Trailering Tips

[davatk]

Well I finally made it down to Barlow country and picked up my trailer last Friday. It is a 16' Gatormade Utilty with rear gate. I really like it alot and it pulls very well. :thumbsup:

When I went to load my B2630 w/ FEL, and bushhog, lo and behold it was a bit to long for the trailer. I ended up taking the rear wheel off the bushhog and even then had to hang the bucket over the front of the trailer. Obviously didn't have much if any room to postion the load for balance and tongue weight, so I may have been a bit heavy up front.

Anyhow, just wondering what others are doing when loading with similar sized tractors w/ FEL and a rear implement such as a bushhog. Removing that bushhog wheel is a bit of a PITA, but I guess I'll get used to it.

Thanks !

 

[funwithahoe]

I usually measure what I want to pull before I buy the trailer.

Just joking - I know 16 feet is about the most any of us home duty guys would want to pull. Will you really be transporting it that often? What about modifying the trailer to wrap around the wheel?

 

[Reg]

18 ft (16 ft on the floor + 2 ft tail) and a FLAIL mower is a nice fit, even with slightly bigger tractors.
Flails are about the same length behind the tractor as roto-tiilers.

Having a flat on the truck helps too, can't fit much between those wheel wells in a tin pick-it-up bed (-:

 

[TripleR]

Since you have the tractor and all the equipment, I won't suggest you buy something else you really don't need.

I have had to remove a portion of the equipment and on one occasion, could not fully close the tail gate. All I have ever been able to do is to do the best I can to get it to fit and this often means putting the bucket over the front.

A lot is going to depend on how often you have to haul your tractor to determine if it is worth making major modifications to your equipment to make it easier. I don't trailer often, so I just do what I have to do to get it there.

Good luck

 

[davatk]

I usually measure what I want to pull before I buy the trailer.

Just joking - I know 16 feet is about the most any of us home duty guys would want to pull. Will you really be transporting it that often? What about modifying the trailer to wrap around the wheel?

Yea, I battled with the 18' but just couldn't bring myself - already feels like I'm pulling a house around. Honestly I will probably have the bucket off most of the time when I use the bushhog, but would be nice to have it attached sometimes if I ever need to use the both of them where I am transporting to.

 

[davatk]

Since you have the tractor and all the equipment, I won't suggest you buy something else you really don't need.

I have had to remove a portion of the equipment and on one occasion, could not fully close the tail gate. All I have ever been able to do is to do the best I can to get it to fit and this often means putting the bucket over the front.

A lot is going to depend on how often you have to haul your tractor to determine if it is worth making major modifications to your equipment to make it easier. I don't trailer often, so I just do what I have to do to get it there.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice. That's kinda where I'm at - when I need to trailer the entire rig, I'll just have to improvise. I'm just trying to figure out what is the best impovisation at this point.

 

[catskinner]

I was going to get a 16' for my use, now I'm up to a 25' +5 gooseneck that I'm looking at.

 

[DiezNutz]

Yea, I battled with the 18' but just couldn't bring myself - already feels like I'm pulling a house around.

Just out of curiosity, what's your tow vehicle?

 

[davatk]

Just out of curiosity, what's your tow vehicle?

I am currently towing with a Honda Ridgeline - 5000# max tow capacity. Handles the load OK, no powerhouse. The Ridgeline is a fairly heavy vehicle for its class, so that helps.

 

[DiezNutz]

OK. Well it can't be as bad as my one friend that's pulling a 20' enclosed car trailer with a 4Runner. He has all the sway control, load-distributing, etc. crap he's supposed to, but it still looks pretty comical going down the road, especially with his extra-super-wide-side-mirrors. You can't tell which end is in charge.

I've pulled an 18' with my Silverado 1500 and thought it was fine, but the 'rado is just a little bigger/heavier, etc. Except for my dump trailer, I'm trailerless at the moment though, but plan on getting another 18' flat bottom to double as both a tractor/car hauler.

 

[gwdixon]

Does your state allow a red flag to suffice for something hanging out the back? A red flag on the Bush Hog wheel may be a simple solution if it is legal.

 

[TripleR]

Does your state allow a red flag to suffice for something hanging out the back? A red flag on the Bush Hog wheel may be a simple solution if it is legal.

That was my initial thought, but I think his is like mine with a lift up end ramp.

 

[PHILIP8N]

This is how I handle FEL, just sit it on the spare tire. Philip

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Hey PHILIP8N,

Where did you find that tool box for your trailer tongue? Who's the manufacturer?

I've been trying to find one like that but so far nothing fits my 16' Tuff Trailer.

(The BX24 w/hoe or hog fits nicely on that trailer. I had it built with disk brakes, and it trailers very well.)

Thanks,
Z.

 

[davatk]

That was my initial thought, but I think his is like mine with a lift up end ramp.

Yea, already thought about that, but like TripleR says, I have the lift up gate on the back that is a pain to take off.

 

[davatk]

This is how I handle FEL, just sit it on the spare tire. Philip

Hmm, interesting. However I notice that the tongue on your trailer is quite a bit longer than mine, I'm not sure that I would gain much room without getting into danger territory when making turns - bucket into tailgate.

 

[dmay]

It is a 16' Gatormade Utilty with rear gate.

What if you took your bucket off your loader? Find a way to load your bucket onto your trailer first, detach, then position tractor and 3pt attachment to fit remaining space?

If you plan to trailer your tractor and attachments often, you might consider a trade-in, trade-up to a longer trailer. Alternately look into modifying your existing trailer.

- modify rear ramps to be removable and storable under tractor
- add an extension

Do you have any custom trailer builders in your area. There is a great builder in my area that does amazing trailer builds to order or alterations. He often works on increasing trailer length, changing rear gates/ramps and increasing load capacity.

 

[PHILIP8N]

Hey PHILIP8N,

Where did you find that tool box for your trailer tongue? Who's the manufacturer?

I've been trying to find one like that but so far nothing fits my 16' Tuff Trailer.

(The BX24 w/hoe or hog fits nicely on that trailer. I had it built with disk brakes, and it trailers very well.)

Thanks,
Z.

I purchased it thru Buyers (buyersproducts.com) a few years back. Great addition. Keep straps, chain, jack, lug nut wrench, air compressor, drawbar, lock, wipes, tool box, blocks, etc in it. They offer 3 sizes in steel, 2 in aluminum, and 2 in plastic. Welded in 2 channels across the A-frame then bolted in place. I just cant tell you how handy this is. I looked long and hard to find this and am very pleased. Nothern Tool may carry some now. Philip.

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Hey PHILIP8N,

Where did you find that tool box for your trailer tongue? Who's the manufacturer?

I've been trying to find one like that but so far nothing fits my 16' Tuff Trailer.

(The BX24 w/hoe or hog fits nicely on that trailer. I had it built with disk brakes, and it trailers very well.)

Thanks,
Z.

I purchased it thru Buyers (buyersproducts.com) a few years back. Great addition. Keep straps, chain, jack, lug nut wrench, air compressor, drawbar, lock, wipes, tool box, blocks, etc in it. They offer 3 sizes in steel, 2 in aluminum, and 2 in plastic. Welded in 2 channels across the A-frame then bolted in place. I just cant tell you how handy this is. I looked long and hard to find this and am very pleased. Nothern Tool may carry some now. Philip.

Thanks friend,
Z.

 

[Will_C]

I just bought a 18' trailer for my B2620. I hauled my bush hog for the first time last week. I had the tail wheel sticking off the back around 6". I knew I needed all the room when I bought the trailer. I also went with stowable ramps, so there is no gate on the back.

Will