Trailer?

[Anonymous Poster]

How do I figure out how much weight is on the tongue of a load that I am carrying?

 

[Ozarker]

The tongue weight will vary depending on where the load is in relation to the trailer axles. Essentially, the manufactures recommended tongue weight should not cause a significant compression of your rear springs over normal compression.

When loaded, the vehicle and trailer should remain level if the load is correctly distributed over the axles. Distribution should be approximately 60/40 with 60% of the load forward of the axle. Again, you'll have to eyeball it.

But if you are new to towing and really want to get it right, you can load it up to what you think is right and then go weigh it. Scales are available at gravel pits, grain elevators and service stations that cater to over-the-road trucks and they will weight it for a small fee. Just put the front of the trailer on the scale, lower the landing leg and disconnect the tow vehicle. This will weight the tongue weight and you can get a good idea where your tractor should sit on the trailer for future reference.

 

[MossRoad]

Rob, I've been away for a while and will send you a private e-mail on Sunday or Monday. Thanks.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Putty, if your owner's manual doesn't list it or if you don't have an owner's manual, you should be able to contact your local Jeep dealer for the information you need. As to determining tongue weight the only thing I can suggest is the obvious-weigh it! The question then becomes, "How?"/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

I've actually called ahead then taken my loaded trailer down to the DOT scales, dropped the jack down and pulled off the scale. That gave me my tongue weight./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

You can probably accomplish the same thing with a local scrap yard./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

That is what I was thinking gary, but I didnt know if I could take that much of their time. I have a Jeep Cherokee with one of those smaller hitches and I have never towed anything before, I dont have the manual but I will call the dealer- I just hate to take sombodys time if I am not buying something. Thanks

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Putty, around here the weigh stations are manned by State Police and, in my experience, they're usually happy to help Joe Citizen with something like this when it's slow. Also, at the scrap yard or even at a CAT weigh station, you could offer to pay them something. Lastly, if by "little hitch" you mean a bolt-on-to-the-bumper-hitch, I might suggest looking into a weight distributing recievers style hitch (commonly known as a "Reese hitch" because of the well-known manufacturer of many of them.

 

[Von]

Mossroad, Here is a photo of my trailer with the sides I made for it. I just lay down a plastic tarp if I'm hauling dirt or sand, works great. When I was hauling mulch I just load it right in, the floor boards are so close together that I don't loose any. Trailer will hold about 6yds. of mulch with the sides on it. They are made of 1/2 inch pressure treated plywood and 2X4's. Very easy to put on and take off. its just another thing to think about!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[OkieG]

tdenny,
I also have a JD 855. When I bought it 4 years ago, I also bought a 16' trailer with tandem 3500# axles and an electric brake on one axle. The trailer co. installed the brake controller as part of the purchase. The brake settings need to be adjusted depending on the trailer load weight, but all works well.
Be sure and get reasonable duty tiedown chains, hooks and tightening devices to secure your tractor. There are good and not-so-good ways of hooking the chain ends to your trailer. Be sure and have someone experienced guide you through the first time.
Although both front and rear tiedown chains are important, the rear one is the one that secures the tractor during a panic stop.
One tip...don't set the tractor parking brake until AFTER both front and back chains are placed. This allows the tractor to shift a little as the last chain is tightened, so both are pretty snug...THEN set the parking brake.
Good luck and happy trailering.

OkieG

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

When I trailer a vehicle I've driven on, I put it in park, chock a wheel and then secure one end (usually the front) with grade 70 chain. Then I hook onto the rear axle, unchock my wheel, put it in neutral and ratchet down the 10,000 lb. straps on the rear axle. Lastly I rechock a wheel, put it in park or a gear and put on the park brake.

When I use a winch with a lock feature, I'll secure the rear with grade 70 chain, pull the vehicle forward with the winch until it's tight then lock the winch. I'll then add grade 70 safety chains on the front, chock a wheel and put the vehicle in park or a gear and engage the park brake.

 

[Soundguy]

Funny that you say this. This weekend I was driving in town, and passed a chevy astro pulling a humongus pontoon boat.... had a large canvas coverd 2nd deck, with cover still deployed, ( wind was wreaking havoc on it and the boat ) boat was huge.. I mean gargantuan... dual axle trailer, 2" hitch etc ( at the stoplight I craned my neck over and checked it out.) The guy had a measly class II hitch!!

As he drove, you could see the hitch flex up and down... best of all, the trailer was on -you guessed it- just a flat 4 wire hookup for lights.. no brakes.

