Transportation Options ???

ElDorado · Jan 31, 2010

Okay guys I know someone here has an answer.

I am going to buy a new tractor (pretty sure). I have narrowed down to a few options, all involve significant transportation. Has anyone come up with any creative options?

So far I figure:
1) Pay someone with equipment trailer to transport. I am not really sure what this will cost. From what I have seen here I figure to pay at least $2 per mile plus??? Acquittance has offered with his truck/5th wheel.
2) Pay towing service to put on flatbed and move. I think this will be big bucks.
3) Rent U-haul trailer. I am not sure they will rent for tractor transport and the length look short for tractor and loader.
4) Or ???? - This is where you all come in.

Buying a trailer right now is not in the cards, someday I hope.

The machine(s) I am talking about are Kioti DK 35-45. My truck is 3/4 ton GMC. Dealers are option but I was really hoping to do this myself, I am a control freak.

Are there any other renting options?

Thanks,
Matt

Diamondpilot · Jan 31, 2010

I would make the dealer deliver it and not accept it till you look it over for damage. Why should you worry about this when that is the part of the dealers job? It would be a different story if you had a rig to transport it.

Chris

leveller · Jan 31, 2010

Are you just looking to get your tractor home from the dealer or are you planning on hauling it often? If just getting tractor home, most dealers would deliver it. You also said your friend has offered his truck and trailer, I say go get it. If you plan to move the tractor on a trailer often, I would get my own trailer. You already have a 3/4 ton truck and if you keep your eyes open you should be able to find a used trailer for a good price. Once you have a trailer, you will use it often. I rent out my trailer, don't charge much, but helps pay for insurance, etc. I found that if I charge per day,the trailer gets returned right after people are done using it. When I used to borrow it to friends,it often took days to get it back

flusher · Jan 31, 2010

ElDorado said:
Okay guys I know someone here has an answer.

I am going to buy a new tractor (pretty sure). I have narrowed down to a few options, all involve significant transportation. Has anyone come up with any creative options?

So far I figure:
1) Pay someone with equipment trailer to transport. I am not really sure what this will cost. From what I have seen here I figure to pay at least $2 per mile plus??? Acquittance has offered with his truck/5th wheel.
2) Pay towing service to put on flatbed and move. I think this will be big bucks.
3) Rent U-haul trailer. I am not sure they will rent for tractor transport and the length look short for tractor and loader.
4) Or ???? - This is where you all come in.

Buying a trailer right now is not in the cards, someday I hope.

The machine(s) I am talking about are Kioti DK 35-45. My truck is 3/4 ton GMC. Dealers are option but I was really hoping to do this myself, I am a control freak.

Are there any other renting options?

Thanks,
Matt

Make delivery part of the deal. Here's my 2008 Mahindra 5525 being delivered by the dealer.

Looks to me like that's a 3/4 ton GMC 4x4 Duramax pulling a pretty stout GN trailer. That 5525 with FEL and 6-ft brush hog hanging on the 3pt hitch probably weighs around 7000 lb.

ElDorado · Jan 31, 2010

Two of the options are from dealers and the third is a private sale. Both dealers said they would work with me if I could fetch the tractor. Being as I have the truck part I am trying to figure the trailer part.

The third private party doesn't have a hoe which I want. A third dealer I am working with is willing to sell me and install a BH at a reasonable price and also willing to go and get it but I am worried about the transportation expense with this option.

I guess it comes down to trying to save some bucks with the 2 dealers by doing it myself. It sounds like I should just suck it up if I go with either of these options and let the dealers delivery as part of the deal.

The private party option is the one that I am trying to figure out. I guess I just need some cash to fall out of the sky so I can go buy a trailer. In terms of used, they don't seem to come available around here and when they do they are beat to snots!

Well if anyone else has any brilliant solution I am still open to ideas. Thanks to all for input.

