Largest Tractor on Car Hauler and Half Ton Pickup

Bill VA · Oct 22, 2021

What is the largest tractor you safely haul using a car hauler pulled by a half ton pickup?

Considering something to haul my MF50 and JD 5055d, but would also like to know how large a tractor you can reasonable haul for 100 plus miles with this truck trailer combo - flat land and mountains.

It would be bumper hitch too. How wide a trailer, how long and how big hp a tractor could one safely haul, i.e. MF 175 or 285 or something else like an AC 185 or other tractors. I would say a Ford 7710 would be to large? Maybe a Ford 5000 would be OK?

Just looking for a reasonable range of tractor sizes you haul (for future purchases) with your car hauler and half ton pickup truck and recommendations. Not interested in a three quarter ton or ton truck or fifth wheel at this point.

Thanks!
Bill

Ken Macfarlane · Oct 22, 2021

What half ton? They have tow ratings from 3500 lb to 14,300 lb.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 22, 2021

Are most car haulers 7k trailers.
2k for trailer, 5 k for hauling.
Might be 10k haulers. Not sure.
Big Tex trailers
The 60EC Tandem Axle Car Hauler from Big Tex is a durable economy-style car hauler that is great for autos, small tractors, ATVs and side-by-sides. It has (2) 3.5k axles.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 22, 2021

Are most car haulers 7k trailers.
2k for trailer, 5 k for hauling.
Might be 10k haulers. Not sure.
Big Tex trailers
The 60EC Tandem Axle Car Hauler from Big Tex is a durable economy-style car hauler that is great for autos, small tractors, ATVs and side-by-sides. It has (2) 3.5k axles.

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 22, 2021

If by "car hauler" you mean a trailer that has tandem axles with 5-lug wheels, then your total load trailer plus tractor would be around 7000lbs, and at that weight you are right at the rated limit of the tires and axles. Less if the trailer is old and fatigued.

As these trailers tend to weigh 1500-2000lbs empty, you are looking at a tractor that runs in the 5000-5500lb range.

Generally speaking 7000lbs is the limit of what's "comfortable" behind a half ton truck for most people. Unless you have one of those super duper half ton trucks with the big engine and extra payload package. Farmers tend to be bolder, don't mind taking it slower, don't mind pushing the limits.

I'm not talking "safe" or "legal" here. I'm talking COMFORTABLE. A sketchy load is no fun to haul on a regular basis. I've done sketchy loads but they were short distance and one time. Dragging a tractor back and forth 100 miles, I would want it to be as comfortable as possible.

Welding man · Oct 22, 2021

We have a puller in our club that hauls 2 M Farmalls and his weights and 3 passengers on a 20 ft bumper pull with a new 4 door Chevrolet 1500. I have a new Ford F 150 with the 5.0 with towing and off road packages and a 18 ft bumper pull that I haul a Oliver Super 88 that weights 7000# or I haul an 8n and a Cockshutt 30 at the same time that weigh in in at 6500#. Both handle fine and plenty of power and no problem stopping with the tow haul mode in the transmission.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 22, 2021

I agree, comfortable. I've found the comfort zone is based on where you park the
tractor. And if you have no choice where you park the tractor and overload the tongue,
you need a weight transfer hitch or you will have white nickles..

Geo-TH,In · Oct 22, 2021

Do you use a car hauler??

I bent an axle overloading a 7k trailer. two 3.5k axles.

DRussell · Oct 22, 2021

In my opinion an AC 185, MF 175 and 285 are all too big for a car hauler type of trailer. Ford 5000 would be pushing it to the max.

We have an AC 190 gas, and hauled it a short distance on a car hauler type of trailer a few years ago. It was too much load for the trailer. The 185 is very similar size wise.

Your 50 would be ok on a car hauler trailer with a half ton truck if the trailer has brakes. I'm not sure how much your 5055D weighs, it might be ok too.

Regarding width, you would want a trailer that is wider than your tractor. Deck width on trailers that don't have the deck above the wheels are about 78 inches wide.

wjytexas · Oct 22, 2021

I haul my MF 50 on a 16 ft. car hauler with brakes but use a F250. I have hauled the MF 65 but feel that's pushing it capacity wise.

Jim.ME · Oct 22, 2021

I think a 5055 would be at, or above, load limit for a 7K trailer depending on attachments on it and ballasting. Likely close enough for local moves, likely not 100 mile trips.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 22, 2021

What class hitch??

Determined · Oct 22, 2021

My car hauler has tandem 7000 lb axles and is rated for a maximum cargo weight of 12600 lbs.

If you start with that 12600 as the maximum then factor in what your unknown to us truck is rated for you will have your answer regarding weight.

