tractor vs. trailer

[mender]

I recently purchased a "new" 7'X18' dual axle w/brakes to pick up a Ford 3000 tractor 350 miles away to bring home. Trailer is rated for 7000# and spec on tractor says 3700 to 6940 lbs. and as soon as the rear wheels hit the ramps the rear of my F250 came off the ground. Trailer handled the load well for the trip home but when I got home to off load I had to block the trailer up so it would not lift the truck again. I was thinking about adding jacks to each side of the trailer that swing into position to aid in loading and off loading but I am also thinking the rear tires have to be ballasted and wandering if I need that? I need opinions please before I do something I don't need doing.
Thanks

 

[RoyJackson]

If you read many threads on the Trailers forum, you'll find your problem is not uncommon.
Most guys block up the end of the trailer or use jackstands as you did..

 

[rasimmo]

That is a common problem as far as I know. If you put a heavy enough load behind the rear axle it will definantly do that. A lot of trailer manufacturers offer jacks or stands on the rear of trailers. We put a set of stands on a friend's trailer for that same reason. I have even had the rear of my truck come off the ground with a GN trailer when I loaded a M9540 on it. I weighed that thing and it was 10,000lbs.

 

[whistlepig]

I have two short pieces of 7" round fence posts that I slide under the back of the trailer to prevent this.

 

[dstig1]

I just use jack stands. Even if it doesn't lift the rear of your truck, you are putting a ton of upward stress on the hitch for no good reason otherwise.

 

[deepNdirt]

I use to block the rear with 6x6 timbers until I installed swing down ramps that had the supports built onto them, You might also consider adding legs to the ramp, any welding shop can do this for you if you choose not to do it yourself,

 

[Diamondpilot]

I use a single jack stand under the middle of the trailer. Works great.

Chris

 

[hawkeye08]

Lots of solutions, my 20' trailer came with back corner jacks. Makes it nice to load without worrying about things moving around when you least expect it..

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Like the others have mentioned, any kind of support will do. I'd suggest against jacks because of the time involved. Keep in mind that your tail end of the trailer can travel a ways before you lift the truck off the ground. Something that swings into place would be great. It doesn't have to touch the ground initially. It just needs to be low enough to support some weight before the hitch raises too far.

 

[KennyG]

Obviously a common problem with a common answer. I will just throw in a reminder that your 7000 lb trailer capacity includes the weight of the trailer. Your trailer probably weights between 1500 and 2000 lbs, meaning a load of over 5000 lbs could overload the trailer. Your tractor is probably under that, but with implements could exceed the capacity. Be careful.

 

[JB4310]

I would of never thought of that problem with the trucks rear end lifting, just learned about it on another thread recently. I have the ramps with the stands like deepNdirt showed, so I don't have to worry.

Regarding OP's weight, I don't get the specs with a 3200 pound variable, he could be way overweight using the higher number.

JB

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. piece of wood or anything solid under the trailer back to keep it from dipping solves the issue... but an important issue it is!

soudnguy

 

[tessiers]

high number is with ballast, loaded tires, cast fronts ect. Should be easy enough to tell. I don't think the trailer is heavy enough for consistent towing of that tractor, however occasionally it may be fine. Most people don't haul their tractrors as much as they think they might.

 

[Soundguy]

a 3000 on a car hauler should be WAY fine.. repeated or not. unless the tractor is ballasted to the hilt.. it should be within the weight limits easilly on a 7k trailer. even a beefy 7k trailer is gonna be right at 2000# or less. my car hauler trailer with good heavy frame is 1740#

lets call it 2000# trailer.. leaving 5K payload.
you don't want mor ethan a 6' mower for a 3000 or a 6' box blade. a good mower or heavy box blade will be ptobably 800# ( i looke dup 6' mower with chains.. both 3pt and pull type. 785# was a high number on all ( KK l/m/hd and howse/ HD and kodiac, and BH razorback and squealer series, all 6 ...'but the 'landclearing' style mowers, which DID hit near 1000# BH 290 series for instance. ).

All that said.. still looks good, again.. UNLESS the tractor is quite heavilly ballasted.

soundguy

 

[Mikeeemo]

I agree with soundguy. I do exactly as he described.

Kubota L4400 w/. Brown 472 cutter.

 

[bcp]

I would of never thought of that problem with the trucks rear end lifting...

I'll bet that's what happened here, even though the trailer axles are far back. That's a heavy load.

CATERPILLAR DOZER CRASH - YouTube

Bruce

 

[brokenknee]

I use to block the rear with 6x6 timbers until I installed swing down ramps that had the supports built onto them, You might also consider adding legs to the ramp, any welding shop can do this for you if you choose not to do it yourself,

My trailer came with them, they are great, can drive the tractor on the trailer without it being connected to the truck. I did this to unload landscaping rock that was on the trailer.

 

[bubbacuse77]

Also doesn't hurt to put your truck in 4 wheel drive prior to loading and unloading. My old boss was on a slight incline unloading his tractor and as soon as the weight of the tractor lifted up on the hitch it took the ground pressure off the rear wheel and it was ugly. Lucky enough only the rear of the truck was damaged after the truck the tractor and him went for a ride down the hill.

 

[JB4310]

I'll bet that's what happened here, even though the trailer axles are far back. That's a heavy load.

CATERPILLAR DOZER CRASH - YouTube

Bruce

Also doesn't hurt to put your truck in 4 wheel drive prior to loading and unloading. My old boss was on a slight incline unloading his tractor and as soon as the weight of the tractor lifted up on the hitch it took the ground pressure off the rear wheel and it was ugly. Lucky enough only the rear of the truck was damaged after the truck the tractor and him went for a ride down the hill.

Yeah that's crazy, must happen more often than people think.

JB

 

[crazyal]

Also doesn't hurt to put your truck in 4 wheel drive prior to loading and unloading. My old boss was on a slight incline unloading his tractor and as soon as the weight of the tractor lifted up on the hitch it took the ground pressure off the rear wheel and it was ugly. Lucky enough only the rear of the truck was damaged after the truck the tractor and him went for a ride down the hill.

I block the wheels of the trailer (unless I'm using my 2 1/2 ton dump). In 4wd the front diff will allow the wheels to rotate, one forward and the other in reverse so it's not really the same has having your front brakes on.