Matt

brin · Jan 31, 2010

If you can't borrow a trailer maybe you can rent one, otherwise invoke the old ..."He who has the Gold rules " Simply call the dealer and tell them you will buy the tractor for X and that must include delivery and let them worry about it..I agree with Chris..

kebo · Jan 31, 2010

If it comes down to you going to pick it up with a trailer, I would rent a U-haul car hauler, AS LONG AS your tractor/FEL/BH doesn't exceed the weight rating of the trailer. I think you can get all that equipment on a standard 16 ft car hauler, with the FEL hanging over the front end a bit, and the BH hanging off the back end by a small amount (maybe no more than 3ft or so) and still be ok with the DOT and HP. Just to be safe, it wouldn't hurt to check the laws in your area concerning hauling equipment on a trailer.

If the U-haul car hauler doesn't have the weight rating you need, then I would do the following:
1) Check with any local trailer sales dealers in your area to see if one of them would rent you a trailer (with the proper weight rating) for a day at a reasonable fee.

1) Put an ad on craigslist offerering to pay a reasonable fee for a one day rental of a trailer that had the weight rating you need.

I think you should be able to come up with a plan that will suit you. Good luck!

Diamondpilot · Jan 31, 2010

kebo said:
If it comes down to you going to pick it up with a trailer, I would rent a U-haul car hauler, AS LONG AS your tractor/FEL/BH doesn't exceed the weight rating of the trailer. I think you can get all that equipment on a standard 16 ft car hauler, with the FEL hanging over the front end a bit, and the BH hanging off the back end by a small amount (maybe no more than 3ft or so) and still be ok with the DOT and HP. Just to be safe, it wouldn't hurt to check the laws in your area concerning hauling equipment on a trailer.

If the U-haul car hauler doesn't have the weight rating you need, then I would do the following:
1) Check with any local trailer sales dealers in your area to see if one of them would rent you a trailer (with the proper weight rating) for a day at a reasonable fee.

1) Put an ad on craigslist offerering to pay a reasonable fee for a one day rental of a trailer that had the weight rating you need.

I think you should be able to come up with a plan that will suit you. Good luck!

Why mess with all that? Tractor sales are down 16% and the economy is in the dump. If the dealer wants to sell it he will deliver it.

The Uhaul trailers are only rated for 4K load and have a open center with just gutters for the wheels which are too wide for a lot of small tractors plus they are only 12' long. Trust me, I have been there done that on trying to move a tractor with a Uhaul trailer.

Make them deliver it.

Chris

ElDorado · Jan 31, 2010

Why can't this just be easier?

I think if I go the new route delivery will have to be included, unless dealer also sells trailers and a "package" could be worked out. Pricing would have to be real good.

I like the idea of renting one. I will try contacting a local dealer to see if we could work something out.

The Uhaul idea- I don't know they look awful short! DiamondPilot- what if I go the used route. Would you still recommend the dealer that would be selling me the BH?

Thanks all!

Matt

firefighter jim · Jan 31, 2010

Without question, if you buy a new tractor, the dealer should deliver it. Period. If not, I would take my business elswhere. A great number of people who purchase tractors do not have a means of transporting them and the dealers surely know this. If you purchase a used tractor just rent a trailer from an equipment rental place or a possible a friend. Where do you live? Possibly a fellow TBNer can chime in and help. Jim

ElDorado · Jan 31, 2010

Update- I called my friend with the diesel Dodge and the gooseneck. Well he takes his trailers off the road for the winter so they are not exposed to the road salt. I can't say I blame him as I have a utility trailer that died are early death as a result of being exposed to road salt/sand.

Next option???

Again, if I go new I'll have it included by the dealer. This used machine is the problem. I don't want to make an offer if transportation is going to be cost prohibitive. I guess I'll make some calls on Monday to explore more options.

Thanks all,
Matt

radioman · Jan 31, 2010

well for the private sale - option 1 is get some 2 by 12's and use it under tires on the open trailer from uhaul.
option 2 rent a uhaul truck and ramps for loading cars.
option 3 call a tow truck with flatbed.

There seems to be no other options unless you have a local friend with trailer.

rimshot · Feb 1, 2010

Just as Chris says, transportation is part of the deal and the dealer will have a truck or trailer suitable for the job, experience and most importantly he will have insurance. So just hiring anybody should not even be in the cards. Can you imagine the mess if you were to hire somebody that was uninsured and your new tractor fell off the trailer? Oooooooooooch!