Next is size, unless the tractor you want to haul is quite narrow the rear wheels will not fit between the fenders if driven on facing forward.
Loaded this way a typical car hauler trailer will be so tail heavy it will be unmanageable.

On mine I can remove the jack, unhook the trailer then drive the tractor on from the front, pick the tongue up with a floor jack, re-hook and go with the weight where I need it.

Pulling the trailer with a 1-ton dually I hauled a Case 970 with a loader on it and I would say that it was on the upper limits of what I would comfortably want to have on it.

On a single rear wheel half ton I have pulled some sketchy loads when I was younger, now days in my opinion a typical half ton is best used for pulling boats, golf carts and utility trailers.

There are of course exceptions as some HD 1/2 tons came equipped with 8 bolt wheels, big engines and brakes.

showcrop · Oct 22, 2021

There is no substitute for doing the math. Truck capacity less trailer weight = load capacity. Comfort has little to do with it, because obviously comfort for one person is white knuckles for another, and many people have no respect for the law and very little common sense.

JLMac · Oct 22, 2021

My trailer has 14,000 gvrw and tractor weighs 5500. Hauls it ok but there is always somebody that has to pull out in front you witch is extremely annoying on a long trip. Will only haul heavier on short hauls. Can legally haul another 1500 lbs.

Goose · Oct 22, 2021

True.

When I was in automotive sales, the most consistent mistake I saw buyers make was underestimating the capacity they needed in a tow vehicle. They'd look at half ton pickups when they should have been looking at three quarter, or three quarter when they should have been looking at one tons and duallies.

You couldn't win. If you tried to steer them up to what they really needed, they'd accuse you of trying to bump up the sale to make a bigger commission. And if you sold them what they wanted and it wasn't up to the job, they'd try to come back at you for that.

Drew · Oct 22, 2021

I wouldn't dream of putting dad's 5000 Ford behind a half ton truck. It has a loader, and the rear tires have calcium in them and with a driver it weighs right at 8500#.

paul · Oct 22, 2021

Many car hauler trailers are rated for 6-7,000 lbs and would max out at a much smaller tractor than you mention.

I guess hauling 12 miles to the repair shop once in 6 years I would try a heavier tractor and drive 30mph, but not for a planned 100 mile trip.

Generally a half ton pickup wont do well with more than 9-10,000 lbs behind it, including the trailer. And that is pushing it over the limit I think. So, if you get a better car hauler trailer, you will then be limited by the pickup. Brakes and tranny and power, the cooling system, again a simple slow short haul every couple years fine, but not for planned 100 mile trips.

Really doesnt matter the size or model of tractor, it matters what it weighs. A loader, liquid in tires, cast weights, you have a heavy brush hog along, etc. it is all so variable. Difficult to specify a certain model, it is more about what your machine actually weighs.

Pete in Holland MI · Oct 22, 2021

Generic terms:

Car hauler - - generally referred to a trailer with a pair of 3000 or 3500 lb axles. Load capacity has to include the weight of the trailer on the axles, so generally a maximum load of 5000 lbs or so. Generally only 2 axles. A lighter duty version of this would be a landscape trailer, designed for hauling lawn mowers around.

Equipment hauler - - trailer with a pair of 5000 or 7000 lb axles. Trailer itself is generally heavier built, so factor that into the load equation. Can have 2 or 4 axles. Once in a while.....4 axles.

Although both trailers will haul the average car, you can get yourself into trouble referring to all tandem axle trailers as car haulers.

timcasbolt · Oct 22, 2021

(quoted from post at 10:17:23 10/22/21) True.

When I was in automotive sales, the most consistent mistake I saw buyers make was underestimating the capacity they needed in a tow vehicle. They'd look at half ton pickups when they should have been looking at three quarter, or three quarter when they should have been looking at one tons and duallies.

You couldn't win. If you tried to steer them up to what they really needed, they'd accuse you of trying to bump up the sale to make a bigger commission. And if you sold them what they wanted and it wasn't up to the job, they'd try to come back at you for that.

ext door neighbor bought a big travel trailer, took the information to his trusted Chevy dealer and they put him in a half ton. Within one year they sold him a 3/4 ton Duramax. Can't tell me the dealer didn't see him as an opportunity to sell two trucks.

Welding man · Oct 22, 2021

I don't have a 7000# Trailer. It is a 12,000. And I have 3 others all 14,000# goosenecks ,but I don't pull those with my F150 either. Also
I have straightened dozens of those axles on my frame machine. I even make axles when necessary.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 23, 2021

I'd start with looking at the Gross Combination Weight on the door tag of the truck and the weight ratings on the trailer.I sat on the scales on I81 South of Winchester VA with a MM GVI on the back of my F550 while the scale guy looked it up.I was legal.

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