Combine Hauling

I will be hauling a JD 95 combine from southwest/central KS.about 600 miles.We have one high mountain pass(Monarch)two smaller ones,a river canyon...How tall can I be.We will be useing a DodgeCummins/35'gooseneck/tandem duals.Thanks,Steve

According to US Department of Transportation state height regulations vary from 13 feet 6 inches to 14 feet 6 inches. IT is up to driver to know state height and permits if needed for each state crossed. You will need to call DOT of the states your crossing for information.

Yeah trying to get that permit can be reaaalllll fun tooo!

Heres my PA experience...

In PA, a private person can get a permit to haul overwidth.

However,you must show commercial liability insurance to get that permit.

Try getting commerical liability insurance as a private individual...

There is an exemption for farm equipment if you stay under 200 miles or so. But you cant take the highways. So they would rather you traverse the narrow roads over the appalachians then the safer highways...

idiots....

I would be sure it is 13.6. Should be easy to do, will haul better if you let the front down anyway. The US highway just West of my house, where the Interstate crosses it is 14.6. Several people have hit it. One of them hit it while they were fixing it from a previous hit. The 2 lane going under the interstate has been asphalted enough times it isn't as high as it was.

(quoted from post at 22:41:36 02/01/12) I will be hauling a JD 95 combine from southwest/central KS.about 600 miles.We have one high mountain pass(Monarch)two smaller ones,a river canyon...How tall can I be.We will be useing a DodgeCummins/35'gooseneck/tandem duals.Thanks,Steve

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The wind resistance from the combine is pretty much going to kill the miles per gallon, and unless that Cummins is cranked up a bunch, your top speed is going to suffer also.

13'6" is the minimum height under a bridge over an interstate, that's federal. Otherwise it is up to the state to decide if they want the standard to be higher. If you get a Motor Carrier's Atlas it will have the minimum height for each state listed in the front and any bridges over any interstates and US/federal highways, which don't meet that state's standard. It's pretty reliable. Except NY, they have a lot of 12'6" bridges that are really just about 14'. Why they list them and mark them that way is a mystery to anyone I have talked to.

Back in the day when I went south on the “Custom Harvest” 1969-1970 I saw a lot of John Deere
Combines pulled or towed backwards. The custom cutters made a A frame hitch for the machine.
The hitch was mounted to the front of the machine by the front drive axle on each side and ran to the rear of the machine under the rear axle. I believe they would use a channel iron. The channel iron would stick out past the rear axle maybe six feet. The rear of the machine would be jacked up and hooked to a truck. Either a pintle hitch or ball hitch was used. Some took off the rear tires and rims.
I believe the front drive coupling on each side axle were disconnected. These machines were pulled up to fifty miles per hour with no problems and maybe faster. The head was put into the truck box.
I saw machines towed from Canada to Texas and back.
Brian

KS and CO are both 14ft legal hgt. Width may be your biggest problem to get it on the trailer. Tires could be to wide. You will probably be about 9ft wide that takes a permit.

Delta,
I have hauled a lot of combines, everything from those old 95s to 9500s and i do it with an older demco combine trailer with 16.5 tires and the smallest truck i do it with is my s-1900 binder. the wheel cradles on my trailer sit about a foot to 18" off the ground. On a 95 with a cab and correct tires on the combine they sit about 12" 6" to 13" depending on how the combine is equipped, on my trailer they normally settle in at about 13" 6".

I have a LOT of concerns about what you are trying to do this with, at least equipment wise. Obviously the overall height of that combine on a gooseneck trailer, then are you SURE you can get a 95 on a gn? If and once you can get it on the trailer, are you planning on taking the front wheels off? Combines are notorious for swaying back and forth on a trailer regardless of how well you strap them down. getting that much weight, that high up, you have moved the center of overall gravity very high.

