Will rear bumper on my rollback properly pull a trailer?

[cockeyedMFer]

I recently bought an International S1854 with a Grove implement bed. It has a DT466 with a 5+2. Hoping it will be useful as a hobby hauler. I would like to occasionally pull a flatbed car trailer behind it but am not sure if the rear bumper is designed for it.

The Grove bed is different than newer designs and uses the rear stabilizer as the tilt mechanism for the bed. It has 2 hydraulic cylinders and a frame that supports the bed as it slides out, and the cylinders push it up and down.

There is a ball mount welded to the bumper bar and 7 pin plug, so I assume previous owners have towed with it. But it seems like there should be something to lock the stabilizer in position.

Isn't a bit risky to rely only on the cylinders to support the tongue weight of a trailer while driving?

.

 

[fried1765]

I recently bought an International S1854 with a Grove implement bed. It has a DT466 with a 5+2. Hoping it will be useful as a hobby hauler. I would like to occasionally pull a flatbed car trailer behind it but am not sure if the rear bumper is designed for it.

The Grove bed is different than newer designs and uses the rear stabilizer as the tilt mechanism for the bed. It has 2 hydraulic cylinders and a frame that supports the bed as it slides out, and the cylinders push it up and down.

There is a ball mount welded to the bumper bar and 7 pin plug, so I assume previous owners have towed with it. But it seems like there should be something to lock the stabilizer in position.

Isn't a bit risky to rely only on the cylinders to support the tongue weight of a trailer while driving?

View attachment 681319View attachment 681320View attachment 681321View attachment 681322.

I think I might create two short chains to safety tie those cylinder ends up to the bed, to use while towing.

 

[Hay Dude]

Thats a good idea.
Also might not be a waste of time to find a Grove dealer and ask them if that towing hitch set up is standard for their design. They may have some useful insights. Looks like they may have been bought out by Jerr Dan???

 

[dieselscout80]

Can't say for sure on that one, but it sure looks like it can.

That said I put a bunch of miles on a S1800 with a 9.0L that was set up with a non-roll back tilting bed with a folding hitch an about the same place that towed great. I hauled a Oliver (IIRC a 1650) on it and towed a New Holland bale wagon (IIRC 1037) once and it did it fine (both the hauling and towing). However, coming down Zimmerman Trail (early 1980s) with it was a bit interesting.

We had the same bed on a Loadstar 1700 with IH SV 345 minus the hitch and the 9.0L was way better and your 466 ought to be really good.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Can't say for sure on that one, but it sure looks like it can.

That said I put a bunch of miles on a S1800 with a 9.0L that was set up with a non-roll back tilting bed with a folding hitch an about the same place that towed great. I hauled a Oliver (IIRC a 1650) on it and towed a New Holland bale wagon (IIRC 1037) once and it did it fine (both the hauling and towing). However, coming down Zimmerman Trail (early 1980s) with it was a bit interesting.

We had the same bed on a Loadstar 1700 with IH SV 345 minus the hitch and the 9.0L was way better and your 466 ought to be really good.

Thanks, I'm really looking forward to running the DT466. It has 370k miles but still feels strong. It also has air brakes but it's under CDL, which you don't see often. I've had older Ford F600 and N600s with hydraulic brakes and even with new parts, they always made me a little nervous.

I like the idea about safety chains.

 

[repete]

My greatest concern is the weld of the 1/2" plate for the ball. What do you suspect the tongue weight to be as well as the gross weight of the loaded trailer?

 

[cockeyedMFer]

My greatest concern is the weld of the 1/2" plate for the ball. What do you suspect the tongue weight to be as well as the gross weight of the loaded trailer?

I have a 12k 22' flatbed or a 10k 18' car hauler that I'd be pulling. Not looking to go super-heavy with it.

 

[ptsg]

Worst case scenario, you could weld some gussets on that 1/2" plate to help keep it together.

The entire frame looks solid for what you're planning to do.

I agree with the chains to prevent it from accidentally going down.