pulling a backhoe

[CFast]

I'm looking at buying a backhoe and wondering if my ram will pull it. The backhoe alone weighs 15,000lbs, the trailer is probably another 3,000. It's the truck in my sig. Right now the tires are 33x 12. 5x16. 5 BFG AT's. Will she pull it with 3. 54 gears and a stock engine?

 

[RonnieGilman]

I'm looking at buying a backhoe and wondering if my ram will pull it. The backhoe alone weighs 15,000lbs, the trailer is probably another 3,000. It's the truck in my sig. Right now the tires are 33x 12. 5x16. 5 BFG AT's. Will she pull it with 3. 54 gears and a stock engine?

I pull a JCB 1550 Backhoe with my truck the hoe is about 28000 and trailer is about 7800pnds and my truck pulls it no problem,,,,,,,,,,,,just have a little trouble slowing down

 

[CFast]

pulls it down the highway? or down 2 lane roads in 4 low? that's alot of weight!

 

[Got Smoke?]

The almight Cummins will pull most anything you hook it to, its just getting that big load stopped that is a problem. If your gonna be pulling THAT much weight get a exhaust brake!



We have several backhoe companies around my hometown and most of them use old used Dumptrucks, etc. . to pull their backhoes with. One company though only use's a 2001 Dodge 3500. :-laf He says he still gets jaws hitting the ground when people ask him what he pull's that backhoe with! :-laf



Boy does she sound MEAN with that 'hoe behind 'er though! Oo. He also has a BD exhaust break.

 

[Sojourner]

I'm looking at buying a backhoe and wondering if my ram will pull it. The backhoe alone weighs 15,000lbs, the trailer is probably another 3,000. It's the truck in my sig. Right now the tires are 33x 12. 5x16. 5 BFG AT's. Will she pull it with 3. 54 gears and a stock engine?

Just a thought, but ya might wanna check that trailer closer. I don't think a trailer that weighs in at 3,000# is going to carry a backhoe weighting 15K#, at least not for very long. To carry that kind of load you need a serious trailer with tandem 10K# axles minimum, which will weigh substantially more than 3K# empty. Shoot, our HD 18 ft. bumper pull utility trailer we use for transporting the Bobcat weighs 3,750# empty and I would never consider putting a 15K# backhoe on that.



Most importantly you want a trailer with the brakes that are built for such a load, otherwise you're liable to find yourself in a real jam.



I'm certain your Ram will pull that and much more, but like the others posted, you will need to do something to improve your braking capability on the TV.

 

[Rman]

We do it all the time with a tandem axle goose. No real problems, then again we're slightly modded too.

 

[CFast]

Well it was just a guess on the trailer weight. I was thinking of a tandem axle gooseneck, and I really haven't looked into how much they weigh. Yeah I guess 3,000 would be light. What about 3. 54 gears? Would I need 4. 10's? I'm planning on getting a box, not sure which one yet, any ideas there? Would I really need an exhaust brake for just pulling on FLAT ground? There's no hills here in the Valley.

I've thought about getting a dump truck. It's either that or jeep cherokee. I have 2 kids now and the ram is the family car. So if I need the ram to pull the backhoe the wife and kids would have to walk. Wife says,"uh, no". thanks for the info so far.

 

[Dieselram]

WHOA hold on... ya'll are all overlooking one BIG thing. . THOSE bfg's are not rated to pull that kinda load. . you are gonna have to lose the mall terrains and get some GOOD E-rated tires or you might wind up in a ditch somewhere with a blown rear tire

 

[NIsaacs]

I have a set of 35x12. 50Rx16. 5 BFG-AT's, load range-D. They are rated at 3385lbs at 50 psi cold, and a set of 285x75Rx16 load range-D. They are rated 3305lbs at 65psi cold. I think your 33's will do about as good as any stock "E" rated tire. A two hundred pound difference one way or the other is not much difference against a 25,000lbs+ load. The backhoe can be placed on the trailer to not over load the truck. Again a few hundred pounds over or under wont hurt. Your truck, set up as it is, will pull the backhoe and trailer just fine. You will be over weight, but you wont be the first or the last





"NICK"

 

[BBarry]

I have pulled a backhoe on a 9ton tag trailer around with a chevy C30 dump. The truck was stock with a 350 4spd and 4. 10's. If that chevy can pull it without to much difficulty than I would think your truck can do it.