Later on down the road, I was in front of him coming up to a stop light. I sensed danger, and hopped into the other lane at the last minute as he careened through the intersection unable to stop...

I hope d.o.t. got this guy before he killed somebody or himself.

Soundguy

<font color=blue>"I wish they made a minivan that could tow 5000 lbs., now that I would buy! And don't say the Chevy Astro van, "

 

[tdenny]

OkieG,

Thanks for the info. It sounds to me that your trailer solution is the one that most folks have recommended.

Does your 855 do everything you'd hoped? So far - and I've been using it as much as possible - mine has been great. Not one complaint. The hydro's a little noisy but earlplugs take care of that. I was really wanting to get an orange tractor but the JD is really working well. Now if I can just get the operator to hone his skills I'd be in real business./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

GM does make minivans that can tow 5,000 pounds. They're called Chevrolet Tahoes & Suburbans and GMC Yukons and Yukon XLT's. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[rdricks]

I was in the parking lot at work yesterday and had to stop for a double-take - there was a boat (probably about a 17 foot water skiiing boat - not overly large, but not a small rowboat either). It was hitched up to a Pontiac Grand Prix. Glad I didn't have to follow that down the street! I won't even pull my (aprox) 3000 pound pop-up trailer without brakes, class III, etc with my GMC Yukon! We talk about the pucker factor on the tractors - it also applies to towing!

 

[dummy]

just a flat 4 wire hookup for lights.. no brakes.

That trailer probably had surge brakes. They usually don't put electric brakes on trailers that get submerged in water when on/off loading the boat.

 

[Soundguy]

At 3k you are probably ok w/ no brakes.. it is a comfort thing.
I pull my horse trailer or flatbed with my 5.9l dodge, and have e-brakes.. but on occasion, I'll be gone, and the wife will tow the horse trailer on our yukon 5.3l and it probably weighs in at 3k with the horses.. with no problems... just got to drive mindfull of the horsies.

Soundguy

<font color=blue>"I won't even pull my (aprox) 3000 pound pop-up trailer without brakes, class III, etc with my GMC Yukon! We talk about the pucker factor on the tractors - it also applies to towing! "

 

[Soundguy]

Judging from how fast he skided and swerved through the red light, I'm gonna guess -no- trailer brakes.

Soundguy


<font color=blue>"That trailer probably had surge brakes. They usually don't put electric brakes on trailers that get submerged in water when on/off loading the boat. "

 

[OkieG]

tdenny,
When I bought my 855, about four years ago, it replaced an old 455 lawn tractor that had just given up the ghost. Even though the 855 was going to primarily be a lawn mower, I had dreams of a tractor that could move dirt to help control erosion (two sides of our lot have neighborhood rain drainage flowing past) and control the swampy grasses and trees that spring up from the drainage. My 855 came with a front loader and box blade and a mid mount mower.
My expectations were high and my experience was zero, so I didn't know how well my new tractor would fit the bill. I must say that from the very first outing I was very impressed with what such a small tractor could do. It seemed almost no job was too big, just that the tougher jobs might require taking small bites to get them done.
Over these four years I have been adding implements and my little tractor does well with most of what I ask of it. I have added bucket forks, bush hog, posthole digger, middle buster, backhoe and a hitch ball for the three point so the 855 also serves as trailer tug. You see, I have kind of gone crazy with implements, but the 855 does so many things so well, it's hard to resist just doing it myself.
Of course, there are jobs (like moderate sized stumps) that are hard to tackle with just small bites. Some jobs just take more power. When I run into a project that the 855 just can't seem to conquer, I begin to wish I had a bigger machine. But, much of the beauty of a tractor like ours is that the smaller size allows us to go places and do things with a finesse that the big boys can't.
Much as I ocassionally envy the powerful larger tractors, there are things that I couldn't use them for on my property that the 855 does nicely.
All in all, it amazes me how much such a small tractor can do. It's ability to do so many things well and it's ease of use encourages me to attempt projects that I wouldn't even think of trying otherwise.
How long have you had your tractor, and what kinds of things do you use it for? It sounds like you're enjoying your seat time.

OkieG

 

[rozett]

It is worthwhile to know the state statutes regarding trailer brakes. Here in Maine, any trailer over 3000 pounds gross weight "must be equipped with adequate brakes acting on all wheels of all axles" [Title 29-A, Chapter 17, §1902. Brakes]

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks! Looks good.

 

[Soundguy]

Not to mention the number of replies in so short of time.. check out the number of views!

Soundguy