The dump would definitely be a nice option however I don't often get lucky enough to find log-length stuff by the road. Most of what I scrounge is farther back away from the road so it has to be bucked or at least cut down to manageable lengths to carry/drag out of the woods. My primary scrounging location is a narrow, dead-end, forest service road that only has two spots where you can turn around with a trailer so I seldom take a trailer there. While the dump would be a nice addition to the stable, I think I would rather have the car hauler for the tractor and just use the utility trailer when I'm lucky enough to score log length stuff. I have a grapple for the tractor and skidding tongs as well so getting the logs off the trailer at home isn't an issue.
First, there is far too much logic in your statement for a Sunday morning. Yes sounds like the car hauler is the way to go for yourself. Everyone has their primary needs.
I will add imo, dollar for dollar gas is the better deal. Maintenance sucks, but the for me the 7.3 reliability out weighed the maintenance cost. If I were to buy new it would be gas all the way. Although at least diesel is about the same as gas for now.
It all depends on the terrain you are pulling in. Down here we have some hills, haven't had to pull in the mountains yet. Make sure you get DA with brakes on both. We pull a 7x12 dump trailer with F150, 4.6L with torque cam. I know I'm overloading sometimes. With the Kubota on the dump trailer, it's about 8500lbs. It will hold 1 cord of wood thrown on, 1.25 stacked level with the sides. We also have 16ft equipment trailer, 16" sides will hold 1 cord stacked. I have added air bags and leveling hitch to the dump trailer.
Agree on this. Here in southern indiana we have some steep hills, but they are super short. I like that dump trailer, wish i had one.
I have a 1998 dodge 2500 V10 and I overload that often, I even broke off a overload bump stop from to much weight in it. That is in the shop right now with the top end pulled apart, so I am driving a 1996 chevy S10 with a 2.2, 5 speed manual and a 1/2 rusted frame... May have pushed that a little as well. 3500 lbs of concrete not including the trailer or plywood
Those little 2.2 S-10's were only rated to tow 1500 lbs I believe. Was that a bumper pull? Please tell us no.
As a new dump trailer owner, I waited to long to buy one, should have done it long ago. I tow with a 2500 Ram with a cummins. Trailer is 14' x 2'x 82" if load heavy its a lot of trailer for a 2500 a 3500 would be a better choice. Plenty of motor a little light for a tow vehicle. I fell the weight of the trailer. It tows/pulls great and I am glad I have this model and would buy the same size again.
Modern half ton trucks are and entirely different critter than they were 20 years ago. 6-10 speed transmissions really helped them out a lot. My truck has the "small" 4.6 V8, "tall" gears at 3.31....but still tows 7K fairly easily. I wouldn't want to tow it up a mountain or hundreds of miles with that much on it, but for the occaisional firewood run it is fine. Also, if your truck wants to run 5K RPM up a hill....let it. They can spin up a lot higher older engines and will run cooler doing so. The biggest limiting factor, IMO, is your TBC, the tires on your truck, and how you load the trailer to get right tongue weight. TBC must me installed and set up right. P-rates tires are too splashy for heavy loads, and too little / too much tongue weight can get downright scary.
This post is a master's class for those of us contemplating a trailer/truck hook up. I'm enjoying the input.Thanks to all.
It was a bumper pull, and yes it was way over what is it was rated to pull, I think the receiver hitch on the truck says 1000lbs, but it was loaded so there was no toung weight on the truck and it was only a 7 mile drive, 35 mph with my 4 ways on and all back road. I was waiting to rip the hitch off the truck, but I had to get the project done and was in a f$# it mood at said point, if it broke the hitch I was just going to grab the tractor and finish hauling it home. You should have seen when I hualed my self propelled haybine home 2 hours. Our flatbed goose neck trailer is 8ft wide, haybine has a 12 ft head and the front tires are 14in wide. Both front tires were only on the trailer 1.5 inch's on both sides. I had that thing X chained plus straps, never moved but boy was I watching it very closely in the mirrors on the way home, wish I still had the photos but they were on my old phone
Great thread. I was wondering if I could pull this with an MTD lawn mower too? Have to admit though, there is no brake hook up?
Try hauling wet oak it puts everything to the test . It's a minnesota dilemma atleast it's pretty flat here lol . Takes 3 years to dry lol. Sent from my LGL722DL using Tapatalk
I have hauled wet oak when I lived outside. I live at 2000asl and pull as high as 4200asl then add 3-7% grades for 1-5 miles add the ice and snow. I am pretty sure I have put a 2500 to the test, and when I say a 3500 should be the minimum.... If I could justify the cost a 550 or 5500 would be my tow rig.
Alls well that ends well, right? I’ve been beating up my old gmc Sonoma for the seven years I’ve owned it and it’s still going strong.
I’ve been known to overload mine a bit. Can’t imagine living without my dump trailer with winch now. My least favorite part of woodn was always loading the trailer (bad back blues). I brought home all those logs the first month I had the setup but that was a once in a lifetime score of 80 oak trees all dropped on the side of the road in one spot waiting for some love. You don’t see that everyday. (little ash in the front) For tractor hauling a dump isn’t the best option. Higher to get on and higher center of gravity on the road.
Drove 210 miles one way and back to the house. It towed alright, if I was just buying the tractor and accessories I would have used my equipment hauler and would have had room to spare and not needed to fill the bed.
Late august, I was delivering a cord of firewood to a customer. Little further than I usually deliver but didn’t have anything going so I agreed. Just took my time. 2 face in the trailer and one in the truck. Just a few miles from his place, I crossed a bridge and coming off of it I felt something shift and then heard a scraping noise! Slow down to the shoulder and walk back to find that tongue had finally given way and buckled between the trailer and the truck hitch. Shows over! Unhooked and left trailer while I delivered truckload, then returned 2 times to the trailer to get the rest delivered. Took a 2x4 and some ratchet straps to reinforce the trailer tongue so I could pull it home. Went to steel warehouse and grabbed some new steel stock. This one ought to hold! Keep on saying I’m gonna rebuild the sides when I don’t need the trailer for a while. Still waiting for that to happen