Also depending on how far you have to transport at $2.00/mile you could rack up some bucks. you have a 3/4 ton and I'll bet you can own a trailer for under $2 grand.

rimshot

HCJtractor · Feb 1, 2010

My dealer ( and I suppose most would do this ) delivers all new equipment as part of the purchase and offers free pick up and delivery for regular repairs and maintenance during off-season (Jan thru March) This helps for having routine servicing done. That being said, after several years of depending on him and borrowing a trailer from friends, I bought a flat top gooseneck like the one "Flusher" shows pictures of. In my opinion, this is the perfect trailer for transporting a larger tractor and implements. I see them fairly often for $4200 to 5200 in good shape. If you need to transport your tractor regularly, it is nice to have one so that you can be in control. On the other hand, if you only need transporting for service or repairs, you could get by without one, especially if you can do the routine servicing yourself onsite. Don't forget to consider what hitch you have and whether it is rated for this weight and the costs of tie downs, if you are trailer shopping. I had to spend $450 for a gooseneck hitch, but I personally prefer that to a bumper pull. My trailer and tractor loaded weighs about 13,000 lbs.

If you have a friend you trust who is into tractors, consider sharing the cost of a trailer.

some zilch · Feb 1, 2010

is your truck setup (brake controller and hitch) for towing a trailer with a sizeable load on it?--something to consider.

tow truck company's rollbacks can be expensive- i used to do some sidework for a local tow guy, he was $3.50/mile. their "drivers"-if you want to call them that-are generally unfamiliar with chaining down anything other than a car, and they rarely can even safely chain a car down. (one small chain and the winch cable is illegal, unsafe, and seems to be the norm for them). the last place my tractor would ever go is on a tow company's truck.

i worked for a heavy equipment dealership, and i deliver and move all kinds of large and small machinery. we have two heavy duty rollback trucks, that can easily carry a 20klb machine. these are NOT automotive-style rollback trucks. the trucks have heavy duty chains for securing the load, heavy duty binders, etc. they cost $65/hr to move anything that can fit on the deck. ive moved all kinds of tractors, dozers, mini excavators, skidsteers, etc. something like this would be a much better option, as the driver is much more familiar with that type of load. is a $200 charge for getting your tractor home safely really a deal-breaker?

downslope · Feb 1, 2010

ElDorado said:
Next option???

Again, if I go new I'll have it included by the dealer. This used machine is the problem. I don't want to make an offer if transportation is going to be cost prohibitive. I guess I'll make some calls on Monday to explore more options.

Thanks all,
Matt

Just curious, how many miles will you require the new or used machines to be transported? The way you are concerned about costs I'm guessing you're talking a long-distance haul?

Also, have you considered if there is a loading dock or berm you could back into somewhere at the ends of the trip. Then you could use a flatbed or box truck to load/unload everything? For a long trip this would be the smoothest sailing, even if you have to drive the tractor a few miles at either end. The dealer should have a dock or you could use a rollback truck just to load/unload at either end, should not be too expensive, except for the truck rental, if required. Depending on the weight you are moving something like an F550 or larger non-CDL truck should do the job. Whatever you decide you will have to figure the transport costs, if any, into the price you're willing to pay. Good luck.

ElDorado · Feb 1, 2010

Right now I am talking anywhere from 200 to 325 miles depending.

I will be the first to say I am a tightwad, cheap, thrifty whatever you want to call it. If I could save a few hundreds bucks by doing it myself I would do it. But reality has entered the equation. It looks like dealer delivery is the way to go.

Well an update on the used machine. This one doesn't have a backhoe. I want one added so I spoke with the dealer today about that. I brought up the idea of transportation. He is willing to transport at a fairly reasonable price. As a tractor dealer his driver is familiar with chaining machines down which gives me peace of mind. I guess I just should buck up and let the pros do their jobs and write the check!

Thanks all!
Matt