I go with whatever way gets me 10-15% on the tongue, personally.
It’s a game of inches sometimes between looking up at the sky (with constant steering corrections) or having the death sway if the tongue is too light.
Type of trailer?
- Thread starter Grimloktt
- Start date
It’s a game of inches sometimes between looking up at the sky (with constant steering corrections) or having the death sway if the tongue is too light.
nbryan
Well-known member
Equipment
B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
I have never "MEASURED" the actual tongue weight of a single trailer in my 50 years of driving, and I was pulling small boat trailers driving as a 15 year old learner with dad the watchful passenger. He showed me what to look for in a properly weighted trailer tongue, and it had nothing to do with scales.
Since then I've hauled countless trailer loads over the decades as a mostly carpenter. The 7K with tractor/implements is about as large a load as I've ever regularly hauled with my pickup, but I also know the truck and look at the space between the axle bumpers and frame to know if there's 700-800lbs on the hitch - and it's clear immediately if there's too much or too little tongue weight as soon as i start driving it with a new load config. So stop and reposition.
I bet the vast majority of haulers like me do the same.
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
"I bet the vast majority of haulers like me do the same"
Yep....I am sure they do.
And certainly that makes it the SAFEST way ?
Your way, is the reality for the smaller loads that YOU carry.......as you state under 7K.
Not everyone carries 7K or lighter loads.
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Unfortunately that is likely the truth. The best wreck I ever saw was a van pulling a trailer loaded with firewood. He tossed wood across all four lanes when the sway reached maximum, then the van did an end over end. His buddy was in a jeep ahead of him and he failed to set the parking brake so it crashed as well.
I have a 1000 and a 2000 Sherline to eliminate guessing.
mcmxi
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Lifetime Member
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***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Before I set off on a 600 mile trip pulling the M6060 from Sheridan, WY back home, I measured the tongue weight (~450lb) of the unloaded MidSota trailer (3,360lb) and found that it was 13.4% of the total weight. I knew the weight of the trailer plus the M6060 was 10,720lb because I stopped on a scale in Sheridan. I had to move the tractor a few times to get the tongue weight where I wanted it which was around 1,300lb. The truck with gear, trailer and tractor was a little over 19,000lb.
That reminds me of the fellow who bought a starter home 50 years ago and is still there.
Sometimes the starter is the final product due to unforseen circumstances.
I went out to look at a fifth wheel trailer today. What I found was not worth bringing home. Yes, it is a fifth wheel. Yes it had about a 28' deck. No it was not rusted away to nothing. What was the problem?
It had 15" load range D tires with an 1120 pound load rating and maybe 3500 pound axles. The frame was 6" tall and probably 1/4" to 3/8" thick. Figure the trailer weighs 2,000 pounds. 4480 pounds minus 2,000 pounds leaves 2480 pounds of carrying capacity.
A tractor will weigh between 2 and 4 ton which is way over the trailers weight limitations. The seller told me they had 200 to 225 60 pound hay bales on it. That might work hauling it at 5mph but I would expect the tires to blow out at highway speeds.
The last straw was I pushed down on the trailers rear bumper (end) and the trailer visibly bounced all the way up to the front with the plywood floors visibly moving with the trailer like a wave. That would cause a bad day on the road if it had more of a load on it than just me pushing down on the back.
Either someone hand built the cheapest possible fifth wheel OR this was one of the lightest 5th wheel camper trailers in existence. Either way it would not hold a tractor safely on a long ride (or even a short one).
The moral of the story, look at the tire load capacity, ask for the number of lugnuts on the trailer tire rim. I would not accept less than 8 lug nut rims as those would probably be 8k axles or 16k total.
It had 15" load range D tires with an 1120 pound load rating and maybe 3500 pound axles. The frame was 6" tall and probably 1/4" to 3/8" thick. Figure the trailer weighs 2,000 pounds. 4480 pounds minus 2,000 pounds leaves 2480 pounds of carrying capacity.
A tractor will weigh between 2 and 4 ton which is way over the trailers weight limitations. The seller told me they had 200 to 225 60 pound hay bales on it. That might work hauling it at 5mph but I would expect the tires to blow out at highway speeds.
The last straw was I pushed down on the trailers rear bumper (end) and the trailer visibly bounced all the way up to the front with the plywood floors visibly moving with the trailer like a wave. That would cause a bad day on the road if it had more of a load on it than just me pushing down on the back.
Either someone hand built the cheapest possible fifth wheel OR this was one of the lightest 5th wheel camper trailers in existence. Either way it would not hold a tractor safely on a long ride (or even a short one).
The moral of the story, look at the tire load capacity, ask for the number of lugnuts on the trailer tire rim. I would not accept less than 8 lug nut rims as those would probably be 8k axles or 16k total.
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My 18 foot 10k trailer weights 2700(now closer to 2900 with the tool box and chains) and this is a bumper pull. Sounds like someone "found an old house trailer and "built" a trailer. As I have looked into that option and yes the frame is very bouncy and does not have any ability to resist twisting forces(I could stand on the corner and it would dip), which is why I declined this option.
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GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
FWIW, I found out years ago that most of the axles on a 'mobile homes' are designed and certified for ONE haul, from dealer to the trailer park, where they're unpinned ! and taken to the scrapyard. Looked it up, probably at Dexter's website, said the same.. and 'NOT to be used for utility trailer use, or words to that effect.
The normal 5 bolt axle is generally a 3500# unit, 6 bolts ,5200#. if you can see the nut in a picture ,it's a quick way to decide what the trailer can carry.
The normal 5 bolt axle is generally a 3500# unit, 6 bolts ,5200#. if you can see the nut in a picture ,it's a quick way to decide what the trailer can carry.
Anyone have experience with the Kubota K-Haul series of trailers? My ATV trailer is too light by about 750 lbs, local marketplace crap is extremely overpriced for any used or u-built junk, but my local Kubota dealer has a '22 K-Haul KHU12-3.5, brand new, for what looks like a reasonable (in 2024 CDn dollars) of $4300. It appears my Bx23S would just fit, with bucket over the front and the Bh swung to the side. No apparent room for any other implements. I'm waiting on a price from them for a 14' K-Haul dumper as well. I'm contemplating starting up a "tractor services for hire" side gig. Pic from some dealers combo package ad. Towing with a Tacoma (6400 lbs max) , or my old 80 series diesel Land Cruiser which is rated for 3500 kg, but sure wouldnt want to see any hills.
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Carefully consider insurances required, and costs, before blasting off on a "side business".
I think if I were to buy a trailer for hauling the tractor, it would be a dump trailer. They are more expensive, but more than a one trick pony.
Runs With Scissors
Well-known member
Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
This trailer will get really small, really fast in my opinion, but if your going with that size, definitely get the "dumper".
I have used my Sherline scale a decent amount. Once I figured out where to place stuff in the toy hauler to achieve 1,700 lbs on the tongue, I just kept loading it the same way every time. I'll check it if a add more bikes or "stuff" just to be safe.
nbryan
Well-known member
Equipment
B2650 BH77 LA534 54" ssqa Forks B2782B BB1560 Woods M5-4 MaxxHaul 50039
My 18' PJ car hauler dual axle 7500lb gvw with beaver tail can hold my B2650 with BH77 backhoe and FEL all attached, with backhoe pointing straight back, no need to turn it sideways. What's with this supposed 22ft trailer, smaller BH and tractor, and way less room than my 18ft unit?
I also haul using my '06 4L Tacoma 4x4, runs the rig great.
I'll post a couple of pics of the setup here again. The trailer cost me about $3500 7 years ago. The sales rep at PJ Winnipeg was great!!
fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
mcmxi
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
That's the way to do it when you haul the same load time after time.
I really need to invest in a 30ft gooseneck trailer at some point. I extended my 22ft trailer and used it for a 40 mile round-trip, but it was more than a little scary towing the big tractor and folding cutter. To make it tow better I'd need to move the axles back a couple of feet or so. That cutter weighs 4,000lb so it puts a lot of weight at the rear of a 25ft trailer which makes for an unpleasant experience.