Will it do it?

bowhunterchris · June 21, 2013

This weekend im going to tow a 4500 pound tractor on a 16ft lowboy trailer. I have a 2003 GMC sierra 5.3 with 3.73 rear gears. Can I safely pull that weight? I would say total weight at 5500lbs. roughly 50 miles round trip. I think it can do it but wont like it. This will be the biggest thing it has towed.

NitroCherokee · June 21, 2013

That truck should tow 5500 lbs without breaking a sweat. I hope you have a trailer brake setup tho

nht mike · June 21, 2013

The truck should pull that load with ease providing you have, trailer brakes, a good hitch adjusted so the trailer sets level when loaded, the weight on the trailer situated so you have about 10% tongue weight and, all the tires properly inflated. I would keep the speed down to 50 or so until you feel comfortable with the load.

Mike

The truck should pull that load with ease providing you have, trailer brakes, a good hitch adjusted so the trailer sets level when loaded, the weight on the trailer situated so you have about 10% tongue weight and, all the tires properly inflated. I would keep the speed down to 50 or so until you feel comfortable with the load.

Mike

JrocK817 · June 21, 2013

You'll have no problem at all. Like Nitro said, Trailer brake setup is a must tho. If you dont have one, uhaul rents wireless prodigy controllers. Not sure on price

bowhunterchris · June 21, 2013

Trailer does not have brakes, none of our farm trailers do. I was going to do mostly back roads with maybe 5 miles of hwy driving. I have hauled two tons of rock before and it braked alright. Maybe it will give me a reason to put new pads on, haha. Thanks for the input fellers

bowhunterchris · June 21, 2013

And I have a bully dog on it so I can moniter all fluid temps. Thats what I bought it for. LOL

bowhunterchris · June 22, 2013

Pulled the tractor just fine. Wish I had trailer brakes but I just used the engine to brake. Tranny never got over 195 which I think is awesome.

LongrangeLauber · June 22, 2013

Ive tried 5000 lbs. on just my truck brakes and I didn't like it so I turned the trailer brakes back on immediately haha... I think my truck stops in a shorter distance with a loaded 5000 lb. trailer with trailer brakes compared to not towing and normal brakes. Maybe I just have the trailer brakes adjusted too high

music · June 22, 2013

For future reference, I'd make sure to have trailer brakes w/ that much load. Normal stopping isn't an issue, but if someone pulls out, or stops suddenly, you're up a creek. Most states require trailer brakes over ~3000 lbs, so that's a problem if you cause a wreck (not to mention if you hurt yourself or someone).

SouthCo · June 23, 2013

You will know its back there for sure. Make sure your set up for trailer brakes.

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nibael · June 23, 2013

Pulled the tractor just fine. Wish I had trailer brakes but I just used the engine to brake. Tranny never got over 195 which I think is awesome.

don't try this at home kids....

bowhunterchris · June 23, 2013

I'm not going to buy a trailer with brakes just to haul a tractor a couple times a year.

Chris · June 23, 2013

Taken from Texas transportation code

§ 547.401. BRAKES REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with
brakes that comply with this chapter.
(b) A trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is not required
to have brakes if:
(1) its gross weight is 4,500 pounds or less; or
(2) its gross weight is heavier than 4,500 pounds but
not heavier than 15,000 pounds, and it is drawn at a speed of not
more than 30 miles per hour.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

It does not state what kind of brakes, so I would say at least a surge brake would be legal