Donahue Style Gooseneck Grain Trailer

Reid1650 · Aug 9, 2013

I am in central Kentucky and looking for a gooseneck grain trailer. Kind of wanting one to fix up because of money. Looking for something solid with dual tandem axles. I am willing to travel. Anybody know of anything??

JD Seller · Aug 9, 2013

Have you ever used one of those trailers??? The reason I ask is that they will tear the heck out of a regular 3/4 or 1 ton pickup. I thought that they would be the cats meow twenty years ago. I bought one and only used it one fall.

Think about it, 300 bushels of corn weights 16,800 lbs. then you add the truck and trailer at 10,000-12,000. So your are talking easily 13-15 ton total. It just does not work well.

Some guys around here pulled them with a single axle semi truck and they where a little better. Then you have trouble tearing up the trailer.

Buy a regular straight grain truck that would work better and be safer too. The brakes on those grain trailers don't work very well.

GarrettFields · Aug 10, 2013

Reid, my old dump/grain truck laid down on me last year with about thirty acres of corn left to do. I borrowed a friends tandem dual Donahue to finish up before the rain set in. You could not give me one of those things to haul grain in! I pulled it with my '11 cummins dualy. Even with the tuner set on 475hp, it was he!! to get it rolling and even worse to get it stopped, and thats with the exhaust brake, and trailer brakes set on stun! My buddy only hauls saw dust for his horses in it and i found out why! I ended up buying a 95 IH tandem dump with a DT466, and a 13speed this summer for $5,500.00. I would advise taking the money your planning on spending on the Donahue, and investing in a truck. By the way Im just a little south east of you, down in London KY

2SteveWI · Aug 10, 2013

I have a 16 foot Redi Haul Gooseneck grain trailer. In the fall I have pulled on the scale weighing 32-34,000 pounds, with a 3/4 ton Dodge,with stock Cummins, 160 HP in 1995. That being said I only have 8 miles to go, and I make sure brakes are working, and don"t go fast. I can see if I had hundreds of acres to move it would take a toll on truck. For my 60 acres of grain it works well. Steve.

Erik Ks farmer · Aug 10, 2013

I have a 16' Hillsboro triple axle with hydraulic hoist, bought it used and never had the factory grain sides. Built 3' sides for it and hauled 125-150 bushel on it for a couple years. It wasn't a real comfortable feeling trying to stop that outfit even with that small of load. My suggestion is look for a Semi tractor and lease a hopper bottom. I am headed that direction, my older straight trucks are high a nickel and dime deal.

massey333 · Aug 10, 2013

reid,to each his own,Ihave owned a 400+Bu. fifth wheel grain trl.since 1974 and used it hard until I quit renting land,because every thing I have goes in bins first.Use it with sides or take the sides off and haul anything you want to.It cost me less then $50.00 a yr.to own vs.$800 to $1000 for my tandem whether they get used or not.We rebuilt it and now will hold 600 Bu..It has been in 8-10 states but doesn't get as much use anymore because of having 5 other trailers to use for special needs.

Donahue Style Gooseneck Grain Trailer

Reid1650

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JD Seller

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GarrettFields

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2SteveWI

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Erik Ks farmer

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massey333

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