Tow Ignorant

I have the the opportunity to buy an 8x12 wood floor trailer. Was wondering if my 04 Dbl Cab would have any trouble pulling and stopping. Will eventually be hauling a Kubota B7100 and two ATV's. Sorry, I didn't feel like using the search before I posted but I will when I have more time.

 

55 views and no response?

 

You want to tow the tractor AND 2 ATV's? How much does the trailer itself weigh? Just add everything up, figure out the weight of the trailer and intended cargo (that tractor weighs about 1,100# without any attachments BTW), determine what your receiver is rated at and see if you're within your limits. Depending on the trailer's weight, you might be close. Are you wired for trailer brakes? Does the trailer even have brakes? The reason you don't have any responses is because you didn't give hardly any information to begin with and flat out admitted you were too lazy to search for an answer...

Here, I'll throw you a bone, first sticky in the towing section:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

 

Well, I'll bite, even though Pugga just about summed it up. I tow a lot, and have for a long time. Nothing real heavy, but I know trailers. You are probably talking about a car trailer if it's an 8x12 with a wood floor. Is it a single or dual axle? Most car haulers are dual axle and weigh close to a ton by themselves. They almost always have integrated trailer brakes. Even though you didn't do any searching, I still took the time to look up what your Kabota weighs- 1080 dry. Might be closer to 1200 wet and if there are attachments at all, you go higher. 4 Wheelers run close to 600lbs wet on average. So you are pulling 4280 right there and if I am correct your truck will pull 6500. Should be fine. If you have never owned a trailer before, be prepared to do a lot of work on it. Trailers are notorious for being neglected and let me tell you- having a trailer break down on the road is almost worse than having your truck break down. Axles, hubs, lights, couplers... plan on servicing them all.

 

Thanks Pugga and Jethro. I was asking how much do you think the trailer weighs. I have looked all over and can't determine its weight. The trailer is out of state and I can't get in touch with the owner right now so... It is a single axle with electric brakes. Sorry for being so vague. When I will tow it will be the tractor by itself and the two ATV's by their self. My truck owners manual stated 3500lbs in the specs. It is without tow package. I already knew the weights of my cargo. Thanks again.

 

hey surefire. we have a 7x12. with expanded metal floor and 2 gates. i think it’s about 800 to 1k.

my guess is the one you are talking about is going to be close to 900 to maybe 1200.

also idk about the ’04’s but when we are loaded up read to go 4 wheeling(the rhino and a 350 honda rancher, i estimate our weight at around 3k giver or take a little. I have no trouble topping it, even on hills are 75mph. heck unless i am really putting on brakes at 75 because i get cut off, i can hardly tell it’s behind me. but i see your truck is rated at 3500lbs? maybe you would have a harder time. i know i’m rated at 6500.

 

FWIW:
We used to own a dual axle steal open deck 14' car hauler. It weighed 1200lbs (without toolbox).

 

My 7x14 double axle cargo trailer is about 2,000 lbs. Pulled it from Oregon to Colorado across the Rockies with my 2009 TRD sport with no problems & even kept up good speed on the hills. Not sure, but it was full & probably pushing the 6,500 lbs rating of my truck (has the tow package).

Trailer brakes are required on trailers over 3,500 lbs in most states for good reason, get email & a decent brake controller if the loaded trailer will be anywhere close. Then learn how to use & adjust the controller properly. The trailer brakes should be set to come on strong enough to slow the truck & trailer by themselves, but not lockup. Lockup voltage will vary depending on your load. Hitting just the trailer brakes can stop a trailer from distilling in a bad situation (fishtailing probably means your trailer weight isn't distributed right though).

 

that is what math geeks call an equation with too many unknowns..

trailer unknown..kubota unknown..and ATVs..what kind? unknown...

the answer is 3.789 x U to the fifth power!!

my friends empty car trailer is 1700lbs. you will be pushing it.

 

Haha, exactly! My cousin has a 2000lb car hauler he moves his scissor lifts with. His rig is a F150 with 11k lbs tow capacity and I sure wouldn't want to tow with anything less for that trailer. I swap trucks with him if I ever need to borrow it.

 

Just not enough details here. You're saying its a single axle and has trailer brakes? Most manufacturers dont install brakes on a single 3500 pound axle. They use the same axle and rate it at 2990 GVW so they arent required to install them. This trailer could have a 5000 pound 6 lug axle. Might be pretty meaty then. For a smaller truck I would recommend you get something like Janster posted (maybe with a full deck). Sounds kind of weird that I recommend a bigger trailer for a smaller truck but let me explain, because I have experience.

I have a single axle 6X12 with 2 foot metal sides trailer with drop down ramp gate. It weighs about 1200 pounds. I also had, but recently sold a dual axle 7X18 foot flat bed trailer, it weighed about 1750-1800 pounds. I towed both with my 4 cylinder reg cab Tacoma and the Tacoma handled the dual axle trailer alot better. It tracked and pulled smoother, it jerked the truck around less, it was smoother with a load, and it swayed the truck around less. You just cant beat 4 wheels contacting the ground VS only 2. Even with a small load, like 700 pounds, my single axle is already starting to sway the truck a little, not the case with the dual axle. This isnt a problem with my Tundra because its so much bigger, but with a smaller truck you will feel it.

Long story short, get a dual axle 12 or 14, or even 16 foot long trailer, because single axles that big suck unless you have a V6 second gen, a Tundra, Dakota, or even bigger truck. And the trailer Janster posted probably weighs less than the one youre interested in too.