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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

I want to float my tractor, but...

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Jason, NW Ontar

06-07-2006 05:50:37




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Hi all:
I have a Case VA with loader and a Fordson Major. I'd like to do work at various locations, so I'm looking at a landscape trailer - double axle, brakes, 7000 lbs, 12 ft deck with a 3 ft beavertail. My tractors aren't longer than 12 ft, but is there more important factors about weight distribution on the trailer that I should know about? Would I drive the tractor on forward, or would I reverse it on? The reason I'm looking at this trailer is the new condition (800 miles hauling a mustang) and the price is less than 1/2 of new once tax is included. The VA with the bucket actually is a bit longer than 12 ft, so would I lift the bucket and hang it over the tongue? Or is the trailer just too short on length? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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RND

06-07-2006 16:09:19




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 05:50:37  
I have a 18 ft 7000 lb trailer with (2) 3500 lb axles. I haul a JD 4410 with loader & backhoe. Rears are loaded. Tractor weighs ~ 5000 lb, so close to trailer capacity (Trailer weighs 1750 lb). I bent the rear axle of the trailer while loading & unloading the tractor. The load on the rear axle is highest while loading. You should consider adding jacks on the back of the trailer to protect the rear axle if you are loading the trailer near it's load limit.

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Nebraska Cowman

06-07-2006 07:33:56




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 05:50:37  
I'd drive it on and center the rear tractor wheels on the axles or slightly behind. If this gives you room for your buck that's fine but if your bucket hangs ove much you will find it hits the towing vehicle when you turn. For a Fordson Major I'd want a heavier trailer.



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John (MO)

06-07-2006 07:26:45




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 05:50:37  
If it`s a question of getting this trailer or no trailer because of the price, go for it. You`ve got the 3` tail to use also. You'll just have to experiment with how to best load to tow the best. I would rather hang over the back end than the front with things in most cases, but I`ll bet you can figure out what will work best in your particular case. Good luck and remember necessity is the mother of invention.

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jubilee johnny

06-07-2006 07:22:33




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 05:50:37  
Get a trailer that you know will handle anything you ever plan to put on it. Or, stated differently, one that has excess carrying capacity than you think you need. I finally bought a 20ft 3 axle pintle hook trailer with 15k capacity and for nearly 10 years have towed all over the country. I'm glad I did.



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RustyFarmall

06-07-2006 06:10:26




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 05:50:37  
That trailer is too short. You need a trailer that is long enough to allow you to position the tractor so that the weight is centered slightly ahead of the center of the trailer axles. Doing it this way will result in the smoothest ride, and put enough weight on the tow vehicle hitch to keep it all stable. The 12 ft. trailer will put too much weight on the tow vehicle, resulting in a very rough ride, and you don't want to hang the loader bucket out over the hitch because you might run out of room while making sharp turns. Trailers of that size and capacity are not terribly expensive to start with, I suggest that you visit a few places that sell new trailers and check out the prices before you buy a used trailer.

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Jason, NW Ontario

06-07-2006 06:39:54




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to RustyFarmall, 06-07-2006 06:10:26  
Rusty:
Should I be looking at a minimum deck length of 16 ft? It sure would be nice to find a goose neck instead of bumper pull. If only that garden out back started sprouting $100 bills instead of weeds. Thanks for responding



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RustyFarmall

06-07-2006 07:33:33




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 06:39:54  
Iknow what you mean about the garden sprouting $100 bills, mine is not doing that either. As a guideline, a new goosneck trailer with 20 ft. deck and 5 ft. beavertail with ramps, 14,000# rating, can be purchased for around $4,000 to $4,500, maybe a liitle more. A bumper hitch trailer with 18 ft deck and 2 ft. tail, 7,000# rating, will be about half the cost of a gooseneck or even less. If you find a used trailer, inspect it thoroughly. Trailers recieve a lot of abuse, and seldom see any kind of maintenance.

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M Nut

06-07-2006 06:58:10




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 06:39:54  
Yes, you want at least 16ft. I have an 18ft and that really works nice.I know here in MN there is a dealer near by that sells 7000gvw trailers, 16ft long with 2ft beavertail for right around $2000. Don't know how that compares in price with the smaller one, but something to consider. I would guess you would find a dealer closer to you that would compare in price on a new trailer like I mentioned.

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Sid

06-07-2006 06:53:18




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 06:39:54  
Rule of thumb, I use is two thirds of the total weight ahead of wheels. I do not know if this applies to a gooseneck or not.



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RustyFarmall

06-07-2006 07:25:39




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 Re: I want to float my tractor, but... in reply to Sid, 06-07-2006 06:53:18  
With a gooseneck I have found that the best ride will result if the tractor is driven on forwards, and stopped with the tractor rear wheels centered between the trailer tandem axles. When hauling two tractors, put the lightest tractor on first, and the heaviest tractor on last. With two tractors, there is very little opportunity to position the load, they sort of end up where they fit.



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Jason, NW Ontario

06-07-2006 16:05:56




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 It gets worse in reply to RustyFarmall, 06-07-2006 07:25:39  
I've learned today after calling several dealers throughout the area that not all drivers' licences are created equally. In Ontario, a general license allows the operator to pull 10000 lbs GVRW. So if I get a trailer with two 6000 lb axles I can still only haul 10000 without upgrading. Dual 3500 axles gives me 7000, but that includes a 2200 lb or more trailer. The VA with loader tops around 4000 or a little more, so I'm okay. If the Major ever steps on the trailer, with wheel weights, I'm looking at a 5500 lb machine, leaving me overweight, and screwed if police want to fine me, or the ministry of highways. So I guess I have to decide whether to get a 12000 GVRW trailer so I can haul 10000, or haul the Major very slowly down backroads so I'm not caught overweight on 7000 lb trailer. I understand about getting more than I'll need, but I just wasn't planning on spending that much. Now I'm looking in the $4000-$4500 range to start. Big difference than what I was considering this morning! Grrr!
But thanks for all the input.

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Jonfarmer

06-07-2006 16:17:08




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 Re: It gets worse in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 16:05:56  
Aww, heck, I got a 7,000lb GVW trailer too and I haul my 6,000lb tractor around on it and it does ok, so at 5,500, you would be even better off. Biggest strain is on my half ton pickup, it don't like to haul that much, but I make do because I don't put that particular tractor on it too much.



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Jason, NW Ontario

06-07-2006 16:32:34




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 Re: It gets worse in reply to Jonfarmer, 06-07-2006 16:17:08  
What I was told today by two dealers is that due to more and more light trucks pulling 30 ft camper trailers weighing 5 or 6 tons and getting into accidents because they can't brake fast enough, cops are looking more critically at what we're towing. Now I'm pulling about 2 tons of hay on a 15 ft homemade box trailer with a single mobile home axle. I'm overweight every time because it's single axle, regardless of the axle load rating. Strong, ugly, but if they ever got me on the scale... I got pulled over once and I thought I was done for, but the city slicker cop thought my bales weren't secured well enough. I happily put another length of rope across it and off I went, sweating like crazy.

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CaptRon

06-10-2006 11:47:52




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 Re: It gets worse in reply to Jason, NW Ontario, 06-07-2006 16:32:34  
Jason,
Keep in mind about the 10,000 trailer weight limit that it's usually based on the manufacturers gvwr that's placed on the data plate of the trailer. If you are pulling a 12,000 gvwr trailer empty you are still in violation of the 10K limit. In most of the lower 48 the cops are now checking these data plates and giving warnings and fines for trailers over the 10K limit if the driver is not properly licensed.

CaptRon

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