Moving Farmall Super A from PA to MA

PeterIV · Dec 8, 2020

Greetings. We are traveling down to PA to look at a Farmall Super A. This is our first dealings with a large tractor and are driving down to look at it with the hopes of purchasing if it is in reasonable shape. It comes with a loader.

Our question is this: Can you put a transport company on hold? We are pretty sure we are buying it but, until we actually see it, we can't confirm 100% and would hate to line up transport only to cancel on them.
We would like to have it hauled up here so we don't have to deal with that.
What is the usual protocol for lining up a transport company?
How much notice do they need?
Who would you recommend?
What is the usual cost?
Thank you in advance!
Peter

mikewood869 · Dec 8, 2020

Could you get away with a Uhaul trailer depending how far the tires are in.

dpendzic · Dec 8, 2020

where about in Ma are you-I have used a guy near PIttsfield

PeterIV · Dec 8, 2020

We are in West Boylston. We really don't want to try hauling it ourselves and would like someone with experience doing it.
Thanks.

PeterIV · Dec 8, 2020

Thanks. We would rather someone with experience do it since it's such a long ride.

BarnyardEngineering · Dec 9, 2020

Haulers charge by the loaded mile generally speaking, so the cost will vary widely if you're hauling from Waynesburg to Cape Cod (absolute farthest), or Milford to Great Barrington (absolute closest).

The smaller the load, the more per mile you can expect to pay. To get a small load like your Super A hauled dedicated you will pay a premium price.

You'll be best off finding a small independent hauler by word of mouth. These are the ones that tend to be "hungry" and willing to give you a fair rate.

As far as lining them up ahead of time, I don't think you'll be able to. You will get a better rate if your load can be hauled on the hauler's schedule, and not on yours. If the tractor can be left at the seller's location until the hauler comes to pick it up, that would be ideal, but that also means you need to place some level of trust on the seller that they won't sell the tractor again before the hauler comes to get it.

PeterIV · Dec 9, 2020

Thank you!
Yes, we would be trusting a stranger with it after we purchase it.
I will look around since it seems we have a bit of time. He wants to make sure the tractor is running before we make the trek down there. I think he will be fine with us leaving it there until we line up a hauler or we get a trailer and do it ourselves. The fear is getting it onto the trailer along with the loader, drive the 370 miles home and getting it unloaded. Yikes. Not that we are wimpy and afraid of the challenge. We just don't know how it will travel, how the truck will do with such a load, etc. A lot of unknowns for my liking.
Thanks for the response. We will keep doing our research.

deeretails · Dec 9, 2020

Where in PA is the tractor. I live in eastern PA and am heading to Boston in the next week or two, picking up an engine to haul home. Maybe we could make it work.

TractorTucker · Dec 9, 2020

A super a isn't that large of a tractor,
if you have a truck you could probably
drive down, rent a u-haul trailer and take
it home on that.

TractorTucker · Dec 9, 2020

The last U-haul trailer I saw had built in automatic brakes so as long as the tractor is chained down securely it shouldn't be a problem pulling it even with a smaller truck.

showcrop · Dec 10, 2020

Rarely does a long distance deal on something big turn out well. I'll bet that there are plenty of nice ones within three hours where a separate inspection trip would be a lot easier.

Farmer Rock · Dec 10, 2020

I agree with showcrop,you will just be asking for trouble getting it shipped,and a super A is a pretty common tractor so unless this is a
deal of a lifetime you might be better of buying locally or just towing it home yourself.I don't know what size truck you have,but a half ton
is more than capable of towing that tractor,and like anything as long as you use your head and don't drive dukes of hazard style you should
be just fine and as far as experience,you have to start somewhere.

Rock

dpendzic · Dec 10, 2020

talk to the seller--I nave bought 3 tractors,sight unseen and the seller loaded them onto my haulers trailer. I had the seller send me a photo of his drivers license and i sent checks to the address and name---maybe i was lucky but no problems at all
all tractors were as the seller described them, just minor issues when they were delivered bad battery.clogged filters,etc

BarnyardEngineering · Dec 11, 2020

(quoted from post at 21:33:35 12/09/20) The last U-haul trailer I saw had built in automatic brakes so as long as the tractor is chained down securely it shouldn't be a problem pulling it even with a smaller truck.

A Super A with a loader and ballast can easily weigh 3000lbs. None of U-Haul's utility trailers have that kind of capacity.

The only trailer U-Haul has that would carry the load is their car hauler, but it is not a flat deck trailer. It has rails that the tires ride in, and if the Super A is set too narrow or too wide, it will not fit. You need a minimum of 36" between the wheels for it to fit with any stability.

Believe me, I moved a narrowed-up Super A on a U-Haul car hauler once, and it was really too narrow to fit in the rails. It was really hairy loading it, driving on the inside edges of the rails, and it slid off to one side on the short ride home, despite the fact that I strapped the bejeezus out of it. Getting it off was even more hairy.

On top of that you have to LIE to U-Haul to get the trailer. They need to know what you're hauling for warranty and insurance purposes, and the only options they give are cars. Some people take offense to that.

PeterIV · Dec 14, 2020

Thank you. You are correct. Too many variables. We have decided to look closer to home. After speaking to the nice gentleman in PA, a few Super As popped up that weren't there before. We ended up purchasing one in NH and it's being delivered. Yay.
We ave very excited to get it home tomorrow and get working on it.

PeterIV · Dec 14, 2020

Thank you for the tips! We figured the same thing: too narrow, too easy for things to fall through or off. Not a good scene. I appreciate the help. We opted to look locally and found one in NH that is being delivered tomorrow.
Thanks for all of the help! We'll update with pictures of the new acquisition.

PeterIV · Dec 14, 2020

Thank you for the offer. We did find a Super A in NH that is coming home tomorrow.
I appreciate your help.

showcrop · Dec 15, 2020

(quoted from post at 20:16:39 12/14/20) Thank you for the offer. We did find a Super A in NH that is coming home tomorrow.
I appreciate your help.

Congratulations Peter! Often taking a little time to do things a little more thoroughly can bring a better outcome. Though many long distance purchases work out very well I have seen both on line and in person many that haven't.

Moving Farmall Super A from PA to MA

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