My truck has 285 tires on it and 3. 55 gears and it will launch 20,000lbs of trailer no problem. The motor is stock.

 

[CFast]

I'm planning on switching to goodyear mt/r's when/if these tires ever wear out. Wow, these trucks are even stronger than I thought.

 

[Mingoglia]

The "mall" terrains may hold the weight but a load range e tire is stiff so you're not going to get as much tread squirm... .

 

[Cooker]

The "all" terrains may hold the weight but a load range e tire is stiff so you're not going to get as much tread squirm... .

I agree. The weight rating is not always the most important factor to consider.

 

[NIsaacs]

A good D-rated 33", wide based tire with wide wheel to match, will out perform any stock type E-rated narrow tire (like the 235x85Rx16) in towing or hauling conditions. The E-rated 265x75R16 with an 8" wheel is a good combo. The main issue with tire selection, is good name brand, high quality products, not cheep junk. The BFG's in any size or rating, is good stuff





"NICK"

 

[MMiller]

My first gen handled loads like that with the 33" tires/3. 54 gears quite well. I did have the pump tweaked pretty good though. You probably run as much power stock as my first gen did tweaked. Now with the larger injectors it just moves that much easier.



I have been running "D" BFGs for some time towing heavy. In my setup, they squirmed much less then the load range E stock michelins did. However I did not play with the "E" tire pressure much. With them at 80 psi the "E"'s squirmed pretty badly. With the "D"s at 50 psi same loads no squirm. I think the width of the tire had more to do with the stability.



This all being said, be sure everything, repeat EVERYTHING, is in top working order, tires pumped up hard on the rear, brakes in good shape, and the tires must be in good shape, like Nick said, NO JUNK. Don't get carried away, with that load it can get out of shape easily. You will have to find the proper placement of the tractor on the trailer. Too far forward and the truck will bottom out, too far back and the truck will bounce badly because of not enough weight on the truck. 6" to a foot for or aft will screw up the balance on my trailer when heavily loaded. Just practice and go easy!



My trailer wieghs about 7000# empty, and I have hauled several CAT backhoes and skidsteers on it with no problems. Just works the truck really nice.



Michael

 

[moparguy]

My JohnDeere weights about 14k, and the Belshe trailer is about 6k. It pulls with no prob, stopping is the issue. As others have said, you need a good exhaust brake, and I would not consider less than E rated tires, truck and trailer.



I also wouldn't consider not using a 3500. But that's just me.



3. 55s I suspect would be OK, if you have trouble untracking, you can always go to 2nd, low range.



Good luck, RJR

 

[bombero]

" I just hauled this big thing, no problem". Well if I was following you,you would have a big problem. Probably the 9mm kind. We were going hunting a few year ago and followed a stupid moron from WY/CO state line all the way to Steamboat Springs Co. I had my pistol locked and loaded but thank God there was a Co. State patrolman sitting at a intersection. I pull in and told him what happened. He took off code three!! Next day the backhoe and trailer was sitting in a wide spot. No truck around. Saved me a long term in jail!

 

[NIsaacs]

bombero, I think you are out of line here. If you want to think it, go ahead, but do not use threatening and intimidating tactics on this thread. This kind of behavior is unnecessary and very unwelcome!!





"NICK"

 

[Cooker]

" I just hauled this big thing, no problem". Well if I was following you,you would have a big problem. Probably the 9mm kind. We were going hunting a few year ago and followed a stupid moron from WY/CO state line all the way to Steamboat Springs Co. I had my pistol locked and loaded but thank God there was a Co. State patrolman sitting at a intersection. I pull in and told him what happened. He took off code three!! Next day the backhoe and trailer was sitting in a wide spot. No truck around. Saved me a long term in jail!

You are going to shoot who for what WTF! Did I miss something?

 

[Sojourner]

You are going to shoot who for what WTF! Did I miss something?

You're not the only one