Buying a trailer - Help needed

Hotflashjr

Well-known Member
Location
Western MA
I am going to be buying a trailer to haul my tractors with. Main use will be from home to the field, 7.5 miles as well as to some shows longer distances. My biggest tractor weighs in just under 4,000 lbs. without implements such as a 1 bottom land plow, mounted cultivators etc. My max weight with tractor and implements would be 5,000 lbs. My truck is rated at 10,000 GVW. I am looking at a 7,000 GVW 16ft. dual axle trailer and an 18ft. 10,000 GVW dual axle trailer. The difference is about $1,000 between the two but right now that means a lot to us. I do not plan on getting bigger tractors any time soon so I think the 16 ft. trailer would be OK. The place selling the trailer is of course trying to talk me up to the 18 ft. trailer saying the 16 ft. is not enough for my planned usage. I have borrowed an 18ft. 10k GVW before and it seems a bit more than I need. Do I need to buyer the bigger heavier trailer to safely move my equipment? Thanks!
 
Trailers are engineered to safely handle at the specified GVWR. Note that GVWR is the combined weight of the load (tractor and/or implements) PLUS the weight of the trailer itself, as it is the axle rating that determines capacity. If your load is 5000# and the 7000#-rated trailer weighs 3000#, you"ll be 1000# overweight and really should get the 10,000# trailer.
Not only for safety, but should the law decide to check, you"ll get ticketed for exceeding capacity.
 
Aleuicius is right on the weights. I want to add to that a little. MAKE SURE You check the actual trailer weight before You buy. I cant stress that enough! I would like to buy a deckover, full tilt trailer with 16K lbs axles. Problem is its a double frame. 1 for the axles, & another for the bed. Trailer weighs about 4700#; which only leaves 11,300 lbs. Tractor weighs 13,200! I can buy a non tilt that weighs 2000 lbs less, & problem solved!
 
Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating- Another thing to watch. That is the manufacturer's weight rating for truck and loaded trailer. My 15000 lb truck rating also carries a Combined Vehicle Weight Rating of 1700 lbs. My truck weighs 7500 lbs so I can tow 9500 lbs of trailer and load. A loaded 3/4 ton pickup pulling an enclosed car trailer with a racer in it. Won't fly with DOT. I know.
 
Ok so I have found out the 16' trailer weighs 1,900 lbs. as it sits. If I were to carry 5,000 lbs. I would be right at the weight limit of the trailer. That being said I would need to add a third center ramp to the trailer because I have two tricycle front end tractors. This may very well put me to the limit. I am however now concerned based on the info from Farmeroz. My trucks owners manual does not give me great specs. Just says 10,500 towing capacity, 10,000 GVW.
 
I would rather be comfortably under capacity than right at capacity (or over capacity). If it was me I'd go with the 10k, 18' trailer and not look back.
 
(quoted from post at 04:58:28 07/09/13) Ok so I have found out the 16' trailer weighs 1,900 lbs. as it sits. If I were to carry 5,000 lbs. I would be right at the weight limit of the trailer. That being said I would need to add a third center ramp to the trailer because I have two tricycle front end tractors. This may very well put me to the limit. I am however now concerned based on the info from Farmeroz. My trucks owners manual does not give me great specs. Just says 10,500 towing capacity, 10,000 GVW.

I load my NFE tractors with two ramps regularly. While a few who are unfamiliar will say that it is dangerous, they most likely have never seen it done. It involves nothing more than steering the tractor up the ramp which you need to do with three ramps.
 
CGVWR, combined gross vehicle weight rating. As it applies to farmers- you are exempt when moving equipment in your farming operation. If you transport anything and receive compensation for it then the law applies. (Gray Area) if you transport to a show and receive monetary award then it could be said that you receive compensation. There is the trick. Just be aware that if stopped then you are farming and moving your equipment. Hauling a race car on that trailer will trigger a ticket form DOT. AS that is not farming. There are other gray areas in that law, so getting to know the law will help when you need to answer quesstions. This is not to scare you, just be aware of it. I would get the heavier trailer.
 
That's the way we've always loaded our tricycle front end tractors too. You just have to be a little careful in what you're doing is all. Keith
 
(quoted from post at 07:11:22 07/09/13) Tell me more... I have never tried or seen it done in person.

You approach the trailer ramps from an angle instead of straight. You start your fronts up the further ramp, then turn towards the trailer centerline, so that as your fronts near the back of the trailer they are coming off the ramp on the inside edge.
 

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