My smallest pickup is a 99 chevy 1 ton dually and i have never even bothered pulling a combine with it because while the pickup is rated to pull that much, it doesnt weight to keep everything in control should the trailer start bouncing or swaying, and even a cummings doesnt have enough power to pull out of trailer sway should something like that happen.

I dont want to tell a guy what to do, or sound like an a*hole, but you may want to put some serious thought into this before heading out. Its a LONG and VERY lonely road to be in the middle of nowhere and have something happen.

Before you commit to this adventure, you may consider calling some custom harvesters either where the combine is located or one close to you, because they have true combine trailers and truck built to pull them and this time of year, they dont have much going on, it may cost you 4-5 dollars a loaded mile, but weight that cost against your pickup, trailer and overall safety and you may find that its a much smaller price to pay then finding yourself 300 miles from home and something break...just towing that setup to somewhere you can park it could easily be half what a harvester would charge you.

For what its worth, you can look on every states dot website and they provide a map containing all bridge heights in the state, that may help in your route planning. I live in kansas and have done most my hauling in this state, but everywhere from texas to north dakota and states on the harvest run are very friendly to combine haulers so that helps, i think kansas only have 3 bridge heights that are under 13 feet, side note and tip, when you find yourself running up on a low bridge, take the off ramp, and come back down the other side haha

I do not mean to offend and i hope my reply doesnt come across that way, i am just trying to be honest about what you are getting yourself into. I would be more than happy to answer any other questions you have, i even have several 95"s sitting here at my place that i could get measurements for you if it would help...

Tony

This is a bit far down the page, but just FYI. The unofficial guideline for oversize permits is a permit will NOT be issued if the load can reasonably be reduced to legal size. By reasonably they mean 8 hours or less loading time. For example a combine header over 8 1/2 feet must be removed, wheels removed if that will narrow it up or lower it. If no space avail on trailer with main load, second vehicle required.
WJ

Not trying to say you're wrong for sure, but KS used to be 13'-6" high. Not saying that law hasn't changed though. Bob

DeltaRed, Let us know what you decided to do and how it goes, because it's interesting.

I am with tlock0331 on this one,same thing Iam not tryin to be a smart### here but maybe that should be left to a person that is equipped to haul combines.I used to haul combines when I worked at a CaseIH dealer.They had a pretty well equipped trailer with sliding out-riggers that made hauling easy.That cummins might pull it,but there is also a control issue,too many guys anymore with a chipped 3/4 - 1 ton that think it will haul like a class 8 truck.Thats all fine & dandy when things are going good,but they are right on the edge of control or disaster.I was on the highway close to 20 years,saw lots of these situations....

Steve,with a little common sense you will have absolutely no problems...In 5 years I have hauled 25 antique combines home with no major problems..This is mostly with a F-350 Ford and a 25 ft gooseneck..One was 800 miles one way.

Load the 95 backwards,pull the header off and swivel it endways..With a 35 ft gooseneck it will all be on the trailer...My literature shows a 95 JD weighing 10,270 lbs...It says its 10'2" tall..This may be without a cab..

If the combine is over 13'6" tall or a little over width take off both drive wheels and set it down on the trailer..That will make it pull easier...You should be able to make a 100% legal load..With the truck and trailer you are using I wouldnt be afraid to haul a 105..Brad on here has done it..

Take it easy going down steep grades and going around curves..As my pictures will show I have hauled home some very top heavy loads..The wind drag will keep the speed down some and will hurt the mileage..

The early 55 JD shown is 13 ft tall but I got it down to 13'6" on the trailer..The wind was behind us and it hauled like a dream..It weighs over 8000 lbs..



Good luck and have a safe trip..

Height would be my biggest concern as it does not appear to be wider than your trailer.It is a lot different than the newer combines as they are wide stanced and not as tall.From practical experience the week ends seem to be the best time to haul questionable loads.We have several tractors hauled for us by some really good truckers and with diesel at $3.80 it costs as much to do it ourself as to get it hauled as those kind of loads take extra fuel.Good Luck