Trailer wieght capacity(3500lb axle vs 7000)

[johnking]

I am looking to trailer a Kubota grand L tractoror something similar(55 hp or less) . I plan to purchase the tractor within 90 miles of my house. Once it is home, trailer it to and from my future home/farm which is 6 miles from my house(38 acres of heaven). The guy at the trailer dealer said that a dual axle trailer 7000lb axles were what I should go with. Is this overkill? Would 2 3500lb axles fit the bill? I see the trailer/tractor deals and they are showing a 3500lb axle trailer, what gives? I searched this topic and could not find what I needed, I appreciate any help.

 

[bcp]

The guy at the trailer dealer said that a dual axle trailer 7000lb axles were what I should go with.

He maybe meant a total of 7000 pounds axles.

Bruce

 

[kevinj]

Grand L with loader, ballast, fuel, chains etc can get up to 6000# so you need at least 10 to 12k, may as well get the 14k

 

[case245]

i would say a 10k trailer will work i would not go get a lesser of a trailer i know my 7040 fel 4x4 laded rears cast center wieght around 9k having to little of a trailer no way the brakes will not stop it quick enough on a 7k trailer having dot on your butt is not worth the few extra bucks you will save

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea, a 6K or 7K axled trailer is what you need. You must remember that if a trailer has say 2 6K axles it will have a GVWR (gross vehicle wheel rating) of 12K but you must subtract the trailers weight from that which will be in the 2,800# neighborhood. This leaves you with about 9,000# to work with.

A 55HP tractor with a FEL and say a 6' bush hog on the 3 point is going to weight in at 7,000# or so without filled tires.

To give you a example, my 28HP Jinma with a FEL and Bush Hog plus loaded rears and 4 33# suit case weights on the front is 5,400#. My trailer is a 18' with 2 3.5K axles and it weighs 1,400# empty so that leaves me with only 5,600# for payload so its maxed out.

Buy the right trailer the first time. Make sure its 3-4' longer than the tractor with the FEL at rest on the ground so it can be balanced for proper tongue weight. My guess is you are looking at a 20' trailer or so.

Chris

 

[MESSMAKER]

You might get by with a 7000LB trailer, but it would be close. 10000 lb should be plenty. The length is very important. Get at least an 18' model. 20' might be better. One of the things to consider is total weight. A longer HD trailer and a bigger tractor with toys can have you up against your tow rating pretty quick with some trucks.

 

[saltbranch]

I have a 20' with 2-5200 lb axles and haul a Case 485(53hp) it does good with just the tractor. With the disc attached its at max capacity and you can tell it. I am going to a 20' G/N with 7k axles myself. I doubt there would much money difference between a trailer with 2-7k axles over the 5200 lb axles. I would not go less than 20', will need the room to load right with different attachments.

 

[crazyal]

It all depends on what you have to pull this trailer. As you step up in trailer capacity you are also stepping up in it's empty weight. Not a big deal if you have a 1 ton that you'll be towing with but if you have a 1/2 ton you could be going past what your truck is rated for. I personally would pick out the heaviest version of the tractor you want to buy, add in the weight of the loader, any tire ballast, and then add in at least an extra 500 lbs. If you only plan on going a short distance you can make a second trip to move an attachment (as long as you can either load it or unload it without the tractor).
I think you'll find a pair of 3500 lb axles may work but once you deduct the weight of the trailer you'll find it's going to be really close or not enough. I would also not get a trailer with a pair of 7k axles (14,000 lb) unless I had a way of utilizing the full capacity of the trailer. Those 7k axles will have larger, more expensive tires and brakes on them. Sooner or later you'll be replacing them. Also why spend money for a 14k trailer if you only have a truck that can tow 10k.

 

[trihounds]

Went through the same process as you are and for my little BX 25, I went with a 16' 7K trailer, which was the right decision for all the reasons you'd expect.

 

[sandman2234]

It all depends on what you have to pull this trailer. As you step up in trailer capacity you are also stepping up in it's empty weight. Not a big deal if you have a 1 ton that you'll be towing with but if you have a 1/2 ton you could be going past what your truck is rated for. I personally would pick out the heaviest version of the tractor you want to buy, add in the weight of the loader, any tire ballast, and then add in at least an extra 500 lbs. If you only plan on going a short distance you can make a second trip to move an attachment (as long as you can either load it or unload it without the tractor).
I think you'll find a pair of 3500 lb axles may work but once you deduct the weight of the trailer you'll find it's going to be really close or not enough. I would also not get a trailer with a pair of 7k axles (14,000 lb) unless I had a way of utilizing the full capacity of the trailer. Those 7k axles will have larger, more expensive tires and brakes on them. Sooner or later you'll be replacing them. Also why spend money for a 14k trailer if you only have a truck that can tow 10k.

Good advise, but wanted to mention that while buying a trailer too large for your existing towing vehicle may seem foolish, around this household, if I thought I might want a larger tractor at some point, (and most of us do), buying a slightly larger trailer that will be around long after I wear out my current tow vehicle just from driving it back and forth to work, really isn't all that foolish. A trailer around here doesn't get used nearly as much as a pick-up truck, so a trailer will outlast a pickup. Something else to consider...
David from jax