Trailer assumptions

[Tower3]

I'm about to buy a pickup truck which I will eventually use to tow my Kubota L3410. I want to make sure my assumptions about trailer size/weight are reasonable before I make any decisions about how much towing capacity I'll need. Here's my thinking:

The tractor's length with loader/bucket, and a rear mount snowblower is 18 feet from front of bucket to rear of snowblower. I'm guessing a 20 foot trailer would be wise.

If I add up tractor and weights for my heaviest attachments, I get:

2800 lb tractor
1100 lb loader & bucket
300 lb cab
1000 lb backhoe

5200 lb total

Alternatively, the ROPS on the tractor is rated to 6600 lbs. indicating that I won't ever exceed that weight.

Either way, I think I need a 10000 lb. GVWR trailer. Looking at the BigTex website, it appears that a 20ft, 10,000 lb. trailer will weigh anywhere from 2400 to 3000 lbs, with the higher number for a tilt bed.

At the lowest end, I get a total weight of 7600 lbs. At the high end, my total weight is 9600 lbs. To be on the safe side, I think I need a truck with at least 10,000 lbs of towing capacity.

Does my reasoning make sense?

 

[jgh]

20050911

Get all the capacity you can afford and don't forget the numerous comments made by the veterans on here about STOPPING power being more important than TOWING power. Almost any truck will tow more than it can stop.

Stay safe,

Jim
Mt Burgha on the Rivanna in VA

 

[johnday]

Tower; Welcome to TBN, and an excellent question for your very first post. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It looks like your on the right track as far as capacities are concerned. A couple things about the trailer first. Maybe consider a 12K, just to have some extra for the future? Brakes on both axles, no matter what the GVW you get, and nothing but a tandem. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Now to give you my opinion of the truck. No matter what a so called "truck salesman" might tell you, a 3/4 ton is definetly in order. I'm partial to Fords, but the others make a truck that would handle these loads too. I may start a flame war, it's ONLY MY OPINION, diesel would be the best way to burn hydrocarbons. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I say 3/4 ton, even though the 1/2 tons are supposedly rated for 10K in some cases, or at least close, with a heavier truck, you also get alot heavier frame, axles, trans in a Ford at least, and more important, bigger and heavier brakes.

Keep us posted, I like trucks as much as tractors. And photos are an unwritten requirement. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Does my reasoning make sense? )</font>

Yep!

Egon

 

[SteveInMD]

I bought a 3/4 ton truck, but wish I bought a 1 ton. The difference on a new 3/4 ton vs a 1 ton is minimal. I think it was about $1,000 difference. By the time you buy a truck, tractor, and trailer it doesn't seem like much.

 

[AntrimMan]

Yes, definitely on the right path.
BigTex tilt looks to be real nice. There is a previous post about 'who bought a trailer'. Look it up, there is a nice inline pic of a Big Tex tilt loaded with a tractor and coupled to a pickup, wipe my saliva off of it and take a good look.
Like any other purchase there would be two ways to go, cheap and good enough for now, or, quality to last a long time. The difference is marginal when spread out over the years of service but if the kids' need new sneakers it is obvious what has to come first.
The diesel engine will reportedly give more miles of service then the gas job. My experience, limited to gas jobs, is that with average maintainance the gas engine will still be going long after there are holes in the floor, so, I myself, wouldn't limit the scope to anything in particular. Go best bang for the buck as long as you choose F350 dually. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hmmm, whenever I spend someone elses money I feel like a lady, in principle anyway.
If you go new get a built in brake controller, that may mandate a match to the trailer weight and further define the towing and stopping capacity.
You have the horse before the cart, your head is screwed on correctly IMHO.
As mentioned previously, pic's are a greatly appreciated must.

All the best,
Martin

 

[BadDog]

I use a 3/4 ton Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT Diesel 4x4 and have NO problem towing all my gear or a full-length 6 horse trailer with attached tack room. I have no problem stopping, or going up or down hills at any speed. I also run an 8' Boss V-plow in heavy snow with no problem.

I've tried Ford and Dodge products, but NOTHING comes close to the ability of the Allison transmission when towing or carrying heavy loads. It shifts smoothly, and intelligently applies engine braking when needed.

I also have an load-sensing electric brake controller which works very well (can't remember the brand right now).

I prefer diesel over gas: diesel engines are designed for heavy loads and are about 40% more fuel effecient than gas when doing the same amount of work. They can also be expected to last at least twice as long with the same workload.

I need 4x4 because I find myself towing into a lot of off-road areas, and it is also necessary to run the plow.

I also prefer the leather interior over cloth - it holds up a lot better against my two bad dogs.

All of this aside, the real deciding factor for me was the Allison transmission.

 

[Tower3]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm leaning towards a Silverado 2500 HD Diesel. My local salesman claims they're impossible to get right now, but when I search the "GM Buypower" website, there appear to be quite a few within a couple hundred miles of me. I guess I'm going to spend a few hours on the phone Monday.

 

[johnday]

Tower; Good luck with your choice. That Allison is most likely the best auto out there. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I swear I'm gonna start my own truck company. I'll get the Cummins engines, the Allison trans, and the F350 dually. Any takers? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[RobertN]

You're on the right track. I have a16' 7000lb trailer for my smaller Kubota B8200. My trailer weighs 1600lbs, leaving 5400lb cargo capacity. My tractor setup weighs about 23-2500lbs, which is easy for my trailer. I have had about 5500lbs on the trailer though, maxxing it out. I would not want to do that every time I towed...

I have towed with 1500, 2500, and 450/4500 series trucks. 2500 series or bigger is definitely the way to go for loads like you mention. Others may do it, but the 1500 does not have the weight and brakes. The F450 I used made 10,000lb loads feel tiny(f450 2wd flatbed), but my 2500 carried the same load fine.

Remember too, when you get a trailer, you'll find it handy for other things. I use mine to haul pipe, lumber, firewood, cars, Cub Scout parade floats, you name it. My heavy loads have not been my tractor...