pulling a backhoe

[kah68]

And good luck, I know its tough when you're trying to build up your own business and pay bills and pay yourself, but you'll get there!

 

[NVR FNSH]

I think some people don't realize that you have to use what you have to start out with a business.

Sorry, but that is just an excuse and a poor one at that. I applaud your efforts, CFast, but I don't agree with your actions. If, and it's a big if - I know, you were involved in a collision, found at fault and sued by the victim you wouldn't stand a chance with a jury. Why? Because "I used what I have to start my business" is not a legal defense. Basically, you're saying since you are just starting out you shouldn't be responsible for completing the job correctly. An example, a start up concrete/retaining wall/foundation guy builds a job with smaller than spec'd rebar because he couldn't afford the correct rebar. An earthquake, project crumbles and somebody is killed...



Brian

 

[tgrfan2]

Well Mike Beggy, as long as you stay in AZ, and not come to Cutler, CA, we'll never have to meet. I never asked to get to know you, and I really don't care if you want to know me. I sure am glad they are saints like you out there to protect us. It seems that most things in life scare you.

What do you carry or haul with you truck, besides your purse? Have you ever been outside of the city? There's lots of roads with nobody on them. Maybe you should take up residence on Mars so you'll be safe from all those overloaded trucks down here on Earth. I'll even put up 50K for you ticket out of here. GEE, I hope that sounded blunt.

No I don't have airbags front or rear. I wanted the trailer as short as possible so it would be lighter( I know not much), and easier to turn.

I think you would have found the longer triaxle better towing that load. Granted you saved a little weight and it turns easier, but the extra length and triaxles allow you to balance the load better. I pulled a triaxle 24' with a five foot dovetail for years with a W150 and a 3/4 ton gasser. I hauled backhoes, tractors, builing materials and grain grossing up to 32500. The most important things were balancing the load and making sure you had good trailer brakes. Like you I limited my loaded speed to 50mph and stayed on secondary roads. Good thing I didn't have a Cummins back then. I would have thought I was pulling a "light" load!

 

[CFast]

Well I finally got my dump truck. AnFL70 Freightliner, with a 8. 3 Cummins of course. 225hp, 6spd and 4. 33 gears. Yes, I hit 6th gear at 30mph, but it hauls 7 yards of D. G. great. So now I'm looking for a pintle hitch trailer to pull my backhoe. I've been looking at an Econoline Multi-Max 12ton backhoe pro. With the 4 tires INSIDE the frame rails. Anyone have any experince with this trailer? It sits 3-4 inches lower than a tandem dual,but it looks like changing that inside tire would be a pain in the butt. Any other suggestions would be nice.



So all of you that were out to shoot me for pulling it with my Ram can go worry about something else.

 

[kah68]

Congrats on the FL 70, a very wise move on your part from both a safety and dollars and cents aspect. I'm sure if you were to do a cost per mile evaluation after 4 or 5 years you would see the FL is less expensive to run and maintain than the Dodge with the work you are doing.

 

[kah68]

Oh and the Fl will last way longer working it with these loads than the Dodge will.

 

[GFritsch]

I haven't weighed it. I know the truck weighs 7200 lbs with a full tank and no one in it. The trailer weighs 5500 lbs empty. Cat lists that backhoe between 14,000 and 15,000 lbs. I got rid of the 16. 5's and bought 16's. I run 305/70/16 nitto terra grappler's. They're load range E and I think each tire is rated at 3495 lbs. I'm guessing I have about 1500 lbs on the truck because it's not touching the upper overload spring yet. I had 1800 lbs of concrete mix in bags and that just made the overload springs touch the upper stops. These trucks can handle A LOT of weight. The GVWR on the door of the truck is 8800lbs and the truck wieghs 7200lbs. That only leaves 1600lbs of cargo. 1600lbs doesn't even touch the overload springs, and barely makes the ride smooth!

Where do the extra hoe buckets ride? Most guys cary them in the loader bucket. This will increase your pin weight. Adding a fuel tank and tool box's to the bed will also increase the payload. I know the Ram will pull almost anything, but I would keep your eye out for a decent 10 wheeler dump. This way you can off-haul or move spoils around and not worry about being overload or damaging your truck.



just my 2 cents,

Greg

 

[PatrickCampbell]

greg think you missed the last post. he just bought a Freightliner FL70.

 

[GFritsch]

greg think you missed the last post. he just bought a Freightliner FL70.

You Sir, are correct! Not only his last post, but the whole second page. DOH



CFast congrats on you new rig!



Greg

 

[MArreola]

heavy pull

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

I've got a 23000 reach fork and I'm tired of paying $80/hr to have it moved...

What kind of trailer are you using, and how did you set up your truck to handle it? I'm trailer shopping now, and the biggest I can find is a Big Tex GN25 which has a GVWR of about 28k but weighs 7k = payload capacity of 20k. Definitely a DOT no-no, but will it handle the weight?

I'll take any advice I can get re: loading and towing- I've never pulled anything bigger than a utility trailer