Towing running gear with pickup

[GuidoSarducci]

Hey fellas,

Feel free to move this post to the right spot if this isn't it.

I just bought an 8 ton running gear from an auction house about 55 miles from the farm. It looks like it's in great shape and assuming thats the case how well do these tow behind a pickup on the highway?

Can I run 55mph safely or should I plan on taking backroads at slower speeds? Should I just grab a car trailer and strap it down? I don't have a trailer that size so that's an additional cost if necessary.

Any advice is appreciated.

Fr. Sarducci

 

[RandyT]

Part of that decision will need to be determined by the speed rating of the tires on the trailer. Farm tires not rated for highway speeds. The other thing is they tend to bounce around when on rough roads, as well at the side to side snaking when being towed.

 

[RickB]

If the steering is tight and the bearings are good 55 is no problem.

 

[GuidoSarducci]

Part of that decision will need to be determined by the speed rating of the tires on the trailer. Farm tires not rated for highway speeds. The other thing is they tend to bounce around when on rough roads, as well at the side to side snaking when being towed.

I have an old flat bed GMC 1 ton. I wonder if it's easier to separate the 2 halves and load it on the back. I can take it off with my FEL and then reassemble.

 

[fishheadbob]

I'm voting for backroads at lower speed. You just don't know this gear, anything might happen, hopefully nothing.

 

[CobyRupert]

I agree with the backroad folks, or disassemble.

I assume we're talking about wagon running gear.

Some wagons can get squirrely at 15mph, others you can take right up to 55+ and they'll run true.

Some wagons will go from one condition to another depending if you're accelerating, minimally pulling, or decelerating.

Seems like it's hard to predict just by looking at their condition. I've got some running gear from the 1950's (I think), it has mismatched tires (and mismatched SIZE tires), the tongue is misaligned at least ~10 degrees off to the side when you're driving straight (this make backing up REALLY hard); yet she'll go down the road 55mph+ with no weave. Don't ask me how or why a wagon with a crooked tongue does that.
When I buy hay from farmers and tow their new (newer) wagons, sometime I have to stay below 20- 25mph and you can still watch them weave a foot or more side to side.

 

[Big Barn]

I have an old flat bed GMC 1 ton. I wonder if it's easier to separate the 2 halves and load it on the back. I can take it off with my FEL and then reassemble.

Since you don’t know for certain how it would track, I would separate it and load it on the flat deck. But then that’s just me....

Plus around here without license/registration insurance and lights etc you’d end up with your azz in jail. IF you towed it on back roads with a tractor and slow moving vehicle emblem you MAY get away with it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Are you talking about a long wagon frame? I had a friend tow this horst 12 ton running gear made into a trailer with his half ton as I drove a Dakota!

 

[LouNY]

I would check the wheel bearings maybe even grease them a bit.
Towing it with a pickup if it has a SMV on the rear it is not supposed to exceed 25mph,
without a SMV you can be ticketed. I have towed many at 25-30 without problems.
Personally I would not run 55 the tires are not rated for that, they are not balanced and
with no suspension she would bounce all over.
So I'd say 30 mph with a shiney new SMV or load it and haul it.

 

[aczlan]

I have an old flat bed GMC 1 ton. I wonder if it's easier to separate the 2 halves and load it on the back. I can take it off with my FEL and then reassemble.

Since you have a flatbed, I would bring an angle grinder, a breaker bar, a ratchet, a set of 6 point sockets, a set of wrenches, a couple good size hammers and some long punches. I would give it a try to unbolt things, then grinding one end of the bolts off and push them out with the hammer and punches.
It should take less than half an hour to get them apart and then you can go from there.
I would also bring a set of magnetic lights in case you're too long or too wide for the bed of the truck.

Aaron Z