Looking for a trailer

[shniggysaurus]

Hey all. I have an mx5800 and a GMC sierra 1500. I'm looking to purchase a trailer I can haul the tractor and FEL with. I think for most of my purposes I will need an 18 foot. I have found a couple I think might work but I wanted to get everyones opinion here before buying as I've never hauled a tractor before. We will only be hauling in town - no interstate hauling. Here are the two I am looking at.

This one seems to be lighter duty built with smaller size steel. I believe 5 inch steel and 6000 lb axles only one of which has a break.

The other one I'm looking at is $1000 more but has 7000 lb axles both are breaked and 8 inch steel.

What do you think?

 

[PaulR]

Have not price trailers in years, but that looks like a sweet deal.
I think we paid that much for our 8K 16 footer 10 years ago. Cam Superline, still going strong today, I recommend.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Spend the additional bucks and get the heavier axles and brakes on both axles.

Your limiting factor will be your truck. 1500's are light duty grocery getter trucks, not really built for hauling (pulling a trailer).

You need a frame mounted Class 5 hitch and a brake controller and rear mount plug. You issue will arise with the transmission.

GM trans aren't really built for pulling a trailer that has a heavy load on it, unless you have the Allison option with the tow-haul mode. If you don't I'd go with an external in front of the rad mounted transmission cooler too. Heat kills transmissions and you'll be making lots of heat from torque convertor and band slip.

In reality city (stop and go) trailer hauling is harder on the trans and vehicle brakes than Interstate driving because at speed, the TC locks up so no convertor slip or band slip, consequently less heat and more brake applications to heat up the tow vehicle and trailer brakes and of course shorten their service life.

 

[Bmyers]

We have a 20ft 12,000lbs trailer that we haul my L3560 on. Does a nice job and with dad's Ram 2500, it pulls it easy.

 

[SidecarFlip]

We have a 20ft 12,000lbs trailer that we haul my L3560 on. Does a nice job and with dad's Ram 2500, it pulls it easy.

It's not the pulling so much as the stopping, especially if the stop is an emergency stop. A 2500 has 1 ton brakes (bigger) with a 1500 series suspension. I pull a 28 foot GN with my 350 Ford and there have been times I wished for more brakes.

 

[D2Cat]

Another thought. Just because you see the ad on FB does not mean the seller actually has that trailer. They often post up a picture to get your attention and to get you to contact them. THEN....they tell you they don't have it on the lot, but have it on order and will have it in when their manufacture gets it ready, 5-8 weeks.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

TD says the MX5800 weighs about 4000#, add #1000 for the loader...say 5000#, add 1500 for trailer..so close to 7000# 'all in'. You 'could' use a quality 'car hauler', with brakes on both axles,especially if 'city use'.
problem is you'll add say a box blade next year, max out the trailer, oopsy....12K while overkill now, would be a better option but be SURE it has brakes on BOTH axles. Also get backup lights on the trailer. the wires are there... I don't know what th elaws are south of the 49th but if you're hauling a big trailer you might need another license (CDL) ??

 

[B737]

Another thought. Just because you see the ad on FB does not mean the seller actually has that trailer. They often post up a picture to get your attention and to get you to contact them. THEN....they tell you they don't have it on the lot, but have it on order and will have it in when their manufacture gets it ready, 5-8 weeks.

I just learned this! I was scratching my head hanging up the phone, with 3 different seller inquiries. I didn't know this was a "thing", it all makes sense now!

 

[UpNorthMI]

A 20' 8" beam equipment trailer with 2 x 7,000 lbs braked axles weighs approximately 3,600 lbs, add your 5,000 lbs of MX5800 and fuel / loaded tires you are soon above 9,000 lbs in total weight. Not sure of your year or model of GMC 1500 pick up but you may be overloading, a new GMC 1500 has a towing capacity of 7,400 to 9,500 lbs depending on configuration, I believe this is the highest capacity ever listed for all model years.

I tow my MX 5800 but have always had a minimum of a 2500 pick up and now use a GMC 3500 diesel. I guess if you are only hauling in town and not going far you will be OK, I would still recommend you must have brakes on both axles and use chains and chain binders.

Stay safe while towing.

 

[BigG]

With only 18 feet of space you will more then likely have a hard time getting the weight of the tractor balanced on the trailer. If you ever plan on carrying a rotary cutter the trailer is not long enough. Also the stand up ramps will not let you hang the mower off the back.

Take the time to look up the towing capacity of your truck. Depending upon the engine, cab size, 4 x 4 or not and many other factors you might have enough truck but you must check it out. Also look at the weight capacity of the tires on the truck. Check the weight limits of the hitch because I have seen the truck rated to pull more weight than the hitch should carry or pull.

 

[greg86z28]

Are the tires fluid filled? Are you running a ballast off the 3 point? I think you'll find your loader plus bucket to be more like 1,700 lbs. That means at minimum with no ballast you are pushing 5,500 lbs. I assume the trailers your seeing are 2,500 lbs.

As Sidecar mentioned, your truck is probably not the right rig to pull it.

Run the numbers to see if you can safely haul it. Remember, unsafely hauling something puts everyone on the road at risk.

You need to know the total weight of the item you are carrying, the trailer weight, the trailer capacity, the truck's towing capacity and the truck's payload capacity.

 

[B737]

You need to know the total weight of the item you are carrying, the trailer weight, the trailer capacity, the truck's towing capacity and the truck's payload capacity.

This XLS is a helpful tool anyone can download to help figure it out available capacities once you input the limits. It was helpful, and eye-opening for me... I don't know where I found it on the internet but here is a link to it on my Google Drive

GVWR-and-Payload-Calc.xlsx

drive.google.com