Towing Tractor to Doctor

frdtrukman · Feb 2, 2005

I have a TC35DA and now have a recall notice as well as that drip, drip, drip of a hydraulic leak which still remains unfixed. My tractor is over 100 miles from the dealer. They delivered it to me, but now I need to get it back over there. My question is how big of a trailer do I need and will my F150 with a 4.6 ltr. motor be able to pull it? I appreciate all input.

Thanks!!!!

James

tc35dforme · Feb 2, 2005

Loaded tires and a 16LA loader ..... I'd figure about 5700 pounds for the tractor. Can the truck pull it...SURE, the real question is can you stop it !!!!!

Got any friends with a big truck, electric brake controller and a car trailer ???

Bird · Feb 2, 2005

A 16' trailer should handle it, although an 18' one might be more to your liking (more room to move it forward or backwards to distribute the weight where you want it). What kind of hitch do you have? A ball on the bumper for that much weight is NOT a good idea; far too dangerous, so I'll assume you have a load distributing hitch platform. You'd like about 10% of the weight on the hitch. Do you have a brake controller on the truck? That would certainly be my preference, followed by a trailer with surge brakes. While it can be done without brakes, it wouldn't be legal for that much weight (if I've guessed the weight about right), and might be dangerous. Which transmission does the truck have? If automatic, turn off the overdrive. And otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate at all to pull it with that truck.

That's just my opinion, of course, based on my own years of pulling trailers. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

frdtrukman · Feb 2, 2005

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replies. I have a class III hitch and electric trailer brakes. I'm not planning on towing it that often but it would be nice to have the capability. I know I need an F250 but at this moment, that's out of the question. You don't know what it took to convince the little woman just to get the
tractor. BTW the rear tires are loaded and I do have an FEL.
Thanks again!!!

JR

RickB · Feb 2, 2005

10000lb trailerwith brakes on both axles. Buy for the future when you have the 250 to pull it. With the 150, if it has a decent tow capacity rating, you will be OK. Drop the loader at home if it isn't involved in any of the warranry work, your dealer will love that and you lose the weight. I pull and stop a maxed out 7000 lb trailer (brakes both axles) with my '04 GMC 1500 w/5.3 just fine.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 2, 2005

You don't need a trailer.

When there is a safety recall, it is my understanding that NH will handle the transportation (I have been informed of this by a dealer).

frdtrukman · Feb 2, 2005

I'll check with the dealer and see what they say about picking it up & bringing it home. They actually came out when I had my hydraulic leak and attempted to fix it. They're probably going to wish they hadn't sold me the thing.

Thanks again,

JR

twabscs · Feb 3, 2005

I've towed my TC40D with my F150, but it has the 5.4L. Here it is on the way to the dealer to fix a hydrualic leak. Later on, I actually towed the tractor with the FEL and a 800 lb Rhino BH on the. Didn't have a problem but I took it slow.

This is three weeks AFTER the dealer kept promising to come and get the tractor. I just couldn't wait any longer. It's around 50 miles to the dealer.

Harleymsn · Feb 3, 2005

( I have a class III hitch and electric trailer brakes.

JR )

Whoa! You DO NOT want to tow anything like that with a class 3 hitch! Class III is fine for a small boat trailer, or a snowmobile trailer, but nothing this heavy. If you can't get a bigger truck, put at least a class IV of better yet a class V hitch. If your not ready to make that change, find a friend with a larger truck to borrow.

Soundguy · Feb 3, 2005

Don't you think you are being a bit rough on the class III hitch.

A snow mobile or small boat trailer can be done on a class 2.. perhaps a clas 1.. depending on what weight we are talking about... Heck.. I've got a small unility trailer rated for 1000gross.. and the tounge on the trailer is the same size as a calss 2 receiver... no way that needs a class 3 hitch...

Class 3 hitches are common with 7000GVW trailers.. Figure 1700 - 1800 # for the average 16' car hauler.. and that leaves you 5200# or so payload. That's pretty easilly a 30hp tractor. An 18' trailer and a high 20's, or possibly a 30hp tractor should be right in line with a full sized pickup.. assuming it is rated for the pull. I'd want a v8, and brakes would be mandatory.. preferably 2 axles of electric.. but one would do, state depending, and surge brakes as a last resort.

My 5.9l dodge pulls a similar setup to that just fine.. 33 hp, loader, 16' car hauler.. e-brakes... My 5.3l yukon pulls it well also.

Soundguy

Harleymsn · Feb 3, 2005

Class III hitches are rated for a max towing weight of 5000# (Less than your tractor alone weighs) these are great for small boat trailers but not this. The bare minimum is a class IV or better yet a Class V.
Soundguy, this is not just a whim, but the actual ratings by the manufacturers. If you pull that 7000 trailer with a class 3 and are involved in an accident, your insurance carrier could refuse to pay based on your negligence.

Bird · Feb 3, 2005

( Class III hitches are rated for a max towing weight of 5000# )

I'm not going to disagree that a Class IV hitch would certainly be "better", but according to both Reese and Draw-Tite the class III is good to 6,000# without the load distributing bars (sometimes called "lift bars) and up to 10,000# with the bars. Of course, I'm not sure of what the tractor and trailer in question would weigh.

BB_TX · Feb 3, 2005

Hitch FAQs

ThistleKop · Feb 3, 2005

The bare minimum is a class IV or better yet a Class V. 

Harleymsn,
Reminds me of the guy who went boot shopping. He wears a size 9 but a 10 felt so good that he bought an 11. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TK

frdtrukman · Feb 3, 2005

Thanks for all the advise!!!! I'm thinking it would be cheaper to pay my neighbor with his F350 to haul it over there for me. I honestly didn't think my truck could really handle that kind of load. I pulled a 21' Airstream with a equalizer hitch from Vicksburg, MS. , now that was a miserable drive.

Thanks Again!!!!!!

JR

Harleymsn · Feb 3, 2005

( The bare minimum is a class IV or better yet a Class V. 

Harleymsn,
Reminds me of the guy who went boot shopping. He wears a size 9 but a 10 felt so good that he bought an 11. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TK )
No Thistlekop, actually, I'm the guy that pulled a 7000# trailer with a truck similar to the original poster. Until I found that they 7000 trailer broke the welds on the factory class III hitch on my '98 F150. When I complained, they showed me the documents from all the major hitch manufacturers showing that a class III should never exceed a 5000#gvw trailer.
Kinda like your boots, I wear a 9 1/2ee so even when the 8d is on sale, it just won't do the job.

I now pull that 7000# trailer, as well as my 12000# trailer with my F250 with a class V hitch.