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praha4752
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 68
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2007-06-08          142783


I have a 3 ft. high heavy duty trailer/deck over wheels/.
I thought I could use it for towing L3400with FEL.
Now I am not so sure. Towing distance between 300 and 1000 miles. A couple of times a year.
BAD idea????????????????????????????????????????

Thanks,
Joe




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candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2007-06-08          142786


Praha4752,

Starting and stopping won't be a problem for you. Your only concern will be when making turns at higher speeds, due to the high center of gravity.

If you take the turns at slow speeds, I don't believe you'll have any problems.

Additionally, you'll want to watch your overhead clearances. Your rollover protection system (ROPS) should be folded down (if possible) when transporting your tractor, as you will be well over 10 feet high. This will only be a concern in urban areas, where tree branches can sometimes hang quite low over the city streets.

You're only 18 inches higher than you would be with a lower trailer. It's not a big problem, but for the higher center of gravity, which will effect your ability to make turns at higher speeds.

Joel

....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-06-08          142790


What Joel said. Plus BRAKES. If you don't have a working brake system on that trailer, don't tow your tractor a single mile

How much does that trailer weigh anyway? How many axles?

//greg// ....


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praha4752
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 68
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2007-06-09          142808



Thank you guys,

I will have to tow it 80 miles s l o w without brakes. I do not have something I'd need /on my truck/. Have brakes on the trailer , F 150 with towing package , but don't have what I need to make it work... towing in north WI, and UP Michigan today, no traffic. I will fix a missing brake part ASAP. I agreee with you Greg 100percent, I thought towing package means I can tow.....?
What actually scares me the most is a tractor with FEL above my head.... I will buy a lowboy for a long distances. And a brake away system? I am used to towing 2 ATVs on a narrow trailer w/o any trouble. THIS is a different story. Great weekend.


Joe ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-06-09          142813


Assuming it's a late model F150, it should also have a brake controller plug-in at the bottom of the dash somewhere. Wiring in a brake controller on older trucks was a pain. Now it's almost plug-n-play. Unfortunately, the controller itself is not usually part of the towing package. You just have to make sure you select a brake controller that has a wiring harness specific to your make and model. Even if you don't want to install it yourself, you should be able to get buy for under a hundred bucks

Probably the hardest part for you will be getting the trailer brakes to work. They're almost certainly rusty (if not frozen), and I'm betting the electrical ground probably isn't any good anymore either.

//greg// ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-06-09          142821


I wouldn't be caught dead (no pun intended) on the highway especially here in Michigan without brakes if you get popped by a DOT or certified trooper. Then there's the issue of the tow vehicle being overloaded based on the placard/sticker/label on the truck door. When I think of a heavy duty traler as you desribe I think of a full size 14,000-20,000 GVW equipment trailer. You didn't say how many axles but if it has three or more you better have a CDL.

And that is "break away kit" which means a separate battery backup connected into the brake system by a small wire-rope cable (and switch) connected to the tow vehicle. If the tow vehicle and the trailer become separated, the switch activates the brakes supposedly stopping it on its own. ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-06-09          142822


As far as being too high and going around corners, I don't see that being a problem. However, with a 1/2 ton pulling it loaded with a high center of gravity you will have a head-jarring ride as the rear springs let alone the fronts of the truck will not have enough resistance to dampen the effects of the tractor along withe the trailer going over bumps in the road. A weight distributing will help but is not a cure-all. A 3/4- or 1-ton is. ....


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DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2007-06-09          142823


Better do some math here........ I suspect you are going to be way out of F150 towing specs.

Do you have any idea how much the trailer weighs when empty??

How about the tractor/loader? ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-06-11          142847


I don't see the height as an issue, especially if the trailer has fairly heavy suspension, 7,000+ pounds. A tractor is, relatively speaking, pretty narrow, generally less than 5' wide, and even then most of the weight, engine, trans, etc., is on the centerline.

I do agree with DRankins concern though, I beleive an F150 will be out of it's towing limits with that rig. It wouldn't take much of a heavy duty trailer to be 2,000 pounds, the tractor is another 2,500 pounds, the FEL another 500 pounds. We're at 5,000 pounds and we haven't even added any implements yet.

Without brakes working 100% on both truck & trailer, I wouldn't even take it down the driveway.

Best of luck. ....


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praha4752
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 68
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2007-06-12          142904


Thank you guys for your time and advices.
I've done it over the weekend.

It is 2400 lb trailer , Kubota 3400 with FEL is about 4000. Total 6500 lb and F150 towing capacity is 9000. No working NO traffic.
I am not sure , if I want to take it back home w/o brakes /300 miles/..........
But, I have 4 months to decide. I like the trailer, but it is too heavy for f 150, indeed.
So, I will sell it and will have to buy something else. I definitively need something light....and..... good. Something about 1500 pounds of weight, 16/18 ft, with ramps. Since Kubota will have a backhoe eventually, I should have a good trailer. ANY SUGGESTIONS??????
I mean who makes a good trailer for a decent money , I am in IL. but traveling is not an issue. I mean , about 400 miles would be a limit, anyway.

Thanks a milion.

joe ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2007-06-12          142914


They make inexpensive but capable 16' tandems by the thousands over in Sikeston, MO. You can have them optioned out about anyway you want. Bargain basement models with two 3500# axles have no sides, no brakes, used tires/rims, painted floor. Steel prices have risen since I got mine, but you used to be able to get a barebones 16' tandem in Sikeston for about $600. Mine has brakes on one axle, new tires, treated floor, sides/tailgate, and ramps. I think I've got maybe $1200 in it. I bought it locally, so that figure includes delivery from Sikeston and the seller's margin. I'm thinkin' I could have got it for under a grand if I'd gone there myself and made a direct purchase.

//greg// ....


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praha4752
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 68
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2007-06-13          142931


Greg,
I was in Sikeston 2 months ago...............and I was going to buy something from them , but I did not have a tractor at that time, and I was not sure what I was going to do, so I did not buy anything.
I might go down to AR in September. I did not know , that they will do a " custom" frame. I'd like to paint it and finish it myself. My own wiring, my own stop lights, etc.
Thanks,

Joe ....


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