking a bunch more silly questions lol! Thanks for you patience.

 

[rockinbbar]

I hate hauling heavy tractors and equipment...

Don't have much choice with my heavy, tracked skid steer though. But it goes on a shorter trailer than my big 40' deckover Gooseneck that will haul a tractor and batwing cutter.

I'm constantly on the go with my tractors, as I do agriculture work. But have found that if the project is within 50 miles, it's much easier to just drive the tractor to it. My tractors will actually run faster than you want to drive a tractor, so I figure by the time I hook up the big trailer, load equipment and chain it down, drive to the project, un-chain and unload it, and do it all again for the return trip, I save a lot of headaches by just roading.

Mobile tractor mechanics are nice to have as an option. I use mine more than the dealer, especially when it's not a warranty issue.

BTW, your F-150 will haul a heavy load much better than it will stop it...

I tried that hauling with a 3/4 ton. It'd haul it fine. But stopping could get interesting. I switched to an F-350 dually, and upgraded my wife's pickup to that 3/4 ton. She loved it!

 

[lman]

What are you going to be doing with this tractor? Apparently you're not getting into hay or you would be getting a trailer to haul hay that would also haul your tractor. If you're putting a lot of hours on it, you may want to be prepared. If you store it in the barn vs left to the elements? I wouldn't pay for a new tractor without having a place to store and protect it. Just too much money to throw away. More important than a trailer.
There's too many unanswered questions that you will have to answer.

 

[dodge man]

I look at it from the point of view of what are your needs. If you have a trailer and truck that will haul a 50 hp tractor that’s great but not if you need a bigger tractor.

 

[LouNY]

Just a simple observation, growing up on a farm and being involved with tractors for over 60 years I, nor my brothers, nor my father, and 90% of the farmers that I know have trailers and haul vehicles to comfortably haul a tractor to a dealer or shop.
The tractors have been driven or even flat towed at times or the dealer/shop has picked up and delivered the tractor any time it has needed more then a mobile service tech.

We do have trucks and trailers to comfortably haul the small tractors if needed, under 8000 to 10,000 pound tractors. Such as 4000 and 6000 pound tractors.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

What are you going to be doing with this tractor? Apparently you're not getting into hay or you would be getting a trailer to haul hay that would also haul your tractor. If you're putting a lot of hours on it, you may want to be prepared. If you store it in the barn vs left to the elements? I wouldn't pay for a new tractor without having a place to store and protect it. Just too much money to throw away. More important than a trailer.
There's too many unanswered questions that you will have to answer.

I have a thread about "what class of tractor to get" here:

What class of tractor for maintaining two miles of road at higher elevation?

I have a 200+ acre ranch (6,800ft above sea level) with a few miles of single lane gravel road that needs to be maintained. Under the gravel, the soil is silty clay, and the topography involves some mild grades along with some short steep hills. The main road is mostly well built with culverts...

www.tractorbynet.com

But in a nutshell, I have a couple of miles of road to plow & maintain. I'd also want to be able to move dirt around for some moto jumps.

I have a few fields that I could grow hay in (once prepped), but it would stay on the property. It would be nice to be able to move the hay around, along with 275gal water totes and firewood.

Then there's a million and one chores that need doing on this long neglected property. I'd like to put up an arbor at the ranch entrance. The ranch house is 20 years old, but there are still tons of left over building materials (bricks and tile) that need to be loaded into a roll-off and hauled away.

We do have a 50x50 barn to keep the tractor in. I don't expect to put more than 150-200 hours on the tractor each year at most. But that's just a guess as I've never owned or operated a tractor before.

 

[fc1]

FWIW I elected to 'not worry about it'; tractor weighs ~5000lb, my SUV can pull 3500, and my trailer was originally for a sunfish .

 

[oosik]

Forty three years - two tractors. NEVER had to take either back to the dealer for any type of service or repairs. I do any/all service myself.

My Ram 2500 would pull the load but I do not have a trailer.

 

[msmith1wa]

It sounds like the property is new to you and you currently do not have a trailer. You may find that having a trailer is nice to have for other things. With regard to trailer weight. My 12k rated tilt deck weighs about 2k empty per the sticker from the manufacturer which means it is rated for a 10k load. So a 10k tractor would put the trailer and your current truck at the max ratings.

 

[chim]

My first consideration is having the tractor I need (OK, want) and am not concerned about transporting it. I do drive it into town for snow removal at the church or handling mulch. That's under 2 miles and I drive there.