Picture of your tractor on your trailer

[lynnmor]

Getting ready to tow the tractor

wrong tow vehicle or trailer or both?? Getting ready to tow tractor first time and was told by a hauler the Sierra 1500 (‘14 w/ 6.2L eng, tow pkg, 3.73 ratio) wasn’t up to the job! By my calculations the tractor plus implements is 4500#, trailer is 3300# or 7800# gross weight. Truck says it’s capable of 9000# gross tow weight (w weight distributing hitch) and 15k combined … guy says it’ll run like a dog up the hills and won’t be in the sweet spot of the torque curve w the 3.73. Is this all true and I should be looking for a lighter aluminum trailer (I don’t want to be buying a new truck in this market) ? Thinking of loading it up and testing, if I can get the tongue weight right.

7800 is a lot for a 1500 but it will do it. You are looking at the power, but of more concern is the suspension, brakes and handling.

 

[Mlarv]

Getting ready to tow the tractor

wrong tow vehicle or trailer or both?? Getting ready to tow tractor first time and was told by a hauler the Sierra 1500 (‘14 w/ 6.2L eng, tow pkg, 3.73 ratio) wasn’t up to the job! By my calculations the tractor plus implements is 4500#, trailer is 3300# or 7800# gross weight. Truck says it’s capable of 9000# gross tow weight (w weight distributing hitch) and 15k combined … guy says it’ll run like a dog up the hills and won’t be in the sweet spot of the torque curve w the 3.73. Is this all true and I should be looking for a lighter aluminum trailer (I don’t want to be buying a new truck in this market) ? Thinking of loading it up and testing, if I can get the tongue weight right.

Look at the sticker on the side of the drivers door. It will tell you how much weight you can have total for your truck. This weight will include passengers, fuel, any accessories plus tongue weight.

Take that weight and subtract passenger weights fuel any accessories and that will be the allowable tongue weight.

For tongue weight add the distribution hitch weight also.

I know I pulled a 9K enclosed trailer with my F150 Eco boost with out an issue. If the truck you are using is rated to pull it, I would give it a shot, if not then time to rethink it. Remember it is easy to get things moving, but stopping is another issue.

 

[dirtydeed]

Too much truck? Or too little trailer? Or, both?

I think the real issue is that the hitch is just too high on the truck.

If anyone has a line on an aluminum 20 footer 9990K in my area, let me know. I want need one.

 

[lynnmor]

Too much truck? Or too little trailer? Or, both?

I think the real issue is that the hitch is just too high on the truck.

If anyone has a line on an aluminum 20 footer 9990K in my area, let me know. I want need one.

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Of course, simply lower the truck hitch.

 

[JimsF]

7800 is a lot for a 1500 but it will do it. You are looking at the power, but of more concern is the suspension, brakes and handling.

Thanks for the info … think I’ve got brakes taken care of with electric on one trailer axle. tongue weight I can adjust with tractor load positioning to get 8-10% on the hitch and 10 plys should stiffen the back end for handling. The rig meets all the truck weight specs, except they spec a weight distributing hitch over 7k trailer weight. I’m thinking I can get away without it by minimizing truck payload to just me.

 

[lynnmor]

Thanks for the info … think I’ve got brakes taken care of with electric on one trailer axle. tongue weight I can adjust with tractor load positioning to get 8-10% on the hitch and 10 plys should stiffen the back end for handling. The rig meets all the truck weight specs, except they spec a weight distributing hitch over 7k trailer weight. I’m thinking I can get away without it by minimizing truck payload to just me.

In Pennsylvania a trailer will not pass inspection if there is no brakes on one axle. 10% should be considered the absolute minimum for tongue weight, I would like at least 12%. If you ever experienced a sway issue from too little tongue weight, you will never do it again. A WDH can be bought at Harbor Freight for $210 and they work fine.

 

[mcmxi]

10% should be considered the absolute minimum for tongue weight, I would like at least 12%.

How are you able to determine if you have 10% compared to 12%?

 

[lynnmor]

I know the weight of the trailer and the tractor weight giving me the total. I then use my scale and move the load to get 12.5% of the total. A cheaper way is to use a bathroom scale and some materials to create your own. homemade Quarries, feed mills, landfills and truck stops have scales if you want to do it that way.

 

[mcmxi]

I know the weight of the trailer and the tractor weight giving me the total. I then use my scale and move the load to get 12.5% of the total. A cheaper way is to use a bathroom scale and some materials to create your own. homemade Quarries, feed mills, landfills and truck stops have scales if you want to do it that way.

Cool. Thanks for the links, particularly for the link to the Sherline scale ... I can see one of those in my immediate future.

 

[B737]

How are you able to determine if you have 10% compared to 12%?

They make scales you can use while lifting the trailer tongue with to check this. They are usually accurate within a few percent.

 

[NCL4701]

How are you able to determine if you have 10% compared to 12%?

If you want to get really fancy you can get a ball carrier with a built in scale. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mount/Weigh-Safe/WS8-25.html

 

[JimsF]

I thought with tandems you should use less tongue weight .. 8-10% ?

 

[SAR Tracker]

Some of the over 100 cords of wood that will be donated to folks in the area this fall. The LX2610 sure helps with the heavier chunks of unsplit wood.

 

[Mlarv]

I thought with tandems you should use less tongue weight .. 8-10% ?

Nope type of trailer does not make a difference. Take a look at this story video. Weigh Safe

 

[fluxcapacitor]

Mini excavator on BigTex 14 OA pulled with longbed 12v Cummins.

 

[KbotaL185DT]

Day I picked it up last month.

 

[NHSleddog]

 

[Dennis.D]

Grand L6060 and 24ft tilt

 

[NCL4701]

Grand L6060 and 24ft tilt

Sweet rig!

Never tried the wheel strap method. Still running 3/8” Grade 43 chains through shackle on drawbar on back and loader tube on front. Do you find the wheel strap method easier and/or better than chains and load binders?

Also, it looks like you’re using auto type straps on the fronts so that’s pretty straightforward.

What you doing for the rear? Looks like a standard strap that you’ve woven/wrapped around the wheel somehow. Have you found that to be reliable to not slip?

 

[Tarmy]

Cool. Thanks for the links, particularly for the link to the Sherline scale ... I can see one of those in my immediate future.

I used this one to set my rig up…works great. I figured out the ideal set up for my trailers…much safer way to